Vanuatu Dealers in Securities License

The licence is granted by the Minister of Finance upon application to the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC).

Subject to the provisions of  sections 2 and 3 of the Vanuatu Dealers In Securities (Licensing) Act [CAP 70], no person shall – (a) carry on or purport to carry on the business of dealing in securities except under the authority of a principal’s licence, that is to say, a licence under this Act authorising him to carry on the business of dealing in securities; or (b) in the capacity of a servant or agent of any person carrying on or purporting to carry on that business, deal or purport to deal in securities except under the authority of a representative’s licence, that is to say, a licence under this Act authorising him to deal in securities as a servant or agent of any holder of a principal’s licence for the time being in force.

• The Applicant must be a company incorporated in Vanuatu
• At least one executive director, with professional knowledge and expertise of the investment business, must be appointed; not needed to be Vanuatu resident.
• The Company/Applicant has to deposit VT 5,000,000 (approximately US$50,000), and to remain deposited, with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (as per latest amendments to local laws; see relevant announcement here).
• Registration with the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU);
• Licence time-frame: 1-2 months from submission of application.
• No external auditor has to be appointed.
• Accounting records and books need to be prepared.
• No local office in Vanuatu is required.
• No local personnel in Vanuatu is required.
• Tax benefits: no income tax, no capital gains tax nor inheritance tax, provided that the company does not carry out business activities in Vanuatu.
• No exchange controls.
• Common Law Jurisdiction.
• There is no prohibition in Vanuatu for a licensed Dealer Broker to trade cryptocurrencies.

• Registration of a Vanuatu International Company;
• Provision of one set of corporate documents and a rubber seal;
• Collection/receipt of the full package of due diligence documents in respect to the ultimate beneficial owners, shareholders and proposed directors and senior officers of the company;
• Review of the documents supporting the licence application as received from the client.
• Drafting of the licence application;
• Preparation and review of the application package;
• Submission of the application package to the VFSC;
• Responding and following up until finalization of the application review by the VFSC;
• Registration with the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU);
• Bank Account Opening with the Vanuatu Central Bank.