Vadim R., a 50-year-old entrepreneur from Moscow, married with two sons aged 24 and 29, approached us in May 2021 with the goal of obtaining second citizenship in Vanuatu for his entire family.
Vadim had already decided on this program and was well-informed about the requirements for investor citizenship in Vanuatu. He knew that his elder son did not meet the age criteria. We were also aware of this but chose to consult with the Vanuatu Citizenship Committee before discussing options with the client. Their response clarified that if the children are financially dependent, enrolled in university, and unmarried, they may be eligible for citizenship as part of the family application.
Based on this, our legal advisor suggested that Vadim’s elder son enroll in a university program for a second degree, as applications were currently open. This allowed us to proceed, signing a cooperation agreement and beginning the documentation process. By the time Vadim’s son was accepted, the application was ready, requiring only due diligence and submission.
Due to temporary restrictions, Vanuatu accepted payments only in Australian dollars, so a friend in Italy facilitated the payments. Vadim first completed the due diligence fee of $5,000, and once approved, made the main investment contribution of $180,000 to the Vanuatu Development Fund.
In September, Vadim took the oath online, and we personally delivered the family’s passports confidentially in Russia.
Outcome: Despite challenges, Vadim’s entire family successfully received Vanuatu citizenship through the investor program.
