21 CBI. The Bitcoin Standard of Citizenship.
The fastest citizenship by investment in the world. Your passport in 30–60 days. Pay in Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Accepted. 5% Advisory Fee. Remote-First Process.
Unsure if this program fits? Take the 2-minute PPQSpeed is not the same as urgency.
The fastest CBI on Earth is also the most disciplined. Three independent screening authorities. Mandatory biometric capture at one of four enrolment centers (Dubai, Hong Kong, New Caledonia, or Port Vila). A $5,000 Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) due diligence fee that exists because the work happens.
See the Vanuatu pathwayFocused on Vanuatu? It has a dedicated home at cbi.vu, our Vanuatu vertical: the full Development Support Program in one place, in English, Arabic, Russian, and Chinese.
21 CBI is a licensed partner of a VCC-authorized Vanuatu law firm. We submit and process citizenship applications under both the DSP and CIIP. We have filed these applications ourselves, dealt with VFIU screening firsthand, and know what the forms do not tell you.
Your application moves through three due diligence bodies: VFIU financial intelligence, Interpol NCB screening, and the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission. We coordinate biometrics, administer the Oath of Allegiance, and keep you informed at every stage over encrypted channels. Every cost and timeline is disclosed before you commit.
The fastest passport on Earth meets the most disciplined due diligence. The math, not the marketing, is the reason.
The fastest citizenship-by-investment passport on the planet. Zero personal income tax. Zero capital gains tax. Zero inheritance tax. Vanuatu sits at the crossroads of Oceania and Asia: an 83-island Melanesian archipelago, a Commonwealth member, a Pacific Islands Forum member, and the only sovereign in our slate that screens every applicant through a single national authority (the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit). Citizenship framework continuous under the Citizenship Act (Cap. 112) since the 1980s; the Development Support Programme has run since 2017.
The legacy economy runs on tourism, agriculture, and copra. The financial-services chapter is older than the marketing suggests: Vanuatu’s International Business Company (IBC) framework dates to the early 1990s and remains one of the cleanest non-resident corporate vehicles in the Asia-Pacific. The Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) supervises company registrations; the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu (RBV) runs monetary policy. For Bitcoin-native founders running globally, the IBC framework pairs naturally with Vanuatu citizenship to give the holder a Commonwealth passport, a zero-personal-income-tax residence option, and a non-resident operating vehicle in one jurisdiction.
Two pathways lead to citizenship. The DSP (Development Support Programme, established 2017 under the Citizenship Act) is the direct-contribution route: $130,000 government contribution for a single applicant, processed in 30 to 60 days. The CIIP (Capital Investment Immigration Plan, introduced 2023 under Order No. 8) pairs a $110,000 government contribution with a $50,000 redeemable Cocoa Sustainable Fund component that brings the net cost lower for cost-conscious families. Both pathways run through the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (VFIU) for due diligence and the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission (VCC) for grant. No residency requirement. No in-country visit. No language test. No annual cap. BTC, Lightning, and USDT are our payment rails; credit cards and bank transfers also accepted as needed.
For Bitcoiners, Vanuatu’s combination of speed, zero-tax structure, and Asia-Pacific positioning is unique in our slate. No other program we represent reaches Singapore and Hong Kong visa-free. None matches the 30-to-60-day timeline. Schengen visa-free access was permanently revoked in December 2024 and the United Kingdom now requires a Standard Visitor visa, so the passport’s 87 destinations are weighted toward Asia-Pacific rather than Europe. The trade-off is direct: a 30-to-60-day file, in a zero-personal-income-tax jurisdiction, with the financial capitals of Asia on a visa-free passport. No other program in our slate combines those three at $130,000.
Capital
Port Vila
Population
~340,000
Language
English, French, Bislama
Currency
Vatu (VUV)
Timezone
UTC+11 (VUT)
Climate
Tropical Oceanic
Government
Parliamentary Democracy
Commonwealth
Yes
Legal Basis: Vanuatu Citizenship Act (Cap. 112), administered by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission (VCC) for grant and screened by the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (VFIU) for due diligence. DSP established January 2017; CIIP introduced 2023 under Order No. 8.
Vanuatu’s structural role as a non-resident-friendly jurisdiction predates the CBI program. The International Business Company (IBC) framework, codified in 1993 under the International Companies Act, made Vanuatu one of the cleanest jurisdictions for foreign-owned holding entities. Zero personal income tax. Zero capital gains tax. Zero inheritance tax. The financial-services architecture was already in place when the government turned to passport-grade citizenship in 2017.
The Development Support Programme (DSP) launched in January 2017 under regulations to the Citizenship Act (Cap. 112). One direct contribution to the government, $130,000 for a single applicant, processed in 30 to 60 days. No residency requirement, no in-country visit, no language test, no annual cap. The DSP redefined what 'fast’ meant in the CBI category. The Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) followed in 2023 under Order No. 8: a $110,000 government contribution paired with a $50,000 redeemable Cocoa Sustainable Fund component, recoverable after four years, designed to bring the net cost lower for cost-conscious families.
