Vanuatu Passport: Government Bond Option (IGBO)

The Vanuatu government has introduced the option of investment government bonds issued in Australian dollars as the third investment option of the Investment Citizens scheme to make Vanuatu CBI more competitive among other countries. The Amendment to the Citizenship Law (Regulation on Investment in Government Bonds-Decree No. 44 of 2023) was published in the Gazette on 27 March 2023. Under the order, 500 units of bonds will be issued for citizenship purposes, each of which is eligible to apply once.

Government bonds (interest-free)

According to the order, the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu (RBV) will issue 500 zero-interest government bonds for this option, ranging from A $150000 to A $180000, depending on the maturity time:

Bonds maturing in 2 years (24 months)-A $180000

Bonds due in 2.5 (30 months)-A $170000

Bonds maturing 3 years (36 months)-A $150000

The applicant must pay 100% of the bond funds and refund the bond investment in full upon maturity (note: no interest payment is required). Vanuatu will issue a government bond certificate within 7 days of the investor's payment. The Vanuatu Citizenship Council will issue the citizenship certificate after reviewing the application within 60 days.

Government fees

Non-refundable fees payable by investors

Single Applicant-A $20000

Couples-A $30000

Couple and a child-A $45000

Couple and two children-$60000

Additional costs

Application fee -5000 VT

Certificate fee -10000 VT

Due diligence-A $7500

Qualifications

applications for bond from persons convicted of 12 months or more imprisonment for the offence will not be accepted. Applicants from Iran, Russia, Belarus and North Korea are not accepted. If the applicant proves that he or she has not resided in a restricted country or a United Nations sanctioned country within the past 5 years; and provides evidence of permanent residence abroad