Whether you’re looking to second citizenship as an insurance policy for your family, a route to global mobility or an escape to permanent residency, the South Pacific island of Vanuatu could be the right second passport choice.
1. Fourth happiest place in the world
Ranked as the fourth happiest country in the world by the Happy Planet Index 2020, Vanuatu combines high levels of wellbeing with a low carbon footprint and a culture of inclusion. Its wellbeing ranking, at 28th out of 140 countries, is thanks to its focus on family, inclusion and community. The island’s tight-knit communities often meet to discuss community matters and importance is placed on immediate and extended family. The people of Vanuatu respect tradition and embrace diversity.
2. Nature-rich healthy lifestyle
There is great respect for nature by the citizens of Vanuatu with preservation of nature key. Thanks to Vanuatu’s location and environment, which is well-placed to make use of renewables – with hydropower, wind, solar and coconut bio-fuel in abundance – the island delivers a relatively low ecological footprint. In 2011, 34% of the energy Vanuatu consumed came courtesy of renewables and the country aims to be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2030.
3. Friendly and kind
Vanuatu is regarded as one of the friendliest countries worldwide, welcoming of all nationalities and embracing of diversity. There are after all 113 different languages spoken here. As testament to its welcoming nature, Vanuatu recently became the first CBI Programme-bearing country to welcome stateless individuals as citizens, spreading its happiness further to help those who face discrimination in their own homelands, such as the Rohingya in Myanmar. They also welcome family members via the country’s CBI Programme – spouse, children and even parents of amin applicant or spouse (though they must be over 50 and dependent on applicant).
4. Increasingly powerful passport
The latest Henley Passport Index Q4 2020 shows that while passports of countries such as the US, Russia and India have seen a decline in mobility due to the pandemic, countries like Vanuatu have boosted their passport power. Vanuatu has moved up the global mobility ranks, from 42nd to 40th in the world, giving visa-free access to 130 countries, including Hong Kong, Russia, the Schengen Area and the UK.
5. One of the most affordable second passports
Along with some of the Caribbean islands, Vanuatu offers one of the most affordable routes to second citizenship with single applicants paying as little as US$130,000, which is more affordable than Grenada or Saint Kitts, while for a family of four, citizenship here costs just US$180,000.
6. Tax benefits
Vanuatu is a tax haven with no taxes imposed on income, inheritance or gains.
7. Ease of processing citizenship
Applications to Vanuatu’s CBI Programme are processed rapidly, in as little as 45 days, and the process is both streamlined and simple without too many requirements. While once the oath of allegiance would have had to be undertaken on Vanuatuan soil, now this can be done in front of a Commissioner for Oaths located in Dubai, Hong Kong or Singapore, too, and during the current pandemic, it can be done remotely via video conference link. There is no language test required and no interview necessary or knowledge of the island’s heritage or culture.