Citizenship on an island: How the Caribbean MoA made Vanuatu more attractive

When we think about getting citizenship on an island Vanuatu or the Caribbean comes to mind. While Saint Kitts has been a pioneer in the industry, its neighbors have followed giving birth to an interesting ecosystem when it comes to economic citizenship.

Vanuatu, on the other hand, is much more secluded, it's far away from the main business centers and harder to reach. So why choose Vanuatu? Why do we keep talking about this island? Mundo decided to explore the situation of Vanuatu today in the CBI world.

Citizenship on an island: Vanuatu vs Caribbean

Vanuatu is an island country located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, 2500 kilometers from Sydney and Auckland. It's famous for its unbelievable beaches and wise culture. There are very few places in the world where natives have kept their traditions intact, and this is one of them.

Parallelly, it has become a favorite destination for nomad capitalists and business people especially when it comes to economic citizenship.

CBI citizenship on an island: Vanuatu today

The program has had its drawbacks, especially when the EU removed its visa-free access. Reports show that CBI revenue has decreased in the past few years from 75 million a year in 2022 to 68 million in 2023. In the current year, and based on early numbers, everything points out to an estimated 43 million.

Mundo is not discouraged by these numbers firstly, because Vanuatu's program still has interesting features if you are looking for citizenship on an island. Secondly, because the recent changes in the Caribbean may have made Vanuatu more appealing. 

Vanuatu vs Caribbean

If you're looking for citizenship on an island there are not much more choices than Vanuatu or the Caribbean. Let's analyze the differences especially now that the eastern Caribbean countries have new prices.

Accessibility is an advantage that Vanuatu boasts unquestionably. The Pacific program is open to more nationalities than the ones in the Caribbean. It's not surprising then to see that many of Vanuatu's applicants are from the Middle East, China, India, and other countries that don't have access to the Caribbean for whatever reason. Geography is also a relevant factor for these nationalities to choose Vanuatu.

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Besides, Vanuatu today has gained momentum after the Caribbean MoA and the implemented changes. If you've been paying attention in the past few months, you probably know that one of the main requirements was to align the minimum investment prices. 

This alignment caused most of the programs to increase their costs. We're talking about 200,000, 240,000 while Vanuatu requires a donation of 130,000 for a single applicant. Even for a family of four Vanuatu shows a better deal with a 180,000 minimum.

When shifting the mire into other regions Vanuatu also wins the contests. One simply needs to look at European options like Turkey which starts at 400,000 although with real estate, which is a different story.

Another advantage of Vanuatu is timing. When choosing Vanuatu or the Caribbean it's worth noting that Vanuatu applications are processed two or three times faster.

Citizenship on an island: changes in the Caribbean

After the MoA other countries gained visibility besides Vanuatu like Latvia or Hungary and their golden visa programs. From the opposite perspective, we can also see that among the Caribbean countries, some have been more affected than others.

Saint Kitts, for example, is one of the big winners as it practically maintained its prices which had already been increased the year before. Antigua and Barbuda also benefited, especially since it amended the conditions for dependents making them more flexible, hence more attractive.

Among the not-so-lucky ones, we find Dominica whose only advantage was the alluring price of only 100,000 for a single applicant. After losing certain visa-free agreements this was its only card to play.

Disclaimer: this article presents general information based on editorial research; however, it doesn't constitute a legal consultation. These articles should not be taken as financial advice. Before applying for citizenship by investment make sure to consult with a certified professional.

Vanuatu or the Caribbean: Why choose Vanuatu today

When choosing Vanuatu or the Caribbean one has to put some things on the scale. Vanuatu vs Caribbean, price vs accessibility, straightforwardness vs cohesion, these are all in the same line.

In Mundo’s view, the Caribbean has won and lost in this process. On the one hand, it has lost competitiveness, but it has improved its reputation as a secure and co-regulated environment. For those who still want a second citizenship at relatively low costs, Vanuatu has become a better choice in the past few months.

Luckily, Mundo can help you get citizenship on an island whether in Vanuatu or the Caribbean as we have experts and partners in several countries.

We are happy to do what we do, that is, to bring nomad capitalists and international businesspeople valuable information on key services and tools. Contact us and our Mundo team will guide you on your journey to financial freedom.

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