Figures published by Vanuatu government provide insights into the popularity of the citizenship by investment program. A comprehensive review of the CBI was done by Government and a report was sent to citizenship commission.
From 2014 to 2019
- 6500 passports issued (dip, vcp, ciip
- 33.7 billion vatu revenue collected
- 9038 applications received
According to the IMF, in 2018, some 10% of Vanuatu GDP and fully one-third of its government revenue – about US$88 million – came from the CBI program and in its Article IV consultation report for 2019
From 2015 to 2021
According to information provided by Vanuatu’s Passport Office on 14 June 2021, until March 2021, Vanuatu issued over 10,500 passports in exchange for investment under the schemes and by the end of 2020 the Vanuatu authorities had rejected only one application. Note that, the 2021 figure shows only the data up to August. Total passports issued so far up to August 2021 is 10,540 as far as the Vanuatu Citizenship Program is concerned.
According to IMF, Revenues from the citizenship program stood at around 7 percent of GDP in 2024, down from a high of 14 percent of GDP in 2020.
Prudent use of CBI Funds
Vanuatu remains one of the most vulnerable countries in the world against natural disasters and climate change. The CBI funds provide much needed lifeline in defense against earthquakes, eruptions, flooding and tropical cyclones every year. CBI helps Vanuatu build a disaster savings fund to cope with future disasters.
Vanuatu government’s sensible use of the CBI funds in these development areas..
- Elections
- Outstanding severance liabilities
- School grants
- Vanuatu Govt scholarship
- Copra Subsidy
- Livestock restocking
- Infrastructure Development fund
- Host 2017 South Pacific games
- Shared vision – Air Vanuatu
- Disaster Emergency for Ambae/Ambrym/Tropical cyclones
- Repayments and advance repayments of external and domestic loans.
- CBI funds for loan repayments has also allowed to government to make advance payments on government debt
- Education – School grants and scholarships for children
- Disaster emergency funds, covering emergency response for Ambae, Ambrym and tropical cyclones.
- Government expenditure on elections and public Salaries
- Infrastructure development (3000m) for roads and bridges, most recently the development of rural roads on several of the islands.
- Tourism (1000 m to host the 2017 South Pacific Games and 2000m advance for Shared vision – Air Vanuatu
- Increase agricultural and fisheries food production using sustainable practices to ensure sufficient access to affordable and nutritious food
Careful management of the CBI funds has been reflected in the government’s 2018 designating a
separate account for CB revenue collection. Expenditures from this fund require a Council of
Ministers (COM) decision. Most of the funds have been spent on debt repayment, development
projects, and government expenditures, in line with the VNSPD.
