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 for investments such as purchasing real estate for at least VUV 10 million (about USD $85,000). If you are retired, you can qualify for permanent residency with a monthly retirement income of VUV 250,000 (about USD $2,100).
Government fees apply, and applicants must pay additional fees to include family members. This guide provides everything you need to know to obtain permanent residency in Vanuatu.
Vanuatu Permanent Residence Visa at a Glance
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 VUV 3.09 million (about USD $26,000) applies to each applicant for the Vanuatu Permanent Residency program.
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 who intend to invest significantly in Vanuatu. Compared to the standard Vanuatu Resident Visa, the eligibility and requirement criteria are 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.
Overview of Vanuatu Residency Visas
There are several types of residency visas in Vanuatu, including:
- Self-Funded Visa
- Land Owner Visa
- Direct Investor Visa
- Permanent Investor Visa
As stated on the Department of Immigration and Passport Services official website, immigration.gov.vu, 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 Leasehold Holder to foreigners who invest at least VT 10 million (about USD $85,000) 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 leaseable for 75 years.
Vanuatu real estate investments to get a Leasehold Holder 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.
Direct Investor Visa
Foreign nationals who hold a Vanuatu Financial Services Certificate, Foreign Investment Promotion Authority Certificate, and a business license are eligible for the Direct Investor Visa if they own more than VT 20 million (about USD $170,000) in assets in Vanuatu. The visa is valid for eight years, with the possibility of renewal, and the applicant can change their status to a Permanent Investor Visa.
Permanent Investor Visa
An individual can apply for a Permanent Investor Visa in Vanuatu once they’ve held a valid investor visa for at least ten years. The applicant must be able to prove that they own assets in the country that are valued at least VT 50 million (about USD $420,000).
Vanuatu Permanent Residence Visa versus Citizenship by Investment
Although Vanuatu Permanent Residence (PR) and Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment both offer a route to forming a permanent bond with the nation, they offer vastly different rights and benefits.
Permanent residence allows foreign nationals to reside in Vanuatu indefinitely, provided they comply with the general legal conditions and renew their residence documentation when applicable. This does not include citizenship, a Vanuatu passport, or diplomatic protection of citizens.
Conversely, the Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment program offers full Vanuatu citizenship to eligible applicants who meet the conditions under an approved contribution to the country’s development. Successful applicants receive a Vanuatu passport and permanent residency rights, with no renewal requirements.
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 not pay wealth, capital gains, or inheritance tax on their assets.
Incorporating a business can also offer significant tax benefits, with eligible companies paying an annual fee of $300 and no corporate income tax on profits owing to a 20-year tax exemption for International Business Companies.
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.
- Overseas penal clearance certificates for any country where they have spent a total of 90 days
- Three separate identity documents confirming physical appearance, signature, current address, date of birth, and name at birth:
- Valid passport
- Driver’s license
- National ID card
- Birth certificate
- 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 two weeks, on average.
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.
