The Vanuatu citizenship by investment by the end of Nov 2018 has reached VT. 7.3 billion (or USD 64.1 million) according to official figures released by Vanuatu government. The government recorded a total surplus of VT 686.9 million, mainly due to greater income from increase in VAT and particularly high revenue from citizenship programs
Vanuatu Development Support Program (VDSP) and Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP), together collected VT 7.3 billion by the end of November 2018. By the end of July 2018, the CIP revenue figures remained a VT 5.3 billion. This means, calculating the difference, in four quarter months, Vanuatu received some VT 2.0 billion (USD 17.6 million) revenues.
The CIP revenues are 244.5 per cent more than the budget target of VT 2,120.0 million and is 77.5 per cent more than collections from VERP, VDSP and VCP1 during the equivalent months a year ago (VT 4,114.3 million).
The year-to-date total Government net operating balance recorded at the end of November 2018 was a surplus of VT 8,762.4 million which is equivalent to 8.1 per cent of GDP.
The Vanuatu Economic Rehabilitation Program (VERP), aimed at raising revenue post Cyclone Pam through a fast-track citizenship program, was introduced in 2015.
VERP was phased out by March 2017 to be replaced by similar programmes – Vanuatu Development Support Program (VDSP) and Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP).
Currently Vanuatu citizenship by investment program requires a minimum one time contribution if USD 160,000 to any of the following
- Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP)
- Vanuatu Development Support Program (DSP)
The Vanuatu Government announced through its Citizenship Commission and Citizenship Office last year, that persons who are interested in its Citizenship Programs that there is no Real Estate Option Program attached to any of its Citizenship Programs
As of 2019, Vanuatu had the 40th powerful passport in the world with visa free access to 129 countries. The Vanuatu CIP passport is interesting because, it has visa free travel to EU schengen states, Russia, United Kingdom and Ireland etc..
All CIP applications are vetted by government with thorough due diligence and background checks before being approved under citizenship by investment program.
