Vanuatu — VFSC licence.
The Vanuatu Financial Services Commission is the Pacific's fast-track licence for forex brokers and iGaming operators seeking rapid market entry.
A considered route,
not a shortcut.
This jurisdiction rewards operators who treat the application as the start of a supervisory relationship.
When this is the right choice
When to consider an alternative
Permissions under
one Act.
Choosing the right tier and scope is the most consequential decision in the application.
Dealers in Securities Licence
The core VFSC permission. Covers FX, CFDs, indices, equities, commodities, and crypto-CFDs. Issued to a Vanuatu international company with the prescribed capital and an approved AML programme.
Investment Adviser Licence
A complementary lighter-touch permission for operators who advise rather than execute — research providers, portfolio advisors, and managed-account introducers serving non-EU retail.
Principal Licence (B2B liquidity)
A focused permission for liquidity providers and prime brokers serving other VFSC licensees, with conditions tied to capital adequacy and segregation of client funds.
Phases to licence grant.
Corporate vehicle
Weeks 1—3Vanuatu corporate vehicle established. Director appointments, registered office, and shareholder documentation prepared to VFSC standard.
Dossier preparation
Weeks 3—6Application dossier compiled and submitted — AML policies, business plan, corporate documents, and key person declarations filed with the VFSC.
VFSC review
Weeks 6—12VFSC conducts review of application and supporting documentation. Our team manages any requests for additional information.
Issuance & post-grant setup
Weeks 12—14Licence issued. Post-grant setup includes banking, payment rails, and compliance framework activation for ongoing operations.
Cost and regulatory
burden.
Year-one spend is dominated by substance — resident director, office, compliance officer, external audit — not the licence fee itself.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| VFSC application fee | USD 2,500 |
| Annual licence fee | USD 6,000 |
| Capital deposit (held against licence) | USD 50,000 |
| Local representative & registered agent | USD 8,000 / yr |
| AML officer & external audit | USD 18,000—35,000 / yr |
| Year-1 total | ~USD 60K — 120K |
Vanuatu international companies are zero-tax on offshore income. VFSC licensees are not subject to local corporate income tax on activity outside Vanuatu, though banking counterparties may apply withholding under treaty rules.
What founders
ask before filing.
The questions we get on every diagnostic call. If yours isn't here, raise it in the consultation.
Tell us where
you want to
operate.
Forty-five minutes with a partner. Jurisdiction memo within seven days. No retainer required to start.
No retainer required.