On December 12, 2024, the Council of the European Union formally ended Schengen visa-free access for Vanuatu passport holders. The Council’s finding cited concerns about due-diligence standards across CBI files, not the citizenship framework itself. Schengen travel for Vanuatu citizens now requires advance visa application (15 to 60 calendar days). The 87-destination visa-free footprint stays intact across Asia-Pacific. The zero-personal-income-tax jurisdiction status is unchanged. Vanuatu citizenship itself remains in full force.
Vanuatu responded by strengthening the file-screening process. Enhanced due diligence now includes expanded VFIU screening, Interpol NCB coordination, adverse media checks, and on-chain source-of-funds verification for Bitcoin-funded applications. The pre-2024 critique was that some operators were filing weak compliance packages. The post-2024 standard is materially tighter, fewer applicants clear the bar, and the passports that issue under the current standard carry more credibility with international banking and immigration partners than the passports that issued under the prior one.
As of May 2026, both the DSP ($130,000 single applicant) and the CIIP ($110,000 government contribution + $50,000 redeemable Cocoa Sustainable Fund) are open and processing applications. The legal framework rests on the Citizenship Act (Cap. 112). The Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (VFIU) screens applicants for due diligence; the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission (VCC) grants citizenship. Processing remains 30 to 60 days from a clean file. No residency requirement. No in-country visit. No language test. No annual cap on either pathway.
For Bitcoiners, Vanuatu remains the only CBI program in our slate that pairs a 30-to-60-day passport with a zero-personal-income-tax jurisdiction and direct visa-free reach to Singapore and Hong Kong. BTC, Lightning, and USDT are our payment rails; credit cards and bank transfers also accepted as needed. The Schengen revocation is structural and we treat it as such. What the passport delivers today is Asia-Pacific mobility, fast processing, and a clean tax structure for a non-resident holder. No other program in our slate combines those three at $130,000.
Two pathways. Same passport. Same 30-to-60-day timeline. The difference is what happens to your contribution: $130,000 gone for good under the DSP, or $110,000 + a $50,000 fund stake that comes back after four years under the CIIP. BTC, Lightning, and USDT are our payment rails on either route; credit cards and bank transfers also accepted as needed.
Maximum Speed, Donation Pathway
$130,000
$130,000 contribution to the Vanuatu government. Non-refundable.
No investment hold period. No redeemable components.
No ongoing obligations after citizenship is granted.
Processing: 30–60 days. Payable in BTC, Lightning, or USDT.
Best for: Speed + Simplicity
Trade-off: every dollar gone, no recovery window.
Cost-Efficient with Redeemable Returns
$110,000 + $50,000 fund
$110,000 contribution to the Vanuatu government. Non-refundable.
$50,000 in the Cocoa Sustainable Fund. Redeemable after four years.
Projected yields ~4–5% annually; net effective cost after redemption ~$124,000. Projected returns are estimates and are not guaranteed.
Processing: 30–60 days. Payable in BTC, Lightning, or USDT.
Best for: Cost Recovery
Trade-off: $50,000 capital locked four years; yields not guaranteed.
| Factor | DSP | CIIP |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cost (All-In) | $145,000 | $174,000 |
| Redeemable Component | $0 | $50,000 |
| Effective Net Cost | $145,000 | $124,000 |
| Processing Time | 30–60 days | 30–60 days |
| Capital Lock-Up | None | 4 years |
| Best For | Speed + Simplicity | Cost Recovery |
| Projected Returns | N/A | 4–5% annual |
Projected CIIP returns (4–5% annual) and net effective cost (~$124,000) are estimates and are not guaranteed. Total-cost (all-in) figures include the 21 CBI 5% advisory fee on the government contribution; see the cost page for the full ledger.
Choose DSP if your timeline is urgent, you prefer capital finality, or your family size is small (DSP is more cost-efficient for single applicants and couples). Choose CIIP if you have a four-year horizon and want to bring your effective net cost down to approximately $124,000 through the redeemable Cocoa Sustainable Fund component. Both pathways are payable in BTC, Lightning, or USDT (credit cards and bank transfers also accepted as needed). Both process in 30 to 60 days. Both deliver the same passport.
Tell us about your situation. We’ll assess your eligibility and map your optimal pathway. No commitment.
Begin Your SovereigntySpeed, cost efficiency, and tax neutrality. The math is below.
DSP applicants receive approval and citizenship within 30 to 60 days from filing. No other CBI program we advise on processes faster: São Tomé and El Salvador both run 6 to 8 weeks; Türkiye runs 4 to 6 months. Files are screened by the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (VFIU) and granted by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission (VCC) under the Citizenship Act (Cap. 112). When your timeline is not theoretical, the gap is the point.
