Vanuatu gambling license
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Vanuatu offers a streamlined interactive gaming license supervised by the Vanuatu Gaming Authority under the Interactive Gaming Act [CAP 261]. The jurisdiction is highly tax-efficient, featuring 0% corporate income tax and a low 1% GGR tax. Key requirements include a local company, resident director, FIU registration, and robust AML/KYC controls. With a licensing timeline of 6–12 weeks and expanding acceptance by global PSPs and banks, Vanuatu is an ideal hub for scalable online gambling operations.
Vanuatu Financial Overview
Vanuatu offers a globally recognized, affordable path to market with a minimal tax backdrop ensuring your business’s long-term sustainability.
Application Fee
Approximately €5,000 . This initial fee covers the formal review of your application by the Vanuatu Gaming Authority.
Annual License Fee
Approximately €10,000 . A recurring yearly payment required to keep your interactive gaming license in good standing.
GGR Tax
1% of Gross Gaming Revenue . Vanuatu maintains a minimal tax backdrop with no corporate income tax or VAT on gaming profits.
Company Formation
1–3 Business Days . Local company setup is highly efficient, allowing you to move quickly to the licensing phase.
Key Benefits
Vanuatu Licensing Roadmap
Core Requirements
Understand the mandatory corporate standards and the specific dossier required for a successful application.
Corporate & Local Presence
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Formation of a local company with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) is required.
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You must maintain a physical office and at least one local natural-person director.
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Registration with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA) is mandatory for foreign-owned firms.
Fit-and-Proper Standards
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Owners, directors, and key persons must clear fit-and-proper checks, including police clearances and sanctions list screening.
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Applicants must disclose Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) and submit professional references.
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A “responsible person” must be designated to interface directly with the Vanuatu Gaming Authority (VGA).
Technical & Integrity Pack
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Business Plan: Includes product scope, marketing strategy, technical architecture, and three-year financial projections.
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Game Integrity: Platform agreements with reputable suppliers and RNG/game certifications from recognized labs.
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Compliance Suite: Risk-based AML/CTF policies, KYC procedures, and a robust responsible gambling framework.
Vanuatu Licensing Framework: Key Operational Pillars
Regulatory Alignment & Setup
Comprehensive support for local incorporation with the VFSC, obtaining a Tax Identification Number (TIN), and managing mandatory FIU and VIPA registrations to ensure full legal standing
Game Integrity & Technical Standards
Oversight of platform agreements with reputable suppliers and ensuring that all gaming software and RNG systems are certified by recognized independent testing laboratories.
Fiscal & Tax Optimization
Strategic guidance on operating within Vanuatu’s efficient regime, featuring 0% corporate income tax, no capital gains tax, and a clear 1% Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) levy.
AML Maturity & Player Protection
Implementation of risk-based AML/CTF policies alongside mandatory responsible gambling tools, such as age verification, self-exclusion, and geo-blocking for restricted markets.
Post-Licensing Support
Compliance & Tax Reporting:
Assistance with filing regular returns, paying the 1% GGR tax on time, and standing up monthly reporting templates to avoid stiff penalties.
Banking & Settlement Support:
Ongoing help with managing bank relationships in Vanuatu for gaming-related flows and ensuring smooth settlement with PSPs.
Legal & Regulatory Advisory:
Expert guidance on maintaining your AML program, adapting to updated instruments like the 2024 Orders, and managing change-management notifications.
Technical Audit coordination:
Liaising with recognized labs for periodic platform audits, software upgrades, and ensuring game integrity remains certified.
Responsible Gambling Training:
Educating your customer support teams on responsible gambling flows, KYC edge cases, self-exclusion, and protection of minors.
Dispute & Incident Management:
Prompt legal support for resolving player disputes, reporting platform outages, and documenting geoblocking logic to satisfy the VGA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
Can a foreign company apply?
Yes, but you will first set up a Vanuatu company, appoint at least one local director, and register with VIPA and the FIU before filing the interactive application.
What does the process cost?
Government fees are modest by industry standards, with a lean application fee, an annual licence fee, and a light GGR tax under the current orders. Add legal, corporate, banking, certification, and compliance tooling to your budget for a realistic total.
How long does it take?
A clean, complete file moves in 6–12 weeks. Build in contingency to 2–4 months if your ownership tree or document trail is complex.
Will banks and PSPs accept me?
Increasingly, yes. Some will board you directly; others prefer a payment arm in a European hub. Your compliance posture and operations history matter as much as the jurisdiction name on your licence.
What ongoing reporting applies?
Monthly returns with tax, annual licence renewal, AML reporting to the FIU, event-driven notices to the regulator, and periodic audits. Treat these as operating rhythms, not ad hoc chores.
If you need a jurisdiction that respects both innovation and guardrails, Vanuatu’s interactive gaming license is worth a serious, line‑by‑line review. It is online‑ready, globally minded, and grounded in requirements that a professional operator should already meet.
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Our team ensures your business setup is smooth, efficient, and compliant with local laws. Contact us today to discuss your project.
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