What do you think about Vanuatu Citizenship?

[Marc Rich]

I am not sure why anyone would pay even that much, when you can obtain a CBI passport from Dominica starting at $100k, which includes visa-free access to 144 countries worldwide.

Dominica Citizenship by Investment

The Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program application takes three months from submission of application to issuance of the passport. From USD 100,000.

www.henleyglobal.com

The donation is only $100,000. There is also on top various government fees such as processing, due diligence, local agent fee etc. + Henley Professional fees (which are A LOT).

About visa-free numbers, you should check which countries you need to access rather than total number, as those numbers sometimes might not have the countries you need

 

[Golden Fleece]

The donation is only $100,000. There is also on top various government fees such as processing, due diligence, local agent fee etc. + Henley Professional fees (which are A LOT).

About visa-free numbers, you should check which countries you need to access rather than total number, as those numbers sometimes might not have the countries you need

Henley is a horrible company, but you do not need to use them. There are plenty of other licensed agents for the Commonwealth of Dominica's CBI program. For example, you can use The Nestmann Group, located in the U.S., or anybody else.

I am not sure why anyone would choose Vanuatu, even with a price discount. At least, not until they clean up their act. Unfortunately, a history of previous problems is often a harbinger of future problems. So, Vanuatu now has a bad reputation to overcome. This will result in extra scrutiny at border control offices for its passport holders.

 

[lacomaco]

I am not sure why anyone would pay even $90k, when you can obtain a CBI passport from Dominica starting at $100k, which includes visa-free access to 144 countries worldwide.

Dominica Citizenship by Investment

The Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program application takes three months from submission of application to issuance of the passport. From USD 100,000.

www.henleyglobal.com

If you think Henley will do it for you for US$100,000 including all the government fees, costs and their professional fees then you are hugely mistaken. With the visa problems Vanuatu is not a good choice now I agree

 

[Golden Fleece]

If you think Henley will do it for you for US$100,000 including all the government fees, costs and their professional fees then you are hugely mistaken.

No one ever said that. Stop putting words into people's mouth. I cited the cost of the donation, because I am comparing apples and apples here -- not apples and oranges. So, I am comparing the cost of the Dominica donation ($100k) with the cost of the Vanuatu donation ($130). But even factoring in the government fees, the Dominican CBI program is still less, with visa-free access to the EU.

Everyone knows that there are roughly $25k in government fees involved with Dominica's CBI program, but I do not know the cost of the Vanuatu CBI government fees. Moreover, the Dominican CBI commission fees vary widely depending on the licensed agent. So, it is certainly worth shopping around.

In fact, if your join the top tier Sovereign Man membership, it has negotiated huge discounts on five different CBI programs, where you can save between $15,000 to $25,000 in commission fees, depending on the program. It deals directly with the country involved (including Dominica), which cuts out the agent fee. So, any prudent person will do deep research on this topic before committing to any particular program.

So my team has spent the past few years CREATING the most actionable, lowest-price options for our highest end members in FIVE Caribbean countries: St. Kitts and Nevis; Dominica; Grenada; Saint Lucia; and Antigua and Barbuda.

In Total Access, we provide you with our extensive research and introduce you to local contacts who can help you qualify for citizenship or residency by making an investment or donation in your chosen country. Over the last couple of years, we've negotiated exclusive rates directly with these five countries… Which means… on average, we save Total Access members $15,000 - $25,000 in fees…

 

[lacomaco]

No one ever said that. Stop putting words into people's mouth. I cited the cost of the donation, because I am comparing apples and apples here -- not apples and oranges. So, I am comparing the cost of the Dominica donation ($100k) with the cost of the Vanuatu donation ($130). But even factoring in the government fees, the Dominican CBI program is still less, with visa-free access to the EU.

Everyone knows that there are roughly $25k in government fees involved with Dominica's CBI program, but I do not know the cost of the Vanuatu CBI government fees. Moreover, the Dominican CBI commission fees vary widely depending on the licensed agent. So, it is certainly worth shopping around.

In fact, if your join the top tier Sovereign Man membership, it has negotiated huge discounts on five different CBI programs, where you can save between $15,000 to $25,000 in commission fees, depending on the program. It deals directly with the country involved (including Dominica), which cuts out the agent fee. So, any prudent person will do deep research on this topic before committing to any particular program.

I think clients are interested in the total cost, not just the donation... But I agree: Total Access is a very good place to be. I am a member

 

[Marc Rich]

I am not sure why anyone would choose Vanuatu, even with a price discount. At least, not until they clean up their act. Unfortunately, a history of previous problems is often a harbinger of future problems. So, Vanuatu now has a bad reputation to overcome. This will result in extra scrutiny at border control offices for its passport holders.