DSP is a direct contribution to the Vanuatu government: $130,000 single-applicant, non-refundable, simplest structure. CIIP pairs a $110,000 government contribution with a $50,000 redeemable Cocoa Sustainable Fund stake that comes back after four years. Both pathways process in 30 to 60 days. Both deliver the same passport. The trade-off is your capital horizon, not your passport timeline.
Zero personal income tax. Zero capital gains tax. Zero inheritance tax. Zero corporate income tax. The only material tax is a 15% VAT on local consumption (import duties and stamp duty apply at the transactional layer). For a Bitcoiner with on-chain wealth structured offshore, every income-layer tax reads zero. Vanuatu participates in CRS; we treat that as a separate file and walk through the implications during your strategy call. Consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
Application, due diligence, and oath of allegiance handled remotely. One in-person biometric appointment is required in Dubai, Hong Kong, New Caledonia, or Port Vila (your choice); no other Vanuatu visit needed. Türkiye and Argentina both require in-country biometrics; Vanuatu is the most remote-friendly file in our slate.
Visa-free access to Singapore (30 days), Hong Kong (90 days), Malaysia (90 days), and 84 more destinations across Asia-Pacific. 87 total visa-free destinations. The Pacific basin is where this passport reaches deepest: ASEAN majors, North Asia financial centers, and Oceania peers all on a single document. Schengen and the United Kingdom require advance visas as of December 2024 (15 to 60 calendar days); the trade-off is named here, not buried at the bottom of someone else’s marketing page.
DSP family scaling is transparent: $150,000 for a couple, $165,000 for a family of three, $180,000 for a family of four, $15,000 per additional dependent thereafter. Dependent children up to age 25 and parents age 50+ qualify. Children born after citizenship is granted automatically receive Vanuatu citizenship by descent. One file. Multiple passports. Generational reach.
Government Contribution
$130,000
$130,000 single-applicant on the DSP; $110,000 + a $50,000 Cocoa Sustainable Fund stake on the CIIP (redeemable after four years). Non-refundable contribution to the Vanuatu government, settled in BTC, Lightning, or USDT; credit cards and bank transfers also accepted as needed. Family math and live BTC equivalents in the calculator and breakdown below.
Processing Time
30–60 days
Both DSP and CIIP run on the same 30-to-60-day government window from filing to grant. Document preparation runs 2 to 4 weeks ahead of filing. Files are screened by the VFIU and granted by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission.
21 CBI Advisory Fee
$6,500(DSP single applicant)
5% of the government contribution: $6,500 on the DSP file ($130,000 × 5%), $5,500 on the CIIP file ($110,000 × 5%). Flat per applicant, not per family member. No hidden costs; advisory fee payable in BTC, Lightning, USDT, or fiat.
Visa-Free Destinations
87
Asia-Pacific corridor: Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and 84 more destinations. Schengen and the United Kingdom require advance visas as of December 2024 (15 to 60 calendar days). Ranked #52 on the Henley Passport Index; verified May 7, 2026.
Passport Validity
10 years
Vanuatu passports issue on a 10-year cycle and renew on standard procedure. Citizenship itself is permanent and hereditary; children born after citizenship is granted automatically receive Vanuatu citizenship by descent.
| Fee Component | Individual | Couple | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Each Add’l |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government Donation (DSP) | $130,000 | $150,000 | $165,000 | $180,000 | $15,000 |
Birth Registration + National ID ($2,500/person) | $2,500 | $5,000 | $7,500 | $10,000 | $2,500 |
Due Diligence | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | N/A |
Passport Enrollment ($1,000/person) | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $1,000 |
21 CBI Advisory Fee (5% of DSP) | $6,500 | $7,500 | $8,250 | $9,000 | $750 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $145,000 | $169,500 | $188,750 | $208,000 | $19,250 |
● 21 CBI charges a flat 5% advisory fee on the government contribution only, compared to the 15 to 25% typically charged by traditional CBI firms.
*Birth Registration + National ID fee of $2,500 per person applies to all applicants. Passport enrollment fee of $1,000 per person applies. Biometric administration fees may apply for international enrollment locations. All figures in USD. For live BTC/sats equivalents, use the calculator above. BTC rates shift; static sats figures go stale.
| Fee Component | Individual | Couple | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Each Add’l |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CIIP Program Fee | $110,000 | $110,000 | $110,000 | $110,000 | $10,000 |
CIIP Fund Investment (redeemable after 4 yrs) | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | N/A |
Birth Registration + National ID ($2,500/person) | $2,500 | $5,000 | $7,500 | $10,000 | $2,500 |
Due Diligence | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | N/A |
Passport Enrollment ($1,000/person) | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $1,000 |
21 CBI Advisory Fee (5% of CIIP gov. fee) | $5,500 | $5,500 | $5,500 | $5,500 | $500 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $174,000 | $177,500 | $181,000 | $184,500 | $14,000 |
| Net after fund redemption | $124,000 | $127,500 | $131,000 | $135,000 | $14,000 |
● 21 CBI charges a flat 5% advisory fee on the government contribution only, compared to the 15 to 25% typically charged by traditional CBI firms.
