Living in Vanuatu - Residence permits

General Conditions

Standard residence permits are issued for a duration of one year, renewable every year provided conditions of first issue are unchanged. Fee: 40,000 Vatu per year (about US$400).

Work permits are issued by the Labor Department and attached to Residence Permits. Work Permits require an application from both the Employee and the Employer.

A repatriation bond (equal to a one way airfare back to the country of citizenship) issued by a local bank is required to be submitted with the Residency Application.

You may apply for Residency as an Urban Investor, by showing you have an investment in Vanuatu of a minimum of VT5,000,000 (approx US$50,000). This can be by way of a term deposit with a local bank. Ownership of a property of a value of VT5,000,000 or more will qualify for Residency, subject to satisfaction of other requirements.

Long term residence permits. You may obtain longer term residence permits according to the value of your investments. The table below lists out the different categories and their requirements.

You will also need to provide the following:

1. A Police Clearance from your Country of Origin.
2. A Birth Certificate.
3. A list of dependents and a copy of their birth certificates.
4. A certificate of Incorporation (for investors).
5. Medical Certificate stating your medical condition.
6. A copy of your Passport.
7. 2 Passport Photos.

Company Incorporation

If you wish to invest or do business locally in Vanuatu you will need to incorporate a Local Company or an international Business Company if all your business activities are carried on outside of Vanuatu. Ideal for internet based business, where you can manage your business while sipping on morning coffee or afternoon cocktail on the veranda of your beach front property.

To find out more about incorporation of a company in Vanuatu, click here.

Declared the "Happiest Place on Earth" by the U.K based New Economics Foundation 2006, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006jul/12/healthandwellbeing.lifeandhealth

and again this year 2010 by Lonely Planet, http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vanuatu/travel-tips-and-articles/54565.

Where else would you want to own a property?

Within minutes of arriving in Vanuatu you will be greeted with smiles. Even the local telecom company got this inspiration and named their mobile service "SMILE". 

Life in Vanuatu is cosy and confortable with all modern amenities of shops, banks, casinos, ect available. Port Vila, the capital city exudes an atmosphere of sophistication of a modern city with a heady whiff of laid back simplicity.

One can find fresh produce in the local market and within a few hundred meters get to enjoy an international musical act hosted by a world class hotel.

Class acts such as Guy Sebastien, Ross Wilson etc have put on laid back performances in Vanuatu.