What is the qualifying investment for the Vanuatu CIIP?
Successful applicants must invest in a government-approved CIIP project. The first approved project is the CNO Future Fund, a Vanuatu-based fund focused on the country's sustainable development goals, which targets investment in the coconut oil industry to support Vanuatu's commitment to 100 percent renewable electricity generation. The investment is USD 50,000 for the principal applicant and up to three qualifying dependents, and that USD 50,000 in capital is guaranteed and repaid after five years with dividends, if any. Other fees include a USD 8,000 due diligence fee, USD 107,000 covering master agent fees, passport fees, the oath-taking ceremony, and government fees, and USD 25,000 for each additional dependent on applications with more than three dependents.
Who is eligible to apply for citizenship under the Vanuatu CIIP?
The primary applicant must be over 18, of good character and health, without a criminal record, and must invest in an approved CIIP project. Nationals of North Korea, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, and Syria are restricted, though they may apply if they can prove residency outside their home country for at least five years and have no financial ties to those countries.
Who qualifies as a dependent on the Vanuatu CIIP application?
Eligible dependents are the spouse of the main applicant, dependent children of the main applicant under the age of 25, and parents of the main applicant.
What are the benefits of citizenship in Vanuatu?
Vanuatu citizens, known as Ni-Vanuatu, enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to nearly 100 countries across Asia, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania, and the Caribbean. Successful applicants can obtain a driver's license and local address, register a company, and more, and citizenship can be passed to future generations by descent, subject to conditions. Vanuatu's taxes are among the most favorable in the region, with no personal income or corporate tax, no withholding or capital gains tax, and no estate, wealth, or gift tax, alongside a locally applied VAT of 12.5 percent.
What are the general application processing steps for the Vanuatu CIIP?
The process starts with a due diligence check by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), a government background check confirming there is no derogatory information on the applicant and that they are not a politically exposed person. The FIU generally issues a clearance certificate in 2 to 3 weeks.
After clearance, the rest of the file is submitted with the fees paid and investment made for final approval, which usually takes about a month, most of it reserved for the Central Bank of Vanuatu to clear the funds. Once cleared, the file goes to the Citizenship Committee, which meets every two weeks, and the letter of approval, naturalization certificate, and passports are issued after that meeting.
Successful applicants set up a local Vanuatu limited liability company, can open a bank account if they travel to Vanuatu, and are then called to an online oath-taking ceremony. Passports are usually issued about three weeks after final approval, and the whole process is estimated at 2 to 3 months from submission to passport handover, though times may vary with the complexity of the case.
Do I need to travel to or reside in Vanuatu as part of the Vanuatu CIIP application process?
No. After the investment is made and the application submitted, the Citizenship Committee issues a final approval, and the applicant can either attend a ceremony in Vanuatu to take their oath or request an online oath-taking ceremony with a Vanuatu passport officer, in which case the passport is mailed to their designated address.