*$50,000 of the CIIP investment is placed in the Cocoa Sustainable Fund and is redeemable after 4 years. 21 CBI advisory fee is 5% of the $110,000 government contribution only; fund investment is excluded from advisory fee calculation. Birth Registration + National ID fee of $2,500 per person applies to all applicants. CIIP base fee is fixed at $110,000 regardless of family size. Passport enrollment of $1,000/person applies. Biometric administration fees may apply for international enrollment locations. All figures in USD. For live BTC/sats equivalents, use the calculator above. BTC rates shift; static sats figures go stale.
DSP and CIIP run the same 30-to-60-day file through the same VFIU due-diligence pipeline. Both deliver Vanuatu citizenship under the same Citizenship Commission grant. The difference is what happens to your capital after the passport issues: $130,000 gone for good under the DSP, or $110,000 + a $50,000 Cocoa Sustainable Fund stake that comes back after four years under the CIIP.
The choice is your capital horizon, not your passport timeline. The output is the same Commonwealth passport. The decision belongs in the strategy call, not in the marketing.
Get a personalized quote and pathway recommendation. No commitment.
Schedule a Strategy CallWe assess your profile, run a preliminary compliance review, and prepare your full document package. Any flags surface here, not at the VFIU’s desk. Pathway selection (DSP or CIIP), family composition review, cost estimate with live Bitcoin rate quote, and complete documents checklist provided up front. The 21 CBI advisory fee is $6,500 on the DSP and $5,500 on the CIIP, structured so the bulk is payable at approval; you are not out the full amount on a denial. Per-applicant family fees are itemized in the Costs ledger above.
1 to 2 weeksYour application enters parallel screening across three bodies: the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (VFIU), Interpol National Central Bureau, and the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission (VCC). International criminal database checks, sanctions screening, source of funds verification, and AML/CTF compliance review run concurrently. Biometrics are captured at a single in-person appointment at one of four Vanuatu enrolment centers: Dubai, Hong Kong, New Caledonia, or Port Vila (your choice). Pick any of the three overseas centers and no Vanuatu visit is needed. We monitor progress and keep you informed throughout over encrypted channels.
2 to 4 weeksVCC approval notification. Final invoice issued for the government contribution (and any CIIP Cocoa Sustainable Fund subscription if you chose CIIP). BTC, Lightning, and USDT are our payment rails; credit cards and bank transfers also accepted as needed. Lightning payments settle in seconds; the bottleneck at this stage is government acknowledgment, not banking rails. Payment processed through our authorized legal channel. Oath of Allegiance documentation prepared.
1 to 2 weeksVanuatu citizenship certificate, 10-year biometric Commonwealth passport, and supporting civil documents issued. Citizenship is hereditary and permanent: it passes to your children by descent and cannot be revoked absent fraud in the application. No residency requirement, no in-country visit requirement to maintain or renew the passport. The 10-year cycle renews at any Vanuatu consulate worldwide; you do not need to step foot in Port Vila to keep your citizenship live. Post-approval onboarding: passport renewal guidance, dual citizenship notes, and consular services access.
1 weekTotal Duration: 30 to 60 days from filing to passport in hand. Document preparation (Step 1) runs 1 to 2 weeks before filing, so plan on approximately 6 to 10 weeks from initial engagement to passport delivery.
Document requirements may vary by applicant circumstances. 21 CBI coordinates all document preparation, translation, and apostille requirements as part of our advisory service.
Legally married spouse files on the same Vanuatu citizenship application with proof of shared address and apostilled marriage certificate. Under the DSP, adding a spouse increases the government fee from $130,000 to $150,000; under the CIIP, the spouse is included in the flat $110,000 program fee. Same passport, same visa-free reach, same hereditary citizenship.
Can be added to application
Children under 18 are automatically included on the Vanuatu application; each adds the per-applicant family fee shown in the Costs ledger. Unmarried children aged 18 to 25 who remain financially dependent on the main applicant and are enrolled full-time in accredited education file as dependents under the same structure.
Included (family of 4)
Parents aged 50 and over and grandparents aged 65 and over who are financially dependent on the main applicant can be added to the application. Once approved, they receive Vanuatu citizenship and the same #52 Commonwealth passport with visa-free reach to approximately 87 destinations.
$19,250/add’l dependent
DSP and CIIP both allow post-approval additions, billed at the standard per-applicant rate (DSP: $19,250 per new spouse or dependent; CIIP: $14,000 per dependent). Newborns to a Vanuatu citizen receive automatic citizenship by descent, anywhere in the world. Hereditary, generational, untethered to residence.
