Vanuatu visa-free countries
One of the core benefits of a Vanuatu passport is the visa-free countries it can give individuals access to. Despite being one of the newer programmes, Vanuatu has become an increasingly popular option as citizenship by investment programme.
Visa-free countries
The Vanuatu passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 113 countries including the United Kingdom, Singapore and the Schengen Area. The passport allows holders to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days without a visa. What’s more, as the country is part of the Commonwealth, its citizens are allowed 6 months per year in the UK. They must then leave the country, although they can immediately re-enter and gain another 180-day visa.
It is worth pointing out that whilst citizens can visit the UK visa-free, they are subject to certain conditions, which they must prove at the border. This includes demonstrating the person is visiting for tourism, financially supporting themselves and their dependents, arranging for accommodation, and paying for return or onward journeys.
The passport has maintained its popularity do it allowing access to many well-known business centres in Asia. This includes nations such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Visitors able to stay in these countries for 90 days and 30 days respectively.
Whilst the passport allows access to 113 counties worldwide, it is worth noting that 34 of these require visa-on-arrival. The key difference between the two is with visa-free access, there are no requirements or documents necessary, either before travelling or at the border, in order to get into these countries. With a visa on arrival, individuals will receive a visa once arriving at the country’s border.
Fast approval process
Although a key reason, visa-free travel is not the only benefit of Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment programme. Unlike other countries, it takes very little time to gain Vanuatu citizenship. An applicant is able to gain citizenship within just 2 months.
Financial benefits
Other benefits include the ability to plan out your financial future. The country has attractive taxation laws. The country has no persona taxation with no wealth, inheritance, gift or income tax. This means you can optimise your finances so that it works the best for you. One can clearly see the benefits that Vanuatu citizenship can offer in terms of global mobility and financial planning, but how much does it cost? Well, individuals must make a one-time donation of $130,000 to the government-run investment fund.
For more information about the benefits of Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Programme and to understand why individuals are increasingly choosing to obtain dual citizenship, take a look at our blog, ‘Why HNI’s are investing in a second passport’. Otherwise, contact Bridgeway Trust for a free consultation with one of the experienced immigration advisors. They will be more than happy to provide insights on the most suitable programmes and guide you through this journey until you receive your second passport.
