Vanuatu investor visas

The provisional investor visa is for people intending to invest who are still setting up their business and dealing with the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (VFIPA) and the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC). It lasts one year and the holder must not take up employment.

The business investor visa requires a Foreign Investment Approval Certificate from VFIPA, a certificate of registration from VFSC and a business licence from the relevant authorities. The direct investor visa is granted to people who deposit a bond into a nominated government bank account for eight years and prove they can cover their living costs in Vanuatu. The permanent investor visa is for foreign investors who have lived lawfully and continuously in Vanuatu for at least 10 years and still own and manage their business.

Provisional investor: VUV 51,500 per individual, one year. Business investor: VUV 206,000, three years. Direct investor: VUV 309,000, eight years. Permanent investor: VUV 3,090,000, indefinite. All four allow multiple entries and can be extended.

The leasehold holder visa (VUV 59,330, 12 months, multiple entries, extendable) is for people holding leasehold property in Vanuatu certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu, a chartered accountant or a registered valuer at 10 million vatu or more, with a bank-certified income of at least VT 250,000 a month for each person in the application, up to a maximum of 1 million vatu. Holders must reside physically in Vanuatu and may not work.

Section 42 of the Immigration Act sets a special timing rule: when a foreign investor within the meaning of the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Act [CAP 248] applies for an extended visitor or residence visa and hands the Director the VFIPA approval certificate, or a copy certified by the investment authority, the Director must as far as practicable decide the application within five working days.

A provisional investor may change only to the business investor visa. A business investor may change to the direct investor or permanent investor visa. A direct investor may change only to an investor visa or the leasehold holder visa, and a leasehold holder only to one of the investor visas. Employment visa and short term employment visa holders may also change to one of the investor visas.

Provisional investors must not take up any employment. Business investors may work only within the proposed investment. Direct and permanent investor visas carry no listed restrictions. Under section 45 of the Act, any commercial or business activity by a residence visa holder remains subject to the Business Licence Act [CAP 249], the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Act [CAP 248] and the Companies Act [CAP 191]. Every visa is subject to the general conditions in section 44: obey the laws of Vanuatu and the visa conditions, do not behave in a way prejudicial to peace, good order or public morality, and tell the Director of any significant change in your personal or financial circumstances. Under section 47 the Director may cancel a visa, for example for a breach of conditions, false statements or loss of financial means, after giving the holder 14 days to answer a notice of proposed cancellation.