Business accounts: Vanuatu
An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.
Vanuatu has no corporate income tax, personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax. That draws people for tax structuring, but a business account is harder than registration. Banks in Vanuatu, supervised by the Reserve Bank, work mainly with local businesses and island residents. An international company with no activity in Vanuatu is rarely given an account there, and only after an in-person meeting and a detailed check of owners and source of funds.
The second difficulty is the jurisdiction's reputation. In 2026 Vanuatu is on the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, with the next review in October 2026. European banks and payment providers apply enhanced checks to companies from listed countries, and some will not open accounts for them at all. So a bank for a Vanuatu company is chosen in the country where most payments happen, with a detailed file on owners, activity and counterparties prepared in advance.
Two types of company
- Local company under the Companies Act 2012 does business on the islands. A foreign investor needs approval from the foreign investment promotion agency, some activities are reserved for citizens, and an annual business licence from Customs and Inland Revenue is required.
- International company under the International Companies Act is registered with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission, may not do business with island residents and receives a 20-year tax exemption guarantee.
We will calculate online the cost of opening an account for your company and maintaining it for a year.
Documents for the bank
- Certificate of incorporation, constitution, registers of directors and shareholders, certificate of good standing.
- Certified passports and proof of address of directors and owners above 10-25%, depending on the bank.
- A reference letter from a bank where you already hold an account.
- Business description, counterparties, expected turnover, proof of source of funds.
- For a local company, the foreign investment approval and business licence.
Taxes and mandatory costs
- No profit, dividend or capital gains tax.
- VAT - 15%, with registration required above 4 million vatu of annual turnover, about US$33,400. The rate is about 120 vatu per dollar.
- Local businesses pay an annual business licence fee depending on activity and location.
- Vanuatu exchanges account information with foreign tax authorities, so zero taxes on the islands do not exempt you from tax in your country of residence.
Common reasons for refusal
- No link between the business and Vanuatu or the region.
- Owners and source of funds not fully disclosed.
- The company is only a tax shell with no real business.
- Counterparties or payments linked to sanctioned countries.
What we do
We assess where a Vanuatu company can realistically get an account: on the islands, in Asia or in another country where it trades. We prepare the owner and business file, arrange the bank meeting and support the opening. If another jurisdiction suits your goal better, we say so upfront. We quote after a consultation.
What we do
- Corporate account - opening assistance
See also
Company formation · Personal account · Investment property · All country programs
FAQ
Can a company open an account in Vanuatu?
What taxes does a company pay in Vanuatu?
Why do banks elsewhere refuse Vanuatu companies?
How does a local company differ from an international one?
Do I need to travel to Vanuatu?
Is there an alternative to a bank in Vanuatu?
How many vatu to the dollar?
Where can your Vanuatu company open an account?
We find a bank in Vanuatu or another country that will take your company, build the pack with source of funds and follow the application to the bank's decision. The catalogue covers every country.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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