Vanuatu still holds value, even without EU visa-free. There are still tons of people who do not wish to hold Caribbean and would opt for Vanuatu instead. Yes, ok their process can be a bit messy at times, but I have experienced the exact same in the Caribbean. Vanuatu will now sell a huge amount to Russian Citizens, and after they will (hopefully) reduce the price by 20-25% making it still very attractive (as lack of EU visa-free is not the whole world).

My personal advice to Vanautu Authorities was that they should now focus on Russian clientele, and after to revamp their program with the DD to please the higher ups in EU and lower the price to still maintain a good stream of applicants.

Also reminder this is a SUSPENSION not a CANCELLATION, so naturally this leaves the door open for a reinstatement of EU visa-free waiver.

There is also a chance that Vanuatu could successfully address the EU concerns before the suspension takes place in May, having the suspension lifted before taking effect, my fingers are crossed for this also

 

[captain9]

Is it a donation or an investment normally? Can I invest in an apartment that I rent out later? When can I sell it? Dominica? Vanuatu? Others?

What are the advantages over a residency in Paraguay for example that you can get for $5k in 90 days? ATM there is no problem getting EU visas for Russian passport holders so visa free for me is not a priority. I am interested more in protecting my account in interactivebrokers, Wise and opening more accounts in decent banks. Is it easier to open accounts with a Dominican passport over Russian passport with Paraguayan residency?

 

[backpacker]

I am not sure whether a Swiss passport still lacks a "place of birth." It was one of few exceptions.

It is called "Heimatort" and can be translated to "Place of Origin".
This was always shown in a Swiss passport.
"Heimatort"/"Place of Origin" = "Geburtsort"/"Place of Birth".
In case anybody likes to read up the history of this term Home town is where the heart is

 

[Golden Fleece]

Some potential new developments regarding the Vanuatu CBI program:

The EU has decided that Vanuatu’s investor citizenship programmes have major flaws that potentially represent a risk to the EU, based on meticulous monitoring and assessment. These flaws include: Extremely low application rejection rate, which raises security concerns and low-grade due diligence. Absence of physical presence or residence required by Vanuatu, offering short processing periods and lack in information exchange with applicant’s origin country. Granting citizenship to applicants who are listed in the Interpol wanted database. And, persons obtaining citizenship whose origin country requires a visa to travel to the EU.

EU might impose sanctions on Vanuatu for offering economic citizenship to Russians

Vanuatu government is still taking applications of Russian nationals, which might serve as a major threat to the western community.

cronullanews.sydney

This information seems rather odd. Since when did the EU require any CBI program to require a physical presence or residence in the CBI country? And did the EU ever require a CBI country to have an information exchange with an applicant’s origin country?

And banning persons from CBI programs because an applicant's origin country requires a visa to travel to the EU? Indeed, visa-free travel is one of the major selling points for CBI programs.

Are these really new potential EU requirements for CBI programs that offer visa-free travel to the EU? Or is this just an erroneous news article? I find this a bit hard to believe. Unless banning Russian citizens from CBI programs is now a ruse to also prevent a large number of other people from obtaining CBI passports. Such restrictions would ban CBI programs for those who need a second passport the most.

 

[KDX]

Unless banning Russians from CBI programs is now a ruse to also prevent a large number of other people from obtaining CBI passports.

I'm 90% sure this is the case.

 

[Marc Rich]

Is it a donation or an investment normally? Can I invest in an apartment that I rent out later? When can I sell it? Dominica? Vanuatu? Others?

It is a donation to a social wellfare fund, so not really an investment. In Dominica you can purchase real estate, but I would not recommend this for many reasons.

What are the advantages over a residency in Paraguay for example that you can get for $5k in 90 days? ATM there is no problem getting EU visas for Russian passport holders so visa free for me is not a priority. I am interested more in protecting my account in interactivebrokers, Wise and opening more accounts in decent banks. Is it easier to open accounts with a Dominican passport over Russian passport with Paraguayan residency?

It is for sure easier to bank anywhere with 2nd passport. Paraguayan residency with Russian passport will not help much outside of Paraguay. You can get UAE residency in 1-2 days and bank in the UAE just as easily. Many Russians who were not before interested in any 2nd passport, are now getting them in order to continue using services like the ones you have mentioned.

Unless banning Russian citizens from CBI programs is now a ruse to also prevent a large number of other people from obtaining CBI passports. Such restrictions would ban CBI programs for those who need a second passport the most.

Even those that have publicly stated that they have banned Russians - are still doing some Russian files, and those that will in the near future ban Russians - will also keep doing those files.

 

[crypto7figs]

I've read a few times that citizenship by purchasing real estate is not recommended.
Why though? What makes it's not advisable.

I would rather prefer to buy a real estate of $500k than giving away $100k

 

[Sols]

I've read a few times that citizenship by purchasing real estate is not recommended.
Why though? What makes it's not advisable.