Flexible additionsWe do not mark up the $130,000 government fee, and we do not pre-approve VCC due diligence; we are a designated agent filing with the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission, not the screening authority. The 5% advisory fee is calculated on the government contribution only and disclosed before you commit. The DSP contribution itself is non-refundable once wired. If a competing firm cannot match that math, ask them why.
We do not promise a 30-day timeline. The VFIU’s three-authority screening runs 30 to 60 days from filing; PEP (Politically Exposed Person) files and complex source-of-funds cases push to the upper bound or beyond. Our role is to file the cleanest possible package, not to manufacture urgency.
We do not file Vanuatu for clients whose compliance profile is unresolved. The post-2024 reform package exists precisely because lax filings damaged the passport’s standing under EU scrutiny. We pre-screen every applicant; if the file will not survive due diligence, we tell you before you wire a single sat.
We do not pretend Schengen access will return. The December 2024 revocation is structural, not negotiable, and any firm that implies otherwise is reading the EU wrong. If Schengen mobility is your priority, Vanuatu is the wrong program, and we will tell you that on the first call.
Lawful tax transparency, by international agreement.
Vanuatu’s tax structure is real; the reporting framework is also real. We tell clients both halves.
Verifiable, not trust-based. The same principle Satoshi applied to money, we apply to advisory.
Vanuatu participates in the OECD Common Reporting Standard, the multilateral framework that automatically exchanges financial account information between participating jurisdictions. Information held in Vanuatu institutions is reported to your country of tax residence on a fixed annual cadence.
The Common Reporting Standard is an OECD framework under which participating jurisdictions automatically exchange account-holder data, including balances, interest, dividends, and sale proceeds, with each other’s tax authorities. Over 120 jurisdictions participate: most of the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia, and every major offshore center that once traded on privacy.
Vanuatu participates.
Citizenship is not tax residency. Vanuatu citizenship by itself does not change your tax residency or make you a non-resident of your prior jurisdiction. The benefits of Vanuatu’s tax structure are realized through genuine relocation, not through paperwork.
US citizens remain under FATCA. United States citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of additional citizenship. Vanuatu naturalization does not change this. If US renunciation is the goal, Exitly manages the renunciation process end to end.
Sovereign policy can change. Vanuatu’s current CRS posture is policy, recorded in its OECD commitments. 21 CBI updates this page when material changes occur. The implications depend on your specific situation; we walk you through them during your strategy call. Consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
Reporting, not secrecy. Compliance, not evasion. Zero tax, by sovereign design.
Tell us about your situation. We’ll assess your eligibility and map your optimal pathway. No commitment.
Begin Your Sovereignty56
Member States
56 sovereign states across six continents share a common-law legal tradition rooted in English jurisprudence. For cross-border legal predictability (trust structures, corporate vehicles, dispute resolution), that shared root matters more than the size of the alliance.
2.5B
People
One-third of the global population lives in Commonwealth states. The Commonwealth is a forum, not a passport: your Vanuatu passport does not unlock visa-free travel to the UK, Australia, Canada, or Singapore. What it provides is participation in a 56-state diplomatic and legal-cooperation framework.
$13T+
Combined GDP
Commonwealth members produce roughly 18% of world GDP. There is no Commonwealth-wide free trade agreement (each bilateral or regional pact stands on its own), but English-language commercial law and common-law trust structures lower friction for Vanuatu IBC operators doing business across the bloc.
All Commonwealth members maintain reciprocal diplomatic relations and accept each other’s passports as valid travel documents. Visa requirements still apply where they exist: UK Standard Visitor visa, Australian eTA or visa, Canadian eTA, Singapore visa where required. What diplomatic standing eliminates is the politically-motivated refusal of recognition that non-recognized passports face. Vanuatu citizenship is recognized worldwide.
Most Commonwealth jurisdictions inherit English common-law tradition: trust law, contract law, corporate frameworks, and the body of commercial precedent that supports them. For a Bitcoiner setting up a Vanuatu IBC and operating across the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Australia, that shared root reduces structural friction. Professional qualifications (medical, legal, engineering) still require local accreditation; commercial structures do not.
There is no Commonwealth-wide free trade agreement. What exists is a network of bilateral and regional pacts: CPTPP (which Vanuatu is not party to), bilateral FTAs between specific member pairs, and the broader Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda. The operational benefit for a Vanuatu IBC operator is English-language commercial law and shared accounting standards, which lower compliance overhead when invoicing and contracting across the bloc.
Vanuatu occupies a specific place in the CBI slate: the fastest passport on the planet (30 to 60 days), a zero-personal-income-tax jurisdiction, and the only program that pairs Asia-Pacific visa-free reach with Bitcoin-payable file processing. What it does not deliver is mobility breadth. Visa-free reach is 87 destinations versus ~131 for El Salvador and ~113 for Türkiye, with no Schengen and no UK visa-free access since the December 2024 revocation. The two programs below name the upgrade paths if your file needs more passport strength.
