Anyone wishing to do business in Vanuatu whether as a sole trader, a partnership or via a local company must apply for a VIPA Approval. See www.investvanuatu.org/.
What this means is that they want to check you out as a bona fide investor, that your investment is beneficial to the country overall and to limit investments to areas not conflicting with local citizens interests.
The VIPA certificate has provisions for Residency Permits based on your application. I.e 3 investors will be approved for 3 Residency permits with their family specifically tied to this investment as well as for skill workers, managers etc required for this business.
VIPA will also granted Work permits based on the business model to specialized managers, skill workers etc.
Once an application is approved, you will be issued with a VIPA Certificate. This will open the way for you to proceed with applying for all of the above, licenses and other relevant permits, such as VAT registration etc. VAT is 12.5% and can be claimed back as business expenses.
If wishing to carry on business as a local company, the company must be incorporated first before you can apply for a VIPA certificate.
We do provide a complete ‘turnkey’ service in that we can assist with the company incorporation, the VIPA Application right down to applications for Residency and Work Permits before you leave your country for a new experience in Vanuatu.
Sole traders can apply directly, if they wish, with the VIPA Board. We can also assist and we recommend this option as we are ’on the ground’ so to speak and have aa established working relationship with the VIPA Board already. This will avoid delays in getting yoru approvals in place.