The concept of safety has changed greatly in the past decades: it is no longer the safety in your native country where your home is your castle but the privilege of diversification. We keep our money in different countries, set up an offshore company, acquire real estate abroad, and even “diversify” our citizenship by obtaining a second (or maybe a third) passport. If we look at the present-day conflicts that are shaking the world, it becomes clear that you need to be prepared for any black swan. If you are interested in receiving a second passport quickly, you will hardly find a better opportunity than buying the economic citizenship of Vanuatu.
The procedure can be completed within 1.5 months, and this is incredibly fast if we look at the conditions offered by other citizenship-by-investment programs. What is more, this is an affordable option that will cost you much less than any EU program, for instance.
Cost of the Vanuatu Program
If you apply for Vanuatu citizenship alone, you will have to make a donation of 145,000 US dollars. This amount is naturally higher if you submit a collective application, which can include your spouse and children under 18: in this case, you are required to contribute 180,000 US dollars. There are no extra payments you will have to make.
Additional dependents you want to include in the application (other than your spouse and children under 18) come at a separate fee:
- If you want to include your child aged from 18 to 26 who studies at the university on a full-time basis, you will have to pay 10,000 US dollars.
- If you want to include your (your spouse’s) parents or grandparents aged 50 and more in the application, they will also come at 10,000 US dollars each.
Under the current laws, foreigners are not allowed to directly interact with the local government and submit documents for economic citizenship to Vanuatu authorities: they are required to hire an immigration agent for that purpose who will handle all the matters. All you need is to pay the agent’s fee and submit the relevant package of documents.
Documents To Be Filed
Let’s look at the list of documents you will need to collect and submit to apply for Vanuatu citizenship:
- Passport-sized photos
- Proof of the fact that the main applicant possesses assets worth 500,000 US dollars
- A medical certificate
- Copies of school/university diplomas
- A no-conviction certificate
- If you include dependents in the application, you will need to provide documents to confirm your kinship
- A certified passport copy per each applicant
- A duly filled-out application
Vanuatu Citizenship: Main Advantages
The global citizenship-by-investment market is highly competitive as the authorities of countries are interested in attracting funds to their economies. As a result, they attempt to lure potential economic citizens with unique incentives not found elsewhere, and Vanuatu is no exception as it is new to the market. We have mentioned one undeniable advantage: speed. Let’s take a look at others.
Strength of the Vanuatu Passport
The strength of a particular passport is determined on the basis of the number of countries you can enter without a visa (or with e-visa/visa-upon-arrival options), and this is an opportunity that many potential citizens check out before they decide to agree to this or that program.
The Vanuatu passport will give you unhindered access to more than one hundred destinations (you can see a complete list by clicking on the above link). Some of these countries are not visa-free if you have a Caribbean passport, and this is something that can make the Vanuatu program valuable for you. If you’re also exploring U.S. immigration options, you might consider an eb1a free evaluation to assess your eligibility.
Affordable Cost
The cost of economic citizenship programs may vary greatly, and you will have to explore the market thoroughly to find the best option depending on your situation. Some options are better suited for solo applicants, while others will be perfect for a family with a particular number of family members. If you want to save time, you can simply click on the above link and use the live chat to describe your situation and ask the expert to provide the most beneficial programs in your case.
As for the speed, you usually have to wait for about half a year to get a Caribbean passport, for instance. Some countries offer an expedited procedure, but it comes at an additional fee. Vanuatu is second to none in this respect as you will get your passport within no more than 45 days without any extra fees if everything goes as planned.
Sometimes you need to get a passport really quickly – say, an emergency is looming on the horizon, like a major political or economic upheaval. In this case, Vanuatu is a unique option.
Data Confidentiality
Vanuatu is an isolated state both politically and geographically, which gives it a tangible advantage. While Caribbean countries are actively exchanging information on unsuccessful applicants who failed to obtain a passport, Vanuatu has not yet concluded any respective agreements with European and Caribbean countries and is under no obligation to provide this information to any foreign authorities.
What is the practical benefit of that? Well, if you failed to pass the due diligence procedure in Europe or the Caribbean, you can try your luck in Vanuatu! Verification requirements are much less stringent here, so you have every chance to succeed.
Vanuatu is Under No Pressure
International regulators put considerable pressure on the Caribbean region, for example, so these countries are becoming more and more selective when it comes to approving candidates. For example, their citizenship is unavailable to Afghans, Syrians, and nationals of some other countries.
Just to illustrate, St. Kitts and Nevis lost visa-free access to Canada for its citizens after it provided its passport to an investor who had Iranian roots (Iran is under Western sanctions). As you see, countries have something to be afraid of.
Vanuatu is under the radar now as its program has not been widely advertised yet, and it is practically unknown in Muslim countries. It considerably reduces the possibility of scandals over investors from the Middle East and possible accusations of selling passports to terrorist group members and things like that.
Sounds interesting? Please follow the above link to discover more details or have a free conversation with an expert to discuss the possibility.