Rapid Fire
Vanuatu’s Citizenship By Investment Program
- 10 Mar 2025
- 2 min read
Vanuatu’s citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program, commonly known as the “golden passport, allows wealthy individuals to purchase its passport, raising concerns over security and transparency.
- Vanuatu’s CBI Program: Allows individuals to acquire citizenship in a country by making significant financial contributions to its economy.
- As per the Henley Passport Index 2025, Vanuatu's passport ranks 53rd, granting visa-free access to 113 countries, ahead of China (59) and India (80).
- As a tax Haven, Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, making it attractive for high-net-worth individuals.
- Vanuatu: An island nation in the South Pacific, consists of 83 islands and lies to the east of Australia and the north of New Zealand. Its capital is Port Vila.
- It is home to active volcanoes like Mount Yasur, Vanuatu experiences frequent volcanic activity.
- Concerns: Criminals, and fraudsters acquire Vanuatu citizenship to evade scrutiny and access global markets.
- Countries like the UK and EU have called the scheme a potential gateway for money laundering and tax evasion.
- Citizenship in India: The Indian Constitution (Articles 5-11) defines citizenship. India does not grant citizenship solely based on financial contributions.
| Read more: Cyprus as a Tax Haven |
