Permits


Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA)

Approval is required from VIPA to establish any new investment in Vanuatu that is partly or wholly owned by non ni-Vanuatu citizens.  Various information is required to be provided on the investor(s) and the project.  Applications usually take a few weeks to receive approval.  Once granted, the VIPA approval provides permission to obtain a given number of work and residency permits for overseas personnel, if any are required.

Residency permits

Residency permits may be granted to investors, retirees and employees.

(a) Investors in Vanuatu not engaging in business or employment

Persons who wish to reside in Vanuatu without engaging in business or employment may also qualify for residence, provided they can support themselves during their residence period and that they will be investing funds in Vanuatu. The criteria used is the level of investment in Vanuatu, which may include depositing funds in a Vanuatu bank account. As an indication, investment levels and the corresponding residence duration are as follows:

Level of investment
Length of permit granted
US$ 800,000
15 years
US$ 400,000
10 years
US$ 200,000
5 years
US$ 120,000
3 years
US$ 40,000
1 year

Retirees intending to reside in Vanuatu must provide proof to the Department of Immigration that they are earning income of Vt300,000 per month to support themselves.

(b) Self employed persons

Persons who intend to be self employed and engaged in a business, must apply to the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Authority and if successful will qualify for a residency permit, renewable as specified in the Approval Certificate.

(c) Employees

Persons who are required to reside in Vanuatu for employment purposes may qualify for a residency permit of one-year duration, renewable annually. A work permit in respect of such persons must also be obtained and is only available for certain occupations where there are not enough qualified Ni-Vanuatu available.

Documentation required in applying for a Residence Permit

  • An immigration application formis required to be completed;

  • A repatriation bond must be lodged with a local bank. This usually takes the form of a blocked deposit, with the bank certifying to the immigration authority that it holds a repatriation bond equivalent to an airfare to the country of the applicants' citizenship;

  • A police clearance certificate;

  • Two passport photographs;

  • A copy of the birth certificate of the applicant;

  • A copy of the passport of the applicant;

  • A copy of the marriage certificate and if applicable, the divorce certificate of the applicant;

  • A medical certificate confirming the fitness and good health of the applicant.

The initial fee for one year and subsequent annual renewal is Vt40,000.

Work permits

A work permit or an exemption from the need to hold a work permit is required by all non citizens before a residency permit will be issued, except in circumstances where there is no active investment in any Vanuatu based business contemplated.

A work permit may be granted for an expatriate to be employed on a contract by an employer in an occupation where there is not enough qualified Ni-Vanuatu available. Accordingly there is a requirement for the position to be advertised locally for at least two weeks and for reasons to be given why an application by a citizen has been refused. Generally a permit will only be granted where the applicant is required to hold qualifications and/or experience, which is not readily available in Vanuatu. Government costs for work permits are Vt210,000 per person per annum.

Apart from the completion of a work permit Application Form, the Department of Labour require the following:

Two passport sized photographs;

Certified copies of the trade or professional qualifications or curriculum vitae of the prospective worker;

A copy of the written contract of service under which the worker is intended to be employed, if any.


Temporary work permits and exemptions

There are occasionally circumstances where either a temporary work permit (up to four months) can be obtained, or even an exemption from the need to hold a work permit (up to one month). 

To obtain additional information, please contact us by e-mail at webenquiry@hawkeslaw.com.vu