Vanuatu citizenship-by-investment program has appeared in the market fairly recently, and there are many people who have not even heard about it. However, this is an advantage as it does not attract too much attention from regulators, so the requirements are unlikely to be tightened in the near future. The program offers really good conditions: if everything goes as planned, you will get your passport unbelievably quickly (within just 45 days), and you will not have to invest exorbitant amounts to become a citizen. What is more, the due diligence checks are not as stringent as in other countries that offer similar programs, so the Vanuatu offer seems ideal.
Such an important step requires collecting sufficient information, and you can take advantage of the knowledge base of articles available on our portal. Read the full text on investing in bonds for Vanuatu citizenship, as well as other destinations that offer citizenship- or residence-by-investment programs: we have a whole section devoted to these! You can also get in touch with our expert to discuss the destination that will be suitable for your needs, preferences, financial capabilities, and situation: for instance, some programs are better for families, while others will suit single applicants. The initial consultation is free! And if you need assistance in further steps leading to citizenship, we will be happy to arrange obtaining a passport online.
Investment in Bonds
The standard path to Vanuatu citizenship includes making a non-refundable donation to the national economy, and this was the only opportunity available until March 27, 2023. On this date, Order No. 44 was officially published with immediate effect, which set out the procedure of acquiring Vanuatu citizenship through investment in government bonds denominated in Australian dollars. You can sell them back in two or three years, and you will retain your Vanuatu passport after that. It was a really important event as Vanuatu citizenship became accessible via a refundable investment, which may be critical for some potential citizens.
Three Options
If you want to acquire a Vanuatu passport, you can invest in securities denominated in Australian dollars. The required amount ranges between AUD 150,000 and AUD 180,000 depending on the maturity of bonds. You can only buy zero-interest bonds.
This is a revolutionary offer as Vanuatu thus becomes the only country that offers economic citizenship at less than USD 100,000. Of course, the Australian to US dollar exchange rate may vary, and while the AUD shows a tendency to weaken now, the situation may reverse in the future. However, this is a very lucrative offer at present that we strongly recommend if you are looking at opportunities to obtain a second passport.
Let’s look at the amount to be invested:
- If the maturity of the bonds is 3 years, you will need to invest AUD 150,000 (UAD 99,000)
- If the maturity of the bonds is 2.5 years, you will need to invest AUD 170,000 (UAD 112,200)
- If the maturity of the bonds is 2 years, you will need to invest AUD 180,000 (UAD 118,800)
The more you invest in the bonds, the shorter the maturity period (that is, the shorter is the period during which your capital will be “frozen”). This is a good opportunity to minimize the risks related to a country’s default, inflation, or exchange rate fluctuation.
Bond Quota and Blacklisted Countries
The number of bonds that the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu is going to issue is limited, and so is the number of potential applicants who can take advantage of this opportunity. It means that you’d better hurry if you are interested! Nobody knows whether an additional issue will be made.
Are there any blacklisted countries whose residents will be 100% rejected if they apply for Vanuatu citizenship? Well, they do not exist de jure. However, the residents of the countries sanctioned by the UN can be turned down according to Vanuatu laws. These are the following ones:
- Guinea-Bissau
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Iraq
- Yemen
- North Korea
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Liberia
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Syria
- Somalia
- Sudan
- CAR
- Eritrea
- South Sudan
However, you have a chance to successfully pass the procedure and obtain a Vanuatu passport even if you come from one of these countries – all you need is to fulfill the conditions below:
- You have been living outside the respective country for the past 5 years in a non-sanctioned state
- You can provide a document that proves this fact
The bond investment option is unavailable to the residents of these countries, either, despite the fact that the official list does not exist.
Vanuatu Citizenship for Dependents
The Vanuatu program is family-friendly, so you can add your family members to the application as dependents. However, this will require additional payments.
Here are the family members that can be included in the application:
- Spouse
- Main applicant’s or spouse’s own or adoptive child under 18 or aged 18-25 if he/she is financially dependent and is a full-time university student
- Main applicant’s or spouse’s parents over 50 if they are dependent on the main applicant
Master Agent and Administrative Fees
First of all, you should know that you cannot directly apply for citizenship to the local authorities: you will have to do so via a local immigration agent. If you are not sure that you can find a reliable one, simply contact our experts and we will help you. We have a trustworthy partner based in Vanuatu who can handle your case, and he or she will receive your package of documents.
On the other hand, you should know that there is a local official called a Master Agent who works with the applicants who wish to become economic citizens by investing in the bonds. He/She accepts the documents from the immigration agent and carries out the required due diligence procedures. If the candidate passes them successfully, the documents are submitted to Vanuatu immigration authorities.
In addition to investment in the bonds, the applicant will have to pay an application processing fee (which ranges from AUD 20,000 for a single investor to AUD 60,000 for a family of four) and some other minor fees that you can see in the full text by following the above link.
If you find this Vanuatu citizenship offer attractive, please get in touch with us to receive any clarifications you need or order full support in the procedure. Receive a second passport for yourself and your loved ones and add to the feeling of safety in your life!
