If you are an investor or business traveler looking to invest in Vanuatu to secure Vanuatu permanent residency, the Vanuatu Permanent Resident Visa offers the perfect route to permanently settle in the South Pacific island nation.
You are eligible for a permanent residency visa in Vanuatu if you invest at least $100,000 in real estate or agricultural land. If you are retired, you can qualify for permanent residency with a monthly retirement income of $2,500. Additional costs include a $10,000 fee and an additional fee to apply for a permanent residence permit for family members.
Permanent Residence Visas
The Vanuatu Department of Immigration and Passport Services offers two types of permanent resident visas to foreign nationals. A government fee of VT 300,000 (about $2,500) applies to each Vanuatu Permanent Residency program applicant.
Part A: Subclass 131
A subclass 131 visa is granted to an individual whose parents are Ni-Vanuatu or of Ni-Vanuatu descent. This visa also permits applicants who have lived in the country for the past 12 months to apply for permanent residency. To apply for this visa, an individual needs to submit a completed Form 3-0 to the Office of the Director, Vanuatu Immigration Services.
Part B: Subclass 132-135
The subclass 132-135 visa is granted to foreign investors looking to invest significantly in Vanuatu. Compared to the standard Vanuatu Resident Visa, the eligibility and requirement criteria is strict and goes through a more rigorous evaluation process.
On the other hand, business investors enjoy significant benefits with the permanent residency program, allowing them to reside in Vanuatu indefinitely.
Interested individuals can secure this visa by applying to the Director’s Office, Vanuatu Immigration Services with Form 3-1.
Vanuatu Permanent Residency Green Card
The Vanuatu Green Card is one of the fastest permanent visas worldwide. The Vanuatu government takes only a day to issue the PR Green Card to qualifying individuals. Applicants are not required to make and investment to get the PR card.
The total processing time for this card takes around five days. Additionally, there is no personal visit required nor minimum residency period to qualify.
Eligibility criteria
- Be 18 years old and above
- Have valid passport
- Pass a police clearance
- Own assets worth at least $350,000
Add Your Heading Text Here
Overview of Vanuatu Residency Visas
There are three types of residency visas in Vanuatu:
- Self-Funded Visa
- Land Owner Visa
- Investor Permit
- Citizenship by investment
These visas are usually granted for temporary periods of around one year to individuals who invest $50,000 in the country or can prove that they have enough income to sustain themselves in Vanuatu.
Self-Funded Visa
If you are a senior citizen looking to retire in Vanuatu or an expat traveling to the country, a self-funded visa allows you to reside in the country temporarily. You must prove you earn at least VT 250,000 (about $2,000) per month. Applicants can include their spouse of partner with a total monthly income of VT 500,000.
Vanuatu Land Owner Visa
Vanuatu offers the Land Owner Visa to foreigners who invest at least VT 10 million (about $83,000) in physical property or land in Vanuatu. Keep in mind that Vanuatu’s land ownership laws are based on leasehold only. Residential properties can be leased for 50 years. Commercial properties are leasable for 75 years.
Vanuatu real estate investments to get a Land Owner Visa require a professional reference. To invest in a property in Vanuatu, you don’t need authorization from the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA), nor an investor’s certificate or a business license.
This Vanuatu permanent residency visa allows holders to live, work, and own real estate in Vanuatu, with the opportunity to eventually obtain Vanuatu citizenship through naturalization after ten years of continuous legal residency.
Vanuatu Investor Visa
An individual can apply for an Investor Visa in Vanuatu, officially called the Vanuatu Investor Permit or an Investor Residence Visa, with a $50,000 investment in the country. The
Vanuatu Investment and Promotion Authority (VIPA)
must approve the project. Applicants must obtain an investor certificate from the VIPA. The certificate permits foreign nationals to establish and run businesses in Vanuatu. The total Vanuatu permanent residency cost excludes government fees.
Citizenship by investment
The Vanuatu citizenship by investment program isn’t a residency visa but a path to obtain Vanuatu dual citizenship. The minimum investment starts with a non-refundable donation of $130,000 to the Development Support Program. The main applicant can apply for Vanuatu citizenship for their spouse and dependent children and parents.
There is no in-person interview or requirement to visit Vanuatu during the application process. After becoming a Vanuatu citizen, investors qualify for a Vanuatu passport and gain the right to permanently reside in Vanuatu without restrictions or PR card renewals.
Vanuatu Tax Residency
Vanuatu is one of the world’s few tax-free countries. Individuals do not pay personal income tax or corporate tax. Additionally, Vanuatu permanent residents do pay wealth, capital gains, or inheritance tax on their assets. The regulations for Vanuatu taxes attract many international companies and investors.
Benefits of Vanuatu Permanent Residency
- Obtain the right to live and work in Vanuatu indefinitely.
- Live in a safe and stable Oceanic country with a peaceful environment.
- Optimize taxes with no Vanuatu taxes on income, capital gains, inheritance, or wealth.
- Vanuatu is one of the top countries in the Global Crypto-Friendly Nations Report for economics, making it ideal for crypto ventures.
- A straightforward application process with a permanent residency card issued within two weeks.
- Life among natural beauty and tropical weather year-round.
- Vanuatu permanent residents can apply for permanent residency for their spouse or de facto partner, dependent children, and dependent parents and grandparents.
Vanuatu Permanent Residency Requirements
Two government authorities issue ten-year Permanent Residence (PR) Cards to foreign nationals. Applications must provide the following documents.
- Valid passport
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of income or assets
- Undertaking letter addressed to the Government of Vanuatu
- Two passport-size photographs
- Completed visa application form
Vanuatu Permanent Residency Visa – Application Process
- Choose the permanent residency visa class that you want to apply for
- Gather the required documents
- Completed Form 3-0 or 3-1
- Passport-size photographs
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of income or investment
- Undertaking letter addressed to the Government of Vanuatu
- Submit the application form and necessary documents to the Vanuatu Immigration Service in Vanuatu or an embassy or consulate abroad.
- The application process is generally quick, taking about five to seven days.
Why use Global Citizen Solutions?
Global Citizen Solutions is a multidisciplinary firm offering bespoke residence and citizenship solutions in Europe and the Caribbean. In a world where the economy and politics are unpredictable, having a second citizenship opens up opportunities and creates flexibility for you and your family.
So, why work with Global Citizen Solutions to obtain Caribbean citizenship?
- Global approach by local experts: We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all five Caribbean CBI programs.
- 100 percent approval rate: We have never had a case rejected and will offer you an initial, free-of-charge, due diligence assessment before signing any contract.
- Independent service and full transparency: We will present to you all the investment options available, and all expenses will be discussed in advance, with no hidden fees.
- An all-encompassing solution: A multidisciplinary team of immigration lawyers, investment specialists, and tax experts will take into consideration all your and your family’s mobility, tax, and lifestyle needs.
- Confidential service and secure data management: All private data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.