A dated record of material changes to the Vanuatu program. 21 CBI re-verifies every 90 days; material changes are logged within 72 hours of any official announcement.
21 CBI re-verification of DSP and CIIP processing windows, VFIU due diligence cadence, and government fees. No material change since previous review.
Council of the European Union formally ends Schengen visa-free access for Vanuatu passport holders. Schengen travel now requires advance visa application (15 to 60 calendar days). The Citizenship Act and program structure remain unchanged; passport mobility footprint is 87 destinations.
Order No. 8 of 2023 introduces the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP), pairing a $110,000 government contribution with a $50,000 redeemable Cocoa Sustainable Fund investment over a four-year horizon.
Development Support Program (DSP) launches under Government Order No. 215 of 2016 (signed 15 December 2016, effective 1 January 2017), establishing Vanuatu’s first direct-donation CBI pathway and the fastest CBI processing window globally at 30 to 60 days.
One file. One contribution. One Pacific passport.
Six weeks of preparation. 30 to 60 days of processing. $130,000 in government contribution plus 5% advisory fee, settled in BTC, Lightning, or USDT; credit cards and bank transfers also accepted as needed. A passport that opens 87 destinations and a tax structure that takes nothing from your stack.
Low time preference does not mean no action. It means making the right move at the right time.
Encrypted. No obligation. Just clarity.
Filing Vanuatu DSP and CIIP since 2024.
Last Updated: 14 May 2026
Source-verified · See methodologyBitcoin source-of-funds methodology
Answer 3 questions.
1.What’s your priority?
2.How many people are applying?
3.Are you comfortable locking $50,000 for 4 years to reduce your net cost?
A zero-tax operating environment. A tax-exempt IBC framework. A passport built for the Pacific basin. The structural advantages a Bitcoiner operating across Asia-Pacific markets actually uses.
Vanuatu has zero personal income tax, zero capital gains tax, zero inheritance tax, and zero corporate income tax. The only major tax is a 15% VAT on local consumption (raised from 12.5% to 15% in January 2018). For Bitcoiners with on-chain wealth structured offshore, every income-layer tax reads zero. Zero tax in Vanuatu does not eliminate obligations in your country of tax residence; specific outcomes depend on your situation, and we walk you through them during your strategy call.
Under the International Companies Act of 1993, Vanuatu IBCs are tax-exempt, carry minimal reporting obligations, and require no public director or shareholder registry. Common uses: holding companies, IP vehicles, asset-protection structures, and Bitcoin treasury entities. The Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) supervises the framework. For a Bitcoiner who needs an offshore corporate vehicle that pairs with self-custody and minimal counterparty surface, the IBC is the structural primitive.
The Vanuatu passport carries visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 87 destinations across the Asia-Pacific corridor, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and most of ASEAN. Schengen and UK access were withdrawn in December 2024 and now require advance visas. For Bitcoiners and founders operating in the Asia-Pacific basin, the passport pairs naturally with Singapore residency, Hong Kong banking, and ASEAN business operations: three markets that lead the region on digital-asset regulation.
The Vanuatu Financial Services Commission supervises banking, insurance, mutual funds, IBCs, trusts, and foundations. Vanuatu has been a Pacific offshore financial jurisdiction since the 1970s, with mature legal frameworks for trust formation, asset protection, and cross-border corporate vehicles. The VFSC maintains a public registry of licensed service providers, so you can verify any firm before engaging; useful when your file involves Bitcoin holdings and the counterparty’s compliance posture matters. The supervisory perimeter is published; the rules are knowable; the friction lives where it should.
Vanuatu participates in the OECD Common Reporting Standard, meaning financial account information held in Vanuatu institutions is automatically exchanged with your country of tax residence. For a Bitcoiner, the CRS perimeter is narrower than it looks: CRS reports come from Financial Institutions, and self-custodied Bitcoin holdings sit outside that perimeter entirely. If your priority is a Non-CRS jurisdiction, we advise on those too; the right answer depends on your residency, citizenship, and asset structure. The implications depend on your specific situation; we walk you through them during your strategy call. Vanuatu’s tax structure is real; the reporting framework is also real, and we tell clients both halves of the picture.
Governed by the Trust Companies Act (Cap. 69) and the International Trusts Act of 1996, supervised by the VFSC. Zero tax on trust income, gains, and distributions. No statutory perpetuity period under the ITA 1996; settlors typically nominate 80 to 150 years for drafting clarity. No forced heirship override. No public registration. Paired with hereditary Vanuatu citizenship, a trust becomes a generational vehicle: your children inherit both the passport and the structure. Bitcoin held inside the trust inherits the same protections, including the zero-tax treatment at the trust layer. Vanuatu does not carry the statutory firewall provisions of BVI or Cook Islands, so it fits where privacy, tax neutrality, and estate continuity are the priorities, not adversarial creditor litigation.
