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Citizenship (Amendment) Act No. 18 of 2014

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
CITIZENSHIP (AMENDMENT) ACT NO. 18 OF 2014

Arrangement of Sections

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REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
Assent: 19/06/2014
Commencement: 08/07/2014
CITIZENSHIP (AMENDMENT) ACT NO. 18 OF 2014

An Act to amend the Citizenship Act [CAP 112].

Be it enacted by the President and Parliament as follows-

1 Amendment
The Citizenship Act [CAP 112] is amended as set out in the Schedule.

2 Commencement
This Act commences on the day on which it is published in the Gazette.

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SCHEDULE
AMENDMENTS OF CITIZENSHIP ACT [CAP 112]

1 After subsection 13B(2)
Insert

“(2A) In addition to the requirements for an application set out in subsection (3), in the case of an applicant who is an investor under the Real Estate Option Program –an application may be granted if the applicant complies with the requirements set out under section 13CA.”

2 Subsection 13B(4)
Delete “subsection (2)”, substitute “subsections (2) and (2A)”

3 Subsection 13B(6)
Delete “subsection (4)” (wherever occurring), substitute “subsection (5)”

4 Subsection 13B(7)
Delete “subsection (4)”, substitute “subsection (5)”

5 After section 13C
Insert

“13CA Requirements for application of a citizenship by an investor under the Real Estate Option Program

(1) An investor under subsection 13B (2A) may apply for and be granted citizenship if:

(a) the investor makes an application for a residence visa under the Real Estate Option Program in the Immigration Visa Regulation Order No. 180 of 2011 and complies with the requirements of the Program; and

(b) the investor:

(i) must have obtained a residence visa under the provisions of the Immigration Act No. 17 of 2010 and the Immigration Visa Regulation Order No. 180 of 2011; and

(ii) must have invested the prescribed amount under the Real Estate Option Program, in a Vanuatu Government Approved Project (VGAP) which can only consist of a lot or lots in a strata plan registered by the Director of Lands under the Strata Titles Act [CAP 266]; and

(iii) must hold the investment made in the VGAP in a local company purchased from the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission.

(2) Citizenship may be granted within 3 months if the investor under subsection (1) pays the prescribed fee under the Real Estate Option Program.”