Hello Mr. Fiakaifonu, tell us about your company, Vanuatu Hope Investments Consulting.

We are a firm based in Port Vila, dedicated to helping people invest in sustainable businesses and developments across the islands of Vanuatu. We are dedicated to low impact high return businesses which add benefit to not just the local economy but also to the Ni Vanuatu people and their land and waters. We are licensed by the Vanuatu Government to help investors gain Vanuatu Citizenship through the Development Support Program. Whether you are someone who has made your money through inheritance or through cryptocurrencies, we would like you to consider investing in environmentally sustainable developments in our country in the future.

What are the main attractions of Vanuatu for entrepreneurs and investors?

Well, not having any corporate or income tax is obviously one of the standout benefits to people wanting to live in Vanuatu. We are one of the most appealing countries in the southern hemisphere for banking and offer many benefits for people wanting to run online businesses. Our location in the South Pacific means that in 2-4 hours you can be in either Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane or Melbourne.

And the other attractions as a place to live and work?

Vanuatu is a wonderful place for couples and families with children. The Port Vila International School has an excellent reputation. There is a lively expat community and a growing middle class here that is very welcoming to new arrivals.

People live a very wholesome life. It’s very much suited to families who enjoy doing activities together outdoors. Whether it is snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, sailing or fishing there are endless activities to choose from. There have been wonderful French restaurants here for decades but now we have everything. Japanese, Thai or Chinese, you can find almost everything here.

Being such a small country it offers a level of safety for children which you rarely find in many other countries. I have newborn twin boys myself and I am grateful that they will grow up in this paradise playing outdoors without the same constraints that they would have elsewhere.

You are a former Olympian, and competed in the Judo heavyweight division at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. How does your sporting background affect how you do business?

It was a great honour to represent my country at the Olympics and I now take great pride in the way that I run VHIC. The dedication I put into my sporting career is now geared towards by business. I still run on the same principles of strong ethics, hardwork and dedication being the key to success.

What are the future plans for Vanuatu Hope Investments Consulting, and the opportunities available for any high-net-worth individuals looking to invest?

We are involved with several beachfront land subdivisions on the main island of Efate. We are also working on a low impact residential beachfront development that will run off solar energy but will also have access to government electricity as a backup. This development will be marketed towards the end of the year but we are asking people to register their interest with us now. Especially people who would like to relocate to Vanuatu or would like to have a base here in the future. Rental returns in Vanuatu are around 7% per annum. We can also help potential investors find and purchase off market properties that would in turn offer a higher yield. This year we expect most of our clients to come from first world countries who are looking for a slower pace of life and also want to make the most of our tax system and strong banking sector. But we’re interested in speaking with anyone who may be considering making Vanuatu their home.

What measures does Vanuatu Hope Investments Consulting undertake to ensure your clients receive a dedicated and personal service and more to the point, how does your firm help HNWIs and their families obtain citizenship? 

We have a very personalised service that connects our clients directly with a liaison officer to hold their hand through the entire process. Often the most time consuming part of the process is obtaining all the relevant documents required and making sure of their validity. We help our clients to obtain these documents depending on their place of residence. We stay in constant contact with our clients, giving them weekly updates on the progress of their applications. Once they have obtained Vanuatu Citizenship, we help them apply for passports and can help with everything from residency documents to importing personal belongings and cars tax free, to advising on and purchasing real estate.

What regions do you find interest is currently coming from?

At the moment the majority of interest is coming from New Zealand, Australia and Taiwan. Clients living in places that experienced strict lockdowns over the last two years are showing the most interest in having an alternative base in Vanuatu.

What are the usual fees and timescales involved?

The cost of gaining citizenship starts at AUD $180k for an individual and AUD $240k for a family of four, which can be added to. As an example, a family unit consisting of a main applicant and his wife, their two children and two grandparents would cost AUD $270k, working out at under AUD $50k per person. The process takes approximately two months. Firstly, there is a check by our financial intelligence unit to screen applicants for financial crimes. Once this is completed the applicant can apply for citizenship through our firm and we manage the rest.

Are there any particular business sectors which tend to prefer Vanuatu as a base?

The range is very wide. Obviously online businesses are popular. Online gaming, insurance and cryptocurrency trading are sectors that are strong. As a popular cruise ship destination, the tourism sector is increasing. It has been very slow during the pandemic but is about to start again when quarantine is dropped in May.

With the recent pandemic and new technologies now allowing people to work from anywhere in the world, do you think that this will be a trend that has a positive impact for Vanuatu?

We have definitely noticed an increase in people from Australia and New Zealand who would like to work remotely from Vanuatu. We don’t see our country as a typical digital nomad paradise where people pass by for a few months. We see ourselves as a place where a digital nomad would be interested in putting down roots and building a long term future here. There was already an increase in people working remotely from Vanuatu, but the pandemic has had a major impact. It really is appealing for people to be based on an island paradise where they have access to all their needs but also don’t have to pay income tax.

You can contact us on +678 7735758 (Vanuatu) or register your interest at https://officialcitizenship.vu