For the entity side of the stack, OffshoreGuy (opens in new window) handles company formation across 29 jurisdictions for Bitcoiners, paid in Bitcoin.
Bitcoin-Native Pricing
See exactly what your Vanuatu citizenship costs in Bitcoin. Live pricing. No hidden fees; just our transparent 5% advisory fee.
Our advisory fee is payable in Bitcoin (on-chain, Lightning, or USDT). Government contributions and processing fees are handled through our licensed partner law firm in Vanuatu with full transparency on conversion. Fiat bank transfer and credit cards also accepted. We coordinate the full payment logistics on your behalf.
5% advisory fee on government donation. Competitors charge 15–25%.
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Nationals of the following countries are not eligible for Vanuatu citizenship by investment. Applicants from Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, or Yemen may qualify only if they have resided outside those jurisdictions for five or more continuous years; Afghanistan-nationality applicants are not eligible without exemption. Restrictions follow VFIU and VCC due-diligence policy in alignment with the OFAC, UN, EU, and UK sanctions frameworks that Vanuatu honors as a Commonwealth and Pacific Islands Forum member. List reflects VCC policy as of April 27, 2026.
We list restrictions upfront. The same principle Satoshi applied to money, we apply to advisory: verifiable, not trust-based. If your situation is ambiguous, send an inquiry for an honest assessment.
Vanuatu accepts citizenship applicants from nearly every nationality outside the restricted list above. EU, US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and most Asia-Pacific applicants (Singapore, South Korea, Japan, UAE, and others) routinely clear due diligence. Separately, 21 CBI applies an internal pre-qualification standard: minimum $250,000 in verifiable liquid assets, so the contribution and family-living-expense documentation clears DD without delay. This is our client-fit floor, not a Vanuatu government requirement.
Answer 3 quick questions. We will tell you if you qualify and show you the numbers for your situation.
0%
No tax on personal income, business revenue, or professional fees, including Bitcoin yield and mining proceeds. Zero withholding.
0%
No tax on investment gains, asset appreciation, or sale proceeds. Buy, hold, and sell Bitcoin without CGT friction. Self-custodied BTC sits outside the Vanuatu tax base entirely.
0%
No inheritance tax. No estate tax. No wealth-transfer levies. Pass wealth to heirs intact.
0%
No annual tax on net worth, assets, or holdings. Your portfolio is yours alone.
0%
Vanuatu-based businesses, trusts, and entities pay zero corporate tax. IBC structures are native to the jurisdiction.
IBC
Vanuatu’s IBC framework is designed for non-resident business owners. Establish a Vanuatu IBC for global operations. Zero Vanuatu tax on foreign-source income.
CRS
Vanuatu participates in the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), meaning financial account information held in Vanuatu institutions is automatically exchanged with your country of tax residence. The implications depend on your specific situation; we walk you through them during your strategy call. Consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
15% VAT
Vanuatu levies a 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) on most goods and services and applies import duties on goods entering the country; property-related fees and stamp duty apply on real estate and certain transactions. The zero-tax framing on this page refers to direct income, capital gains, inheritance, wealth, and corporate taxes. Indirect taxes are a normal cost of doing business in the jurisdiction. Consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
A US-based Bitcoiner selling 10 BTC at $75K each with a $23K cost basis realizes $520K in taxable gains. At the top federal rate (23.8% including NIIT), that’s $124K+ in federal taxes alone, before state taxes. With a second citizenship, proper structuring, and a long-term relocation strategy, that tax burden can be reduced dramatically or even eliminated entirely.
With Vanuatu’s 0% capital gains tax, that $124K stays in your stack. At a program cost starting from $145,000, your first tax-free Bitcoin exit pays for your passport. This is a simplified illustration for informational purposes only. Tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances, residency status, source country obligations (including US worldwide taxation for citizens), and full compliance with applicable tax law. This does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified cross-border tax advisor before making decisions based on this example.
Vanuatu’s zero-direct-tax structure means there is no double tax to negotiate around. With no income tax, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, no wealth tax, and no corporate tax in the domestic regime, the dense Double Tax Agreement (DTA) networks that high-tax jurisdictions need are largely irrelevant here.
The treaty footprint that does exist is narrowly scoped: 1 Double Tax Agreement (with Australia) and 13 Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) with OECD-aligned counterparts including Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and San Marino. On the investment-protection side, ratified Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) exist with the United Kingdom (2003) and China (2006); additional BITs are in negotiation with the United States, Japan, France, Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.
The editorial point: a small treaty footprint reflects structural sufficiency, not inadequacy. Your home-country tax obligations remain in force regardless of treaty coverage, and CRS-driven information exchange (separate from taxation) operates on its own framework, which we cover in the CRS Participant tile above. We walk you through the implications during your strategy call. Verifiable, not trust-based.
