Of the $157 000 a family pays into the CIIP fund, $50 000 is a share in that fund. After 5 years the fund buys it back from its own reserves, on the terms of its own documents. So this route needs two calculations: what you pay now, and what remains a cost once the share is bought back.
Which part of the payment becomes a share
The base amount in the CIIP fund is $157 000 for a family of 1 to 4 people. From the fifth person on, add $26 500 each. On top of that sits the FIU due diligence fee: $8 000 per application, not per person.
The share inside that amount is the same for any family size: $50 000. It does not grow with the family, because the extra payments for a fifth or sixth person are not part of it. That is why the gap between what you pay upfront and the figure after the buyback is always exactly $50 000.
The table covers families of 1 to 6. The last column already accounts for both the fee and the buyback.
| People | Fund payment | FIU fee | Total upfront | After share return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $157 000 | $8 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 2 | $157 000 | $8 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 3 | $157 000 | $8 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 4 | $157 000 | $8 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 5 | $183 500 | $8 000 | $191 500 | $141 500 |
| 6 | $210 000 | $8 000 | $218 000 | $168 000 |
Who buys the share back, and with what money
The buyback is carried out by the fund itself, from its own reserves and under its own documents. The Republic of Vanuatu does not promise to repay you, so this should not be described as a guaranteed payout. The accurate description is this: after 5 years the fund buys back the share, and the procedure is set out in its documents.
The practical rule follows from that. Rely on the documents, not on someone's summary of them. Read the buyback terms before you sign and ask about any wording you do not follow. This part of the calculation deserves the same attention as the total.
The due diligence fee is not part of the buyback. It is not returned after 5 years, nor if an application is refused. Extra payments for a fifth person and beyond also remain a cost.
What leaving $50 000 for 5 years really means
The saving from the fund does not arrive on the day you pay. It arrives 5 years later. First the family pays the full amount, which for 1 to 4 people is $165 000. The $115 000 figure is not an entry price. It is where you end up after the share is returned.
So the question to ask is not how much you get back, but whether you are comfortable planning the next 5 years without that $50 000. If the money has another job, such as buying a home or funding a business, compare the options on what you pay upfront. If the money is free, compare them on the position after the return.
How it compares with the contribution route, family by family
The contribution program (DSP) works differently. There is no share and no buyback, so the whole amount stays a cost. In exchange, a single applicant pays less, and the due diligence fee is lower at $5 000 per application. The figures below include the fee.
| People | Contribution, total | Fund, upfront | Fund, after return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $135 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 2 | $155 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 3 | $170 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 4 | $185 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 5 | $195 000 | $191 500 | $141 500 |
| 6 | $205 000 | $218 000 | $168 000 |
Who the share works for, and who it does not
The choice comes down mainly to headcount. For a typical family the rule is simple.
- One applicant: contribution. The fund costs $30 000 more upfront, and the benefit only shows up 5 years later.
- A couple: it depends on whether you are willing to leave $50 000 in place for 5 years. Today the contribution is $10 000 cheaper. After the return, the fund is $40 000 cheaper.
- Three, four or five people: the fund is cheaper from the moment you pay, and the gap widens after the return.
- Six, seven or eight people: the fund costs more upfront than the contribution, but it comes out ahead after the return.
- Nine or ten people: the contribution route wins even after the share is returned.
Three worked examples
A couple. The contribution route costs $155 000, and that is the end of the calculation. The fund costs $165 000, so $10 000 more, but after 5 years the fund buys back the share and the figure drops to $115 000. In effect, the couple accepts leaving $50 000 in place for 5 years in exchange for a final position $40 000 better. If that timeframe suits, the fund wins. If not, the contribution is the sensible choice.
A family of four. The contribution route costs $185 000 and the fund $165 000. The fund is $20 000 cheaper on the day of payment, with no waiting involved. After the return the gap grows to $70 000. For this family size the choice usually makes itself.
A family of six. The contribution route comes to $205 000 and the fund to $218 000 upfront, so the fund is $13 000 more expensive at first. After the return it stands at $168 000, which is $37 000 below the contribution. This family needs to decide which matters more: a smaller payment today or a smaller total in 5 years.
Other payments and the order they come in
The share and the fee are the largest lines, but not the only ones. Invoiced separately are translation and notarization, Vanuatu citizen documents (birth registration certificate, ID), biometrics and the passport, and bank charges. There are no other payments. Our work is included in the program cost.
The order is as follows: the fee when the contract is signed, the main amount on the contract schedule, either in one payment or in parts, and documents and biometrics by invoice. If an application is refused, the due diligence fee is not returned, and the remainder is handled under the program rules and the contract.
What to do before you decide
A few short steps settle most questions about the share.
- Count everyone who will be on the application, since the number decides which route is cheaper.
- Compare two figures: the total upfront and the total after the share is returned.
- Decide whether you can comfortably plan the next 5 years without $50 000.
- Read the buyback terms in the fund's documents before signing.
- Take the preliminary check. It is free, takes 1-2 working days and happens before any contract.
Common questions
Does the government guarantee the return of the $50 000?
No. The fund buys back the share from its own reserves and under its own documents. The Republic of Vanuatu is not a party to that buyback.
Can I say the program costs $115 000?
No. A family of 1 to 4 first pays $165 000 including the fee. $115 000 is the position after the share is returned 5 years later.
Is the share larger if six people are on the application?
No, it stays at $50 000. A family of six pays $218 000 upfront and ends up at $168 000 after the return.
Do I get the $8 000 fee back along with the share?
No. The FIU due diligence fee is not refundable. The fund buys back only the $50 000 share.