Vanuatu is a small archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, known for excellent diving spots and one of the most lucrative investment citizenship programmes in the world. This country receives tens of thousands of tourists every year and attracts foreign investors. Want to become one of them? Explore our guide to tourism, life and citizenship in Vanuatu.
Where is Vanuatu?
Where is Vanuatu located? The country consists of 83 small islands in the Pacific Ocean. The closest neighbours are Australia, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
The 83 islands are conventionally divided into 6 provinces. People live on only 17 islands. The rest are small or large atolls covered with tropical forests. There are active and extinct volcanoes on part of them.
The most famous islands of Vanuatu:
- Efate – with the capital Port Vila, airport, hotels and tourist infrastructure
- Espiritu Santo – with one of the most beautiful beaches with white-golden sand
- Tanna – with an active volcano Yasur, at the foot of which tourists can spend the night
There are aeroplanes, motorboats and traditional wooden canoes between the inhabited islands. Tourists can hire a guided boat to swim on the beach of an unpopulated atoll or view a waterfall in the rainforest.
All about the People of Vanuatu
The indigenous people of the islands call themselves Ni-Vanuatu. But they are not one people, but more than a hundred different tribes. They speak different languages and have different religious and cultural traditions.
It is difficult to understand what language is spoken in Vanuatu. Bislama, a Creole-English dialect, is considered the official language. But its speakers live mainly in the capital. English and French are understood in tourist areas, banks and other institutions. Remote tribes speak their own languages but can understand Bislama.
The lives of many Ni-Wanuatu have not changed in the last few centuries. They still live in tribal villages, obey a chief, worship spirits, and cook food over open fires. Only a quarter of Vanuatu’s population lives in cities. Its population is estimated at 300,000-350,000.
The total area of the archipelago is about 12 thousand square kilometres. But due to the complex relief of the islands the population density of Vanuatu is very high: about 20 people/square kilometre.
Vanuatu Climate
Climate of Vanutu can differ even on neighbouring islands. But the differences are only in the amount of rainfall and the strength of the winds. The temperature in the coldest areas does not fall below 23 degrees Celsius. Even in the dry season on the islands humidity reaches 85%.
For holidays in Vanuatu it is advised to choose the period from May to October. At this time, even in humid areas there is little rain and strong winds are rare. In winter there are often strong storms and hurricanes.
Holidays in Vanuatu
Tourism in Vanuatu is a major budget item. But the country remains inaccessible for mass tourists. From Europe and the USA you have to fly here with 2-3 connections, more than a day. From Australia, Fiji and New Zealand there are direct flights several times a week, the flight will take 3-4 hours. But for Australians coral reefs, blue lagoons and traditional culture of ancient tribes are not exotic. The same can be found in Fiji, where there are much more comfortable hotels. Vanuatu is reached either by travellers who have set themselves the goal of visiting all the countries of the world, or passengers of cruise ships.
About 20,000 people visit the country per year. They are attracted not by architecture or historical sights, but by diving, acquaintance with traditional culture of different tribes, beach holidays and hiking on volcanoes, mountains and tropics.
Do I need a visa for travelling to Vanuatu? Mostly, no. But a transit visa to Australia may be required for the flight. The option of flying without visas is via Hong Kong and Fiji, however such tickets are more difficult to find.
Ecotourism
Tourist infrastructure on the islands is developing, but very slowly. Locals value the traditional way of life, and foreign investors are deterred by the remoteness of the archipelago from any continent, difficult climate with frequent storms and hurricanes. But thanks to this, the nature of Vanuatu has hardly suffered from human actions. The islands have excellent ecology: clear water in the lagoons, live coral reefs with many brightly coloured fish, clean air. Here you can taste organic vegetables and fruits, which are grown without synthetic fertilisers, and have dinner with fish caught in the morning in the purest water. Vanuatu cuisine is based on local products: yams, bananas, coconut and seafood. They are cooked the same way they were hundreds of years ago: baked on coals or hot stones.
