How to send money to Vanuatu in 2026: five banks, a citizenship contribution through an agent and a house on leased land
In 2026 Vanuatu has only five banks for residents, its own vatu and a national payment system since 2023. We show which currency to keep an account in, how the citizenship contribution is paid, what is paid when buying a house and why there is no income tax here.
In short
- 5 banks serve residents: a local bank, three subsidiaries of foreign groups and a branch.
- An account is kept in vatu, US dollars or Australian dollars.
- The citizenship contribution starts at $130,000, only through an appointed agent.
- There is no income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax.
In detail
Money reaches Vanuatu by bank transfer to one of the five banks serving residents. The recipient's account is kept in vatu, US dollars or Australian dollars. Since September 2023 domestic payments have gone through the central bank's national system in minutes. The largest transfer is the citizenship contribution from $130,000, paid only through an appointed agent.
| Route | Does it work on 8 October 2026 | Credited in | When it arrives | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer in US dollars | works | dollars to a dollar account or vatu at the bank's rate | on the business day it reaches the bank in Vanuatu | the account number, the bank's code for international transfers, the recipient's name |
| Bank transfer in Australian dollars | works | Australian dollars or vatu | on the business day it arrives | the same details and the payment purpose |
| Transfer between banks within Vanuatu | works since 11 September 2023 | vatu | urgent at once, regular in one of 4 sessions on a weekday | an account number at another bank in Vanuatu |
| Transfer to a Vanuatu bank card | works | the currency of the account the card is issued on | as for a transfer to an account | the number of the account the card is issued on |
| Citizenship programme contribution | works through an appointed agent | US dollars | after approval, the balance within 90 days | an invoice from the agent and a due diligence check |
The table was checked on 8 October 2026 against the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu website. Dollar sums are at the Reserve Bank rate of 7 October 2026: 117.88 vatu per US dollar and 82.32 vatu per Australian dollar, rounded up.
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Five banks for 83 islands: where the money arrives
According to the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu list, five banks serve the country's residents: one local bank, the National Bank of Vanuatu, three subsidiaries of foreign groups, Australian, French and Papua New Guinean, and one branch of a foreign bank. Another nine banks hold an international licence and work with clients abroad.
The main account currency at Vanuatu banks is the vatu, and the large banks also keep accounts in US and Australian dollars. A foreign currency account has a minimum balance: at one of the large banks, under its 2024 tariff, it is 4,000 US dollars or 5,000 Australian dollars. A transfer for a purchase or a contribution is better kept in the sending currency, so as not to lose on a double exchange through the vatu.
The vatu against the dollar and the national payment system since 2023
The central bank manages the vatu against a basket of the main trading partners' currencies, so it moves smoothly. In October 2026 a dollar is worth 117.88 vatu: $1,000 becomes 117,880 vatu before the bank's fee.
Until September 2023 money between Vanuatu banks went through manual cheque clearing, and payments were delayed. On 11 September 2023 the central bank launched the national payment system. An urgent large payment in it goes through at once and cannot be recalled, while regular transfers and salaries are settled in four sessions on weekdays, from 8:40 to 15:45 Port Vila time.
For a transfer from abroad this means that money reaching a Vanuatu bank on a weekday gets to a recipient at another local bank the same day. There are no sessions at weekends and on holidays, so a payment due by a deadline is sent with a margin of two business days.
The citizenship contribution: how the money reaches the programme
Vanuatu citizenship is granted for a non-refundable contribution under the development support programme: from $130,000 for a single applicant and from $180,000 for a family of four, plus $5,000 for the due diligence check. The application is filed only through an appointed agent, a citizen of Vanuatu with a main office in Port Vila, and the money also goes under the agent's invoice.
The payments are split into steps: first the check by the financial intelligence unit and the decision of the Citizenship Commission, then payment of the balance within 90 days of approval. In March 2026 orders No. 39 and 40 adjusted how the sums are calculated so that the budget does not lose on currency conversion, so the amount due is checked against the agent's latest invoice. The full calculation is in how much Vanuatu citizenship costs and Vanuatu citizenship by investment.
Gathering money for the contribution from several sources? Discuss the transfer procedure with a manager: they will suggest how best to send the sum by the payment deadline and which source-of-funds documents the bank will accept.
We will help you send money to Vanuatu
Mistakes cost more than fees: a contribution sent outside the appointed agent's invoice, dollars converted twice through the vatu, a transfer without the file for the due diligence check, paying for a house before the lease title is checked. We will help you avoid them: we will choose the route and currency of the transfer for your sum, gather the source-of-funds documents for the bank and carry out the transfer through licensed partners through to crediting.
Details and terms are with a manager in the chat: everything depends on the sum, the purpose of the transfer and the payment deadline in Vanuatu.
A house on leased land: what you pay for when buying
Under the Constitution of Vanuatu all land belongs to its custom owners, and it is not sold outright to anyone. A foreigner obtains a registered lease of up to 75 years and owns the house on that land; such a lease can be sold, inherited and mortgaged. Money is transferred to the seller after the title is checked at the Department of Lands, and the buyer pays stamp duty and a registration fee.
The price of a property depends largely on how many years of the lease remain. How to check a deal is covered in buying property in Vanuatu.
Taxes in Vanuatu: what is paid on transferred money
Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax, so the transfer itself, deposit interest and a gift from family are not taxed here. The country's main tax is 15% VAT, a rate in force since 1 January 2018. A person continues to pay income tax where they are a tax resident, and a Vanuatu passport does not change that.
What the bank will ask when you send money to Vanuatu
A sending bank in Europe checks a payment to Vanuatu more closely than usual: since 17 February 2026 the country has remained in the first annex of the EU tax list. So the source-of-funds file is gathered before sending, not after the bank's question.
| Amount | What the bank will ask | Which papers to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $10,000 | the sender, the recipient and the payment purpose | details and the purpose |
| $10,000 - $100,000 | where the money comes from and why it is going to Vanuatu | an account statement, an income certificate, a lease or purchase contract |
| From $100,000, including the citizenship contribution | the source of the whole sum | an asset sale contract, a tax return, certificates for the due diligence check |
If the sending bank is dragging out the check, there are more transfer options than it seems: tell a manager about your situation, and they will suggest a route for the sum and deadline. Preparing the papers is covered in sending large sums abroad and proof of source of funds.
From Port Vila across the Pacific and to Asia
- Australia: the main trading partner, an account before arrival and taxes.
- Indonesia: Bali, rupiah and paying for housing.
- Philippines: pesos, transfers to family and cash pickup.
- Singapore: large sums and a strict bank check.
- Malaysia: the second home programme and a deposit.
- New Zealand: moving, an investor visa and a house.
All countries for moving with money are gathered on the capital relocation page.
FAQ
How many banks in Vanuatu serve the country's residents?
In which currency is an account opened at a Vanuatu bank?
How is the Vanuatu citizenship contribution paid?
Are deposit interest and gifts from family taxed in Vanuatu?
For how many years does a foreigner obtain land for a house in Vanuatu?
Since what year have transfers between Vanuatu banks gone through the central bank's system?
How many vatu do you get for a dollar in October 2026?
We will suggest the best way to send your money
We will choose a transfer method for your amount and country, prepare the documents on the origin of the money for the bank, make the transfer through licensed partners and follow it until the money is credited. Ask your question in the chat - the manager will suggest the best terms and the cost. The legal side with banks and government bodies is handled by Murblz specialists and locally licensed partners.
Details and cost are with the manager in the chat. Describe your situation and we will reply right away.
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