I'd say it depends on what citizenship you're acquiring vs what citizenship(s) you were born with.

It is sometimes considered suspicious by banks and immigration, which is typically when you need a passport the most. Banks will still ask to see your other passport and you'll be assessed based on the riskiest (least reputable) of the two, plus the added suspicion that you got a new passport to evade the problems associated with your first.

There is also a personal reputational risk if your new citizenship is made public knowledge (Malta publishes, and data leaks are all too common in the industry), especially if your original citizenship does not allow dual citizenship.

However, all that extra headache can still be worth it in order to obtain a passport which opens up new possibilities for business, banking, travel, and living.

 

[crypto7figs]

Hey @Sols thank you for the answer. I understand that the doors been shutting down for CBI programs.
The question was more of that: why choosing donation over the real estate program.

Ik that, sometimes the prices are overinflated, but I was looking for good options of $220k, and still, you will have both citizenship and real estate. Even if it's a bit overinflated, you can still recover the investment when you decide to sell for the same price or even a bit lower.

 

[lacomaco]

Hey @Sols thank you for the answer. I understand that the doors been shutting down for CBI programs.
The question was more of that: why choosing donation over the real estate program.

Ik that, sometimes the prices are overinflated, but I was looking for good options of $220k, and still, you will have both citizenship and real estate. Even if it's a bit overinflated, you can still recover the investment when you decide to sell for the same price or even a bit lower.

Hi, There are two different versions of a property component solution: you need to buy from the approved properties or you can buy any residential/commercial property. With approved projects you should expect: 1. Fractional ownership for the minimum USD200,000-220,000, with either 1 or 2 co-owner with you. A Caribbean reliable (in a sense that the project will materialize) developer is selling 26 sqm student flats to three owners for USD 220,000 each - so the sale is at 25,000 USD per square meter. Do you really want to own such a property? 2. No secondary market exist for selling the overpriced propeerties at all. If you nthink you can recover your funds, then good luck! Another very big problem is the fraudulent use of "financing solution", where the property will not be finished at all. Just as a reminder of how Caribbean citizenship property fraud is going on, please read this article: US $2.2 Billion - Biggest Fraud In Caribbean History - Daily Research Editor . Some amounts are not correct, but the contents are definitely.

As a sideline, more and more agents are refusing to process the property based citizenship applications of applicants in several countries as they are aware of the financial and legal risks and would not want to be part of it.

 

[Henn and Rich]

I've read a few times that citizenship by purchasing real estate is not recommended.
Why though? What makes it's not advisable.

I would rather prefer to buy a real estate of $500k than giving away $100k

It is less of a headache to give away $100k than to spend $500k and own property in a very far away banana land for the sake of a not-so-great passport

 

[lacomaco]

It is less of a headache to give away $100k than to spend $500k and own property in a very far away banana land for the sake of a not-so-great passport

In general terms I fully agree (see reasoning above), if you meant Vanuatu then the property-based citizenship never materialized

 

[Henn and Rich]

In general terms I fully agree (see reasoning above), if you meant Vanuatu then the property-based citizenship never materialized

yes it not. They are also planning to issue a bond-based investment route ( I would avoid that like the plague as well )

 

[crypto7figs]

Hi, There are two different versions of a property component solution: you need to buy from the approved properties or you can buy any residential/commercial property. With approved projects you should expect: 1. Fractional ownership for the minimum USD200,000-220,000, with either 1 or 2 co-owner with you. A Caribbean reliable (in a sense that the project will materialize) developer is selling 26 sqm student flats to three owners for USD 220,000 each - so the sale is at 25,000 USD per square meter. Do you really want to own such a property? 2. No secondary market exist for selling the overpriced propeerties at all. If you nthink you can recover your funds, then good luck! Another very big problem is the fraudulent use of "financing solution", where the property will not be finished at all. Just as a reminder of how Caribbean citizenship property fraud is going on, please read this article: US $2.2 Billion - Biggest Fraud In Caribbean History - Daily Research Editor . Some amounts are not correct, but the contents are definitely.

As a sideline, more and more agents are refusing to process the property based citizenship applications of applicants in several countries as they are aware of the financial and legal risks and would not want to be part of it.

It's pretty much answered. Thank you for taking the time and for the info.
Do you know if it's all the same? Every jurisdiction in the Caribbean?

 

[Henn and Rich]

It's pretty much answered. Thank you for taking the time and for the info.
Do you know if it's all the same? Every jurisdiction in the Caribbean?

there's 5 jurisdictions in the Caribbean that have active cash for passport schemes - all 5 have property investment schemes, and maybe 3-4 jurisdictions have some sort of 'financing' scheme. Some are outright illegal while some are more or less accepted by the governing body of said jurisdiction and you still get your banana country passport for less than the official amount.