Vanuatu’s sole bilateral tax treaty. Prevents double taxation on cross-border income flowing between the two jurisdictions; relevant for Australian-resident applicants using Vanuatu as a relocation destination.
TIEAs with Australia, Denmark, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France, Greenland, Grenada, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, and San Marino. Information-exchange instruments distinct from tax treaties; they cover account-level data, not taxation.
Investor protection against expropriation, nationalization, and discriminatory treatment. UK signed 2003; China signed 2006. Additional BITs in negotiation with the United States, Japan, France, Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.
The Vanuatu passport opens 87 destinations without a visa or with visa-on-arrival, weighted toward the Asia-Pacific corridor: Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, the Pacific Islands Forum bloc. Schengen and the United Kingdom are not on the list; Schengen access was permanently revoked in December 2024 and the United Kingdom now requires a Standard Visitor visa. The list below is the full inventory as of May 7, 2026.
Source: Henley Passport Index, verified May 19, 2026 (opens in new window)
The Vanuatu passport is built for the Asia-Pacific corridor: Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands Forum bloc on visa-free or visa-on-arrival access. It pairs that mobility with the cleanest tax-residency architecture in our slate: zero income tax, zero capital gains, zero inheritance. For Bitcoiners building positions in the region, the math works. The trade-off is real and surfaced below: Schengen and UK access were removed in December 2024. For Bitcoiners whose mobility math is Asia-first, that trade is acceptable. For those whose plans run through Europe, it is not.
The European Union permanently revoked visa-free Schengen access for Vanuatu passport holders on December 12, 2024, and the United Kingdom no longer offers visa-free entry. The two regimes operate independently: a Schengen visa does not cover UK entry, and vice versa.
EU/Schengen travel now requires a Schengen visa (eVisa or in-person application; 15 calendar days standard, up to 60 days in complex cases; 90 days within any 180-day period). UK travel requires a UK Standard Visitor visa; processing typically takes 3 weeks.
Your Vanuatu citizenship, your 10-year passport, and the zero-tax jurisdiction architecture are unaffected. 87 destinations remain visa-free or visa-on-arrival, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Pacific Islands Forum bloc. Vanuatu has strengthened its institutional response to the EU’s 2024 concerns: expanded Interpol NCB cooperation, enhanced VFIU due diligence, and the post-2024 reform package referenced in the Our Limits section above.
If frequent EU travel is critical to your strategy, the São Tomé and Príncipe CPLP pathway to Portuguese citizenship is the only EU route in our slate. If speed, cost, and tax neutrality are your priorities, Vanuatu remains the cleanest option in its class.
Showing 50 of 87 destinations
Vanuatu is one of 56 Commonwealth members: a soft alliance built on shared common-law tradition, English-language legal infrastructure, and diplomatic recognition. The Commonwealth is not a free-movement zone or a customs union; what it delivers is jurisdictional predictability.
Vanuatu is the only Asia-Pacific program in the 21 CBI slate, anchored in a common-law jurisdiction with predictable IBC, trust, and corporate frameworks that align with UK, Australian, Singaporean, and Hong Kong commercial practice. For Bitcoiners building operations across the Asia-Pacific corridor, that legal-architecture alignment is the operational value of Commonwealth membership.
If cost is the priority, São Tomé delivers the world’s most affordable passport at just $90,000. Same zero-tax structure, with CPLP membership benefits.
Processing
6–8 weeks
Destinations
58 countries
Capital gains
0%
If you need broader passport reach and a hard-asset entry, Türkiye trades up from Vanuatu: $400,000 real estate you can exit after three years, the Schengen cascade plus the US E-2 investor-visa pathway, and roughly a third more visa-free reach. Slower file (4 to 6 months) for a meaningfully stronger document.
Processing
4–6 months
Destinations
113 countries
Capital gains
0% (5yr+)
You’re currently viewing: Vanuatu, from $130,000 · 87 Destinations · 30–60 days
Speed is Vanuatu’s differentiator. The matrix below names the trade-offs.
Entry Cost ComparisonArgentina ~$1,500/mo · São Tomé $90k · Vanuatu $130k · Türkiye $400k · El Salvador $1M
Choose Vanuatu if you need a passport in 30 to 60 days, your compliance profile is clean, you accept that Schengen and the United Kingdom are not on the visa-free list, and Asia-Pacific mobility is the geography that matches your operating footprint. If price matters more than speed and you can wait 6 to 8 weeks, São Tomé and Príncipe starts at $90,000 and is Non-CRS. If Bitcoin-native sovereignty matters more than speed and your stack can absorb the higher tier, El Salvador’s $1,000,000 Freedom Passport is the only CBI program built around Bitcoin at the sovereign level. If E-2 treaty access to the US market is the goal, Türkiye is the only program in our portfolio that delivers it.
