Does Vanuatu citizenship still give Schengen access?

No. The EU fully suspended visa-free access for Vanuatu passport holders. Visa-free travel remains available to the UK and a number of other countries, so check current lists before applying.

How fast is Vanuatu citizenship?

Approximately one to three months from a complete application — the fastest programme available.

Is Vanuatu really zero tax?

Yes for direct taxes. There is no income, corporate, capital gains or inheritance tax, funded by VAT and duties instead.

Jurisdiction · APAC

Vanuatu

Zero direct taxation and the Pacific's fastest citizenship programme.

Scope a structure here Talk to a director

Overview

Vanuatu levies no income tax, no corporate tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax on anyone — residents included. Its Development Support Programme grants citizenship in as little as two months for a USD 130,000 contribution, the fastest process anywhere.

The trade-off is visa access: the EU suspended Schengen visa-free travel for Vanuatu passport holders, materially reducing the programme's value. It remains useful for speed, for tax residency and for holders whose travel needs are regional.

Typical use-cases

Where Vanuatu fits

Citizenship by investment
IBCs
Shipping registration

Banking

Banking landscape

Local banking capacity is small — BRED Vanuatu, ANZ and National Bank of Vanuatu. International account opening for Vanuatu entities is difficult and most structures bank in Singapore, Hong Kong, Mauritius or the UAE. Plan banking before incorporating.

Tax

Tax & reporting

No personal income tax, corporate income tax, capital gains tax, withholding tax or inheritance tax. Government revenue comes from VAT at 15%, import duty and licence fees. Vanuatu is genuinely a zero direct tax jurisdiction rather than a territorial one.

Substance

Substance & register visibility

Economic substance requirements apply to relevant activities under 2019 legislation. Beneficial ownership is filed with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission on a private register. Citizenship due diligence has been tightened following international criticism, but processing remains fast.

Decision

When to pick this jurisdiction

Pick Vanuatu when speed of citizenship matters more than Schengen access, when a genuinely zero-tax personal residence in the Pacific is the plan, or for regional shipping registration.

The director's view

Written up as a comparative shortlist.

Every Vanuatu recommendation is delivered as a comparative memorandum — substance defensibility, banking access, treaty coverage, register visibility, cost to maintain and reputational risk — so the client can see the trade-offs before committing.

Next step

Considering Vanuatu? Get a written comparison first.

Answer six questions and a director will come back with a shortlist, indicative costs and banking route.

Scope a structure here Compare jurisdictions

Frequently asked

Questions we hear on every Vanuatu intake.

Does Vanuatu citizenship still give Schengen access?: No. The EU fully suspended visa-free access for Vanuatu passport holders. Visa-free travel remains available to the UK and a number of other countries, so check current lists before applying.
How fast is Vanuatu citizenship?: Approximately one to three months from a complete application — the fastest programme available.
Is Vanuatu really zero tax?: Yes for direct taxes. There is no income, corporate, capital gains or inheritance tax, funded by VAT and duties instead.

Relevant services