VanuatuCompany formation, tax and banking
No direct taxes at all, and the Pacific's fastest citizenship programme.
Vanuatu charges no income tax, company tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax on anyone, residents included. Its Development Support Programme grants citizenship in as little as two months for a USD 130,000 payment — the fastest anywhere.
The catch is travel: the EU suspended visa-free Schengen travel for Vanuatu passport holders, which cuts the programme's value a lot. It's still useful for speed, for tax residence, and for people who mainly travel within the region.
Why people choose Vanuatu
- No income, company, capital gains or inheritance tax, residents included
- Citizenship in as little as two months for USD 130,000
- Real owners filed privately with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission
- Quick company set-up and regional ship registration
Where Vanuatu fits
- Citizenship by investment
- IBCs
- Shipping registration
Where Vanuatu fits in a structure
Typical role · Fast second citizenship and Pacific company
Vanuatu plays two parts: a fast second citizenship through the Development Support Programme, and a simple IBC (international business company) in a country with no direct taxes. The company banks elsewhere, usually in Singapore, Hong Kong, Mauritius or the UAE. Unless you genuinely move to Vanuatu, where you live decides what you pay on the profits.
What it depends onBanking is the hard part, so sort out an account abroad before you set up, and weigh the EU's suspension of visa-free Schengen travel for Vanuatu passport holders.
A simplified picture to explain the idea, not a recommendation. General information, not tax or legal advice.
Opening a bank account
Local banking is small — BRED Vanuatu, ANZ and National Bank of Vanuatu. Opening accounts abroad for Vanuatu companies is hard, and most structures bank in Singapore, Hong Kong, Mauritius or the UAE. Sort out banking before setting up the company.
How tax works here
No personal income tax, company tax, capital gains tax, tax kept back on payments, or inheritance tax. The government is funded by 15% VAT, import duty and licence fees. Vanuatu genuinely has no direct taxes, rather than only taxing local income.
Real presence, and who can see the owners
Substance rules apply to certain activities under a 2019 law. The real owners are filed privately with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission. Background checks for citizenship were tightened after international criticism, but processing is still fast.
When to choose it
Choose Vanuatu when speed of citizenship matters more than Schengen travel, when you genuinely plan a zero-tax life in the Pacific, or for regional ship registration.
You get a written comparison, not a sales pitch.
Every Vanuatu recommendation comes as a written comparison with the alternatives — whether the setup will stand up to scrutiny, how easy banking will be, which tax treaties apply, who can see the owners, what it costs to run each year and the risk to your reputation — so you can see the trade-offs before you commit.
Considering Vanuatu? Get a written comparison first.
Answer six questions and our team will come back with a shortlist, rough costs and where you could bank.
Questions we hear on every Vanuatu intake.
- Does Vanuatu citizenship still give Schengen access?
- No. The EU fully suspended visa-free travel for Vanuatu passport holders. Visa-free travel to the UK and some other countries remains, so check the current lists before applying.
- How fast is Vanuatu citizenship?
- About one to three months from a complete application — the fastest programme there is.
- Is Vanuatu really zero tax?
- Yes, for direct taxes. There's no income, company, capital gains or inheritance tax; VAT and duties fund the government instead.
What we typically deliver in Vanuatu
Citizenship by Investment
Second passports through 13 government-approved programmes.
StructuresOffshore & Onshore Company Formation
We set up companies in the BVI, Cayman, the UAE, Singapore, the UK, Delaware and 55 more places — ready for a bank account, with proof that the company is genuinely run where it's registered.
MobilityResidency by Investment
Golden visas and residency in 13 countries — Portugal, the UAE, Malta, Greece and more.
StructuresYacht & Aircraft Registration
Choose the flag, register and ownership setup for your yacht or private jet.
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Every engagement begins with a twenty-minute advisory call. The fee is in writing before any work begins. No hourly billing.