Vanuatu Investor Visa vs Citizenship by Investment: Choosing Your Path
When you finish reading this guide, you’ll have a clear picture of Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment program (CBI), the distinct Investor Visa route, and the Permanent Residency option. You’ll learn investment thresholds, application steps, timelines and discover how a decade of residency can lead to citizenship—without relying on pure donations.
Overview of Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Program
Vanuatu’s CBI scheme lets you secure citizenship swiftly through either a contribution to the government fund or a real estate purchase. Benefits of CBI include:
– Visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 133 countries
– No personal income tax or wealth tax
– Full political and civil rights
Donation via the Development Support Program
Under the Vanuatu Development Support Program fee details:
– Single applicant: VUV 130 000
– Main applicant + spouse: VUV 180 000
– Family of four: VUV 230 000
– Processing fee: VUV 30 000 per main applicant
– Timeline: 1–2 months from submission to certificate
Real Estate Investment Option
Invest in government-approved real estate projects with:
– Minimum: VUV 3 500 000
– Holding period: 5 years
– Additional due diligence fees may apply
Eligibility checks include criminal record review, source-of-fund verification and proof of good health.
Exploring the Investor Visa for Long-Term Residency
The Investor Visa is not CBI. It demands an active business or productive activity in Vanuatu, not real estate or bond purchases.
Qualifying Investments and VIPA Approval
Your project must be screened and approved by the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA):
– Manufacturing, processing or service industries
– Agriculture, fisheries or tourism enterprises
– Joint ventures with Ni-Vanuatu partners
Duration, Fees and Renewal
Visa length ties directly to your capital injection, as outlined in ASEAN Briefing’s Vanuatu Investor Visa guide:
1. VUV 15 000 000 → 3 years
2. VUV 30 000 000 → 5 years
3. VUV 50 000 000 → 10 years
4. VUV 100 000 000 → 15 years
Annual permit fee: VUV 20 000 per year of visa validity, payable in advance.
Including Dependents and Application Requirements
Dependents (spouse and children under 18) may join your application, sharing your residency permit. No interview, language certificate or formal education requirement applies.
Permanent Residency Visa: A Third Avenue
Separate from both CBI and Investor Visa, the Permanent Residency Visa requirements require:
– Minimum USD 100 000 in real estate or agricultural land
– Strict assessment under subclasses 132–135
PRV holders can live, work and study indefinitely. Renewals hinge on maintaining the qualifying asset.
From Residency to Naturalization
After 10 years on an Investor Visa, you may apply for citizenship by naturalization in Vanuatu:
1. Proof of continuous residence
2. Clean criminal record
3. Evidence of economic contribution
This path circumvents the one-time donation and offers a citizen’s passport for life.
Select Your Route to Vanuatu
Whether you prefer the speed of CBI, the commercial focus of an Investor Visa or the asset-based PRV, Vanuatu offers flexible pathways:
- For immediate citizenship: choose CBI via VDSP or real estate.
- For genuine business engagement: apply for the Investor Visa and plan for a decade-long naturalization.
- For land-based settlement: pursue the PRV with a USD 100 000 investment.
“Vanuatu offers one of the fastest routes to citizenship by investment,” said Phil Kent, CEO of Henley & Partners.
Each route carries its own costs, timelines and obligations. Review your goals, consult VIPA’s guidelines and you’ll be on your way to establishing a home in this South Pacific nation.