Vanuatu Launches AUD-Denominated CBI Bond Investment Option
The government will appoint a single Master Agent to market the world’s only sub-US$100,000 (technically speaking) CBI option globally.
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Vanuatu Doesn’t Need EU Approval to Manage its Citizenship by Investment Program
Martin St-Hilaire and Philippe May suggest Vanuatu give up trying to meet the EU’s ever-shifting demands and focus, instead, on the mass market.
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EU Gives Vanuatu 18 More Months to “Fix” CIP Before Enacting Full Suspension of Schengen Visa-Waiver
Vanuatu will actively involve the EU in the process of reforming its citizenship by investment programs to Brussels’ satisfaction.
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The Big Investment Migration Stories in 2022: IMI’s Most Read Articles This Year
Ukraine, whiplashing post-pandemic demand, Portugal’s golden visa crisis, and a host of price changes made for a highly eventful year.
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EU Council Fully Suspends Vanuatu’s Visa-Waiver Agreement
The EU Council is extending the visa-waiver suspension to non-CBI citizens of Vanuatu, citing a “lack of progress” in addressing concerns.
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Top Leadership Shakeup at Grenada and Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment Programs
Grenada’s CIU seeks a new CEO, while the Chairman of Vanuatu’s Citizenship Commission has been given leave.
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Vanuatu CBI Revenue Falls 48.7% Short of Budget in First Half of 2022
Q2 was the lowest-grossing quarter in four years for citizenship by investment in Vanuatu. And it’s likely to get considerably worse.
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Switzerland Follows EU to Suspend Visa-Free Entry for Vanuatu Passport Holders
It now remains to be seen whether the remaining non-EU Schengen countries – Norway, Lichtenstein, and Iceland – will follow suit.
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EU Tells Vanuatu to Get its CBI House in Order by February 2023 or See Visa-Waiver Suspension Extended
The visa-waiver suspension will last until at least February next year, at which point the EU will re-assess the country’s CBI programs.
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A History of Citizenship by Investment – Infographic (May 2022 Update)
40 years have passed since countries first began selling citizenships. See our timeline of the history of citizenship by investment programs.
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Vanuatu Establishes Task Force in Hopes of Overturning EU Decision on Visa-Waiver Suspension
In a “Hail Mary” effort to ward off the suspension, Vanuatu is establishing a national task force to review and improve its CBI procedures.
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St-Hilaire: Vanuatu Was Only the Beginning – Brussels Is on a Crusade Against Global Mobility
By attacking CIPs in small, defenseless countries with no allies, EU politicians rack up PR points at zero cost, writes Martin St-Hilaire.
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Vanuatu Citizenship Program Without Schengen-Access: What Happens Next?
“I do not see any way to please the EU other than stopping the whole program,” says St-Hilaire, while Harris thinks it’s not over yet.
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European Council Suspends Vanuatu’s Visa-Free Travel to Schengen for Post-2015 Passport Holders
Vanuatu’s worst-case scenario becomes a reality as the European Council decides to revoke visa-free travel to the EU.
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How Losing Schengen-Access Would Affect Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment
Philippe May and Martin St-Hilaire ask: Would it be the end of CBI in Vanuatu? Would a price cut be in order? Where would demand come from?
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“It’s a Jungle Out There”: Nuri Katz on the Mobility Standard
Nuri Katz calls CBI vetting “the best due diligence known to man.” He also takes part of the blame for the industry’s failure to effectively lobby Brussels.
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Vanuatu Officials Split Over CS Global’s $10,000-per-Application CBI Contract
The Attorney General and the FIU objected to the contract. Lack of unified messaging undermines the program, indicates Micha-Rose Emmett.
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4 Ways in Which Brussels Is Unfairly Harming Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Program
Martin St-Hilaire points to red herrings, straw man arguments, and other deliberate fallacies the European Commission uses against Vanuatu.
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Vanuatu Appoints CS Global, FACT as International Partners, Plans Retroactive DD on All Applicants Since 2015
Vanuatu appoints international partners and promises retroactive due diligence. Industry observers offer reactions to the EU’s announcement.
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European Commission Proposes “Partial Suspension” of Vanuatu Visa-Waiver Over CBI Concerns
The European Commission has formally proposed that the Council partially suspend visa-free Schengen access for Vanuatu passport holders.
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