When Vanuatu’s government tightened its Citizenship by Investment regulations in early 2025, many industry players struggled to meet new standards. VIMB Services Limited, operating through VIMB.org, was among the few firms confirmed fully compliant. The updated framework introduced stricter requirements: a minimum contribution of USD 165,000 for a main applicant, spouse, and two dependents; a mandatory USD 60,000 government fee; and a USD 50,000 fund investment held for five years. Agents must now submit quarterly and annual reports, audited financial statements, and employment data, giving the program a level of transparency rarely seen in the sector.
For VIMB, the changes aligned with work already underway. Daniel Agius, Managing Director, describes the process as a validation of years of preparation. “We built our structure to withstand scrutiny,” he said. “These rules confirm what we have been practicing—structured reporting, visible fund performance, and clear client records.” The firm’s inclusion on the government’s approved list gave it an immediate advantage as the program reopened.
Beyond compliance, the company’s activities demonstrated scale. By May 2025, VIMB had processed 144 CIIP applications, raising more than USD 8 million in direct government revenue and channeling nearly USD 6.25 million into the CNO Future Fund. The review not only reshaped the sector but reinforced VIMB’s positioning as a trusted operator in an industry under pressure to deliver both economic and social returns.
Linking Citizenship Investment to Development Goals
Unlike programs that focus solely on fees and passports, VIMB’s work connects investor capital to tangible projects in Vanuatu. The CNO Future Fund, which Agius helped design, integrates with the Capital Investment Immigration Plan to direct contributions into renewable energy and rural development. Reports from 2024 show investments in coconut plantations, copra milling facilities, biofuel generation, and transport infrastructure. The goal: to help Vanuatu reach 100% renewable energy generation by 2030 while building local employment and supply chains.
Quarterly reports detail specific progress. In Q2 2024 alone, the fund acquired the PRV Plantation on Malakula, upgraded milling capacity in Port Vila, and established ten aggregation hubs on outlying islands. It also launched initiatives to combat the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle, funded maritime shipping connections, and supported small farmers with equipment and contracts. By the end of the year, even after a 7.3 earthquake disrupted production, the fund reported 230 tons of coconut oil output per month—enough to power two megawatts of grid electricity.
Agius said this dual focus is deliberate. “People buying citizenship want more than travel access; they want to know their money is doing something useful,” he explained. “By connecting the program to infrastructure, agriculture, and energy, we give clients a sense of impact and the country long-term benefits.” The inclusion of sectors like cocoa, kava, and timber manufacturing signals that diversification is already underway.
Scale, Resilience, and Data-Driven Operations
The numbers tell a story of rapid but measured growth. In its first full year, the fund achieved 32.62% net asset value growth and deployed investments despite natural disruptions. Financial summaries confirm staged commitments: a 30% equity stake in Vanuatu Basket Ltd, USD 25–30 million planned for plantations and power generation over five years, and logistics improvements across Santo, Malekula, and other islands.
The reports also show smaller but significant actions: 55 new jobs, 65 rural bank accounts opened, integration of local contractors, and funding for biosecurity. These elements give the program credibility at a time when citizenship schemes are scrutinized for limited social benefit. The combination of capital flows, governance, and operational detail is rare.
Agius credits the team’s discipline. “We know our clients have choices,” he said. “Transparency and performance are the only things that make a program sustainable.” Even with setbacks, including earthquake damage to mills and refineries, recovery was swift. Most operations were restored within months, supported by insurance and reinvestment.
A Broader Market Context
Global demand for second citizenship continues to expand. Rising geopolitical tensions, tax reforms, and mobility needs drive interest not just in Europe and the Caribbean but in Asia-Pacific programs like Vanuatu’s. VIMB’s geographic reach – serving Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and Australia – has given it access to a diverse client base. The company’s insistence on direct capital (loans and financing are prohibited) matches trends toward tighter due diligence.
The recent government review reinforced the importance of credible intermediaries. Mandatory reporting, audits, and investment structures now define success in this market. By connecting its brand to measurable outcomes and aligning with regulatory oversight, VIMB has moved into a position of visibility. Investors and governments are watching how such programs contribute to economic resilience, and VIMB’s model gives them data to evaluate.
