cbi.vu

What It Is and How the Service Is Positioned

cbi.vu is a consultancy site focused on Vanuatu citizenship by investment, explicitly targeting “Bitcoiners.” It highlights two routes: the Development Support Programme (DSP) and the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP). Its services include program selection, application management, document preparation, reconstruction of on-chain source-of-funds history, VFIU due diligence submissions, and support through to citizenship approval and passport issuance. In the company registration/compliance category, it is closer to an identity and compliance consultancy than a standard company formation provider. The text only mentions Vanuatu’s IBC framework and does not indicate services such as company incorporation, bookkeeping, or registered office provision.

Key Factors and Process

The jurisdiction covered is concentrated in Vanuatu. According to the text, once a complete and clean file is submitted, government processing takes about 30–60 days, while the FIU due diligence report takes around one week. Most of the application can be completed remotely, but from 2025 onward, passport issuance requires one in-person biometric appointment, which can be completed in locations such as Port Vila, Dubai, Hong Kong, and New Caledonia. Its compliance disclosures are fairly detailed, covering criminal records, sanctions, Interpol checks, source of funds, CRS, and tax residency. It places particular emphasis on building a verifiable narrative for Bitcoin on-chain history.

Pricing and Payment

Transparent pricing is one of its main selling points. For the DSP, the total price for a single applicant is USD 145,000, consisting of a USD 130,000 government contribution, USD 6,500 consultancy fee, USD 5,000 due diligence fee, USD 2,500 for birth registration and ID, and USD 1,000 for passport enrollment. A family of four costs USD 208,000. For the CIIP, the single-applicant total is USD 174,000, including a USD 50,000 fund subscription redeemable after four years. The net cost is around USD 124,000, though returns are not guaranteed. Payments are supported via BTC, Lightning, USDT, credit card, and bank transfer. Non-USDT stablecoins such as USDC are not supported.

Pros, Cons, and Who It Suits

The strengths are itemized fee transparency, a dedicated process for crypto-asset source-of-funds documentation, a short timeline, and candid disclosures that Schengen visa-free access has been revoked, the UK requires a visa, and a passport does not equal tax residency. The drawbacks are the very high total cost, reliance on the licensed designated-agent chain, and the fact that cbi.vu describes itself as a consultant rather than a direct designated agent. In addition, the process is not fully remote. It suits high-net-worth individuals, families, Bitcoin holders, and those looking to use Vanuatu citizenship for Asia-Pacific travel or offshore business structuring. Chinese users should pay particular attention to the fact that China does not recognize dual nationality.

Access from China and Alternatives

The crawled text does not provide information about website accessibility from mainland China, Chinese payment options, or local customer support, so its China access status can only be assessed as unknown. If your priority is company incorporation and ongoing bookkeeping, traditional offshore company formation providers may be better comparisons. If the core need is a second citizenship, it is worth comparing other Vanuatu designated agents or Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programs.