Vanuatu Citizenship
Another important revenue stream for Vanuatu is the Investment Citizenship Programme, which allows you to obtain a local passport for a charitable contribution of $130,000 or more.
How do you get a Vanuatu passport? For investment – but not in business or property. The investor needs to donate money to a fund to support the development of Vanuatu citizenship.
For 1 person, the citizenship cost will be from $130,000.
A family will pay from $165,000.
It has also become known that from May 1, investors will be required to submit biometrics to participate in the Vanuatu citizenship programme. This can be done in Dubai, Hong Kong, New Caledonia and directly in Vanuatu. The processing fee will be $500 per person in Vanuatu and $1,500 in other countries. Astons plans to offer biometrics submission to clients at our Dubai office in the future.
What does Vanuatu citizenship give you? First of all, freedom of travelling. For those with a Vanuatu passport, Singapore and Hong Kong become visa-free countries. In the latter you can spend 90 days without a visa. In total, 90+ countries are available with a Vanuatu passport.
What else does a Vanuatu passport offer, except visa-free entry to additional countries?
- Travelling via Australia without a visa
- Opening of bank accounts and company set ups in an alternative country
- Favorable tax regime – 0% tax on capital gains, inheritance and global income
Learn more about investor requirements, basic and additional costs, timelines and steps of the procedure here.
Moving to Vanuatu
Few people decide to move to Vanuatu. But, if desired, the holder of a passport of the country has such an opportunity. Among the advantages of living in Vanuatu:
- Beautiful nature and good ecology
- Friendly locals
- Security – even in the capital crimes are limited mainly to pickpocketing
- Developed financial sector: Vanuatu is a popular offshore jurisdiction with a developed financial infrastructure. There are 11 banks operating in the small country, which occupy high positions in the ratings of financial institutions in the Pacific region. Their clients have access to online banking and international transfers.
Living Costs in Vanuatu
The cost of living in Vanuatu differs from island to island. Many tribes still live a traditional economy, building huts from palm leaves and growing vegetables and fruit. They practice subsistence exchange with neighbours and do not pay for utilities because they do not have running water or electricity. Primary education and basic medicine are free for the locals.
Life in the cities is quite expensive, its cost is close to that of Australia. Petrol and most industrial goods are delivered to the islands from abroad. Only local fruit and vegetables will be cheap. Tourists are advised to plan expenses of $150-200 per day. And most of it will be hotel costs. In season, a night will cost at least $80.
The minimum wage in Vanuatu starts from $260. At the same time utilities in the capital cost from $125 per month. The difference in income and standard of living is very large: a bank clerk or a doctor in the capital can receive from $600, and a tribesman on a small island can have no stable income and rarely use money in principle.
Education and Medicine
Vanuatu citizens do not pay for primary schools and can use free public medicine. But free schools and clinics are far from Western standards. They lack staff and modern equipment. You have to fly to Australia or New Zealand for high-tech medical care.
Opportunities for Investors
The archipelago government is interested in attracting foreign investment in the real sector of the economy. The Ministry of Commerce has a Foreign Investment Unit to help local businesses find support abroad, and foreigners to enter local markets without knowledge of the law.
The most promising areas of Vanuatu’s economy are considered to be agriculture, logistics, tourism, and energy production.
Companies registered on the islands do not pay tax on global income for 20 years.
If you are interested in obtaining Vanuatu citizenship for investment, please contact Astons experts for a free consultation. Our experts will answer all your questions and tell you more about all the details of the programme.
FAQ
What are the basic requirements for Vanuatu citizenship?
Applicants must be over 18 years old, have a clean criminal record, good health, and sufficient funds to make the required investment. No language test or residency requirement is needed.
Can citizenship be obtained through investment?
How easy is it to adapt to life in Vanuatu?
What taxes will new residents have to pay?
What is the medical and insurance situation?
Are there restrictions on dual citizenship?
How safe is it to travel in Vanuatu?
