Finjuris delivers end-to-end legal and regulatory support for securing your Vanuatu Financial Dealers Licence — a fast, cost-efficient and flexible route to a regulated, multi-asset forex and CFD brokerage.
Vanuatu has long been one of the most accessible offshore jurisdictions for forex and CFD brokers: a tiered licence covering everything from foreign exchange to digital assets, no leverage caps, remote brokerage setup and one of the quickest regulated routes to launch.
Finjuris manages the full pathway from company formation, the security bond, professional indemnity cover, licensing, local presence and banking — applying the regime as it stands today, not as it was written about years ago.
In the market it is called a “forex license,” but the legal instrument is the Financial Dealers Licence (also called the Dealers in Securities Licence), issued by the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) under the Financial Dealers Licensing Act [CAP 70]. It authorises a Vanuatu company to deal in securities and financial instruments — including foreign exchange, CFDs, derivatives, commodities and equities — for clients worldwide.
Since amendments that took effect in January 2019, the principal’s licence is divided into classes, so you take only the permissions your model needs. A multi-asset forex and CFD broker typically holds Classes A, B and C together; Class D is the digital-asset class and now interacts with Vanuatu’s virtual-asset regime.
The Financial Dealers Licence is split into classes. Most forex and CFD brokers combine Classes A, B and C to achieve full multi-asset coverage.
Dealing in conventional debt securities — debentures, loan stock, bonds, certificates of deposit — and the proceeds of foreign exchange business. Core FX and debt instruments.
Dealing in futures contracts and derivative products, including futures and options. Relevant for leveraged or derivative products such as CFDs.
Dealing in shares, commodities, precious-metal proceeds, warrants, depository receipts and options. Multi-asset brokers need this alongside A and B.
Dealing in digital assets. Only open to firms already holding A, B and C. Subject to a higher capital threshold (~USD 500,000) and Vanuatu’s virtual-asset regime.
A complete application is typically processed in roughly three to six months — far faster than Tier-1 routes.
Classes A–C cover forex, securities, commodities, precious metals and derivatives under one framework; Class D extends to digital assets.
For Classes A–C, instead of locked-in capital the regime uses a one-time security bond of VT 5,000,000 (~USD 44,000–50,000).
Vanuatu does not impose the retail leverage restrictions common in onshore jurisdictions — subject to target-market rules.
Incorporation and much of the setup can be completed without a personal visit, though genuine local presence is required.
Vanuatu levies no corporate income, capital gains or withholding tax — a real structural advantage rather than an exemption to be claimed.
Across Classes A–C, a Financial Dealers Licence can support a broad range of activities:
The VFSC expects a properly constituted Vanuatu company with genuine local presence, a security bond, insurance cover and experienced, fit-and-proper key people. Several of these requirements are understated in older guides.
| Requirement | Specification | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Local Company | Incorporate a Vanuatu company with a registered office and physical premises in Vanuatu (not a mailbox). | Only a licensed Vanuatu entity may hold a Financial Dealers Licence. |
| Security Bond | A one-time deposit equivalent to VT 5,000,000 (approx. USD 44,000–50,000) lodged with the VFSC / Registrar of the Supreme Court. | A regulatory safeguard, not working capital; held for the life of the licence and paid once per firm, not per class. |
| Min. Paid-Up Capital | No statutory minimum for Classes A–C. Class D carries a substantial minimum (commonly cited at USD 500,000). | Distinguishes Vanuatu from capital-based regimes; Class D is materially more demanding. |
| Professional Indemnity Insurance | Minimum cover of VT 5,000,000 per claim and VT 50,000,000 in aggregate, with a maximum deductible of VT 500,000. | Mandatory investor-protection requirement, often omitted from cheaper proposals. |
| Resident Management | At least one director or manager resident in Vanuatu (a minimum local-presence period applies). | Enables the regulator to maintain oversight of the business. |
| Compliance & AML Officers | A dedicated AML/CFT Compliance Officer registered with Vanuatu’s Financial Intelligence Unit, plus an alternate; independent of the board. | Core AML/CFT governance requirement. |
| VFSC-Approved Auditor | Appointment of an auditor approved by the VFSC and ongoing audited financial statements. | Ensures reliable, independent financial reporting. |
| Experienced Key Persons | Key individuals must demonstrate relevant securities/financial-markets experience (commonly five years) and pass fit-and-proper checks. | The VFSC vets the competence and integrity of all controllers. |
| AML/CFT Framework | Documented CDD/EDD, monitoring, sanctions screening, reporting and record-keeping policies. | Mandatory for licensing and for bank onboarding. |
| Business Documentation | A three-year business plan and financial projections, platform and liquidity-provider details, client agreements and complaints procedures. | Demonstrates a viable, operationally ready business. |
| Due-Diligence Pack | Certified passports, proof of address, clean criminal records, CVs, source-of-funds evidence and Personal Questionnaire Forms for all key persons and owners. | Identity, integrity and source-of-wealth verification. |
| Item | Indicative Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Security Bond (One-Time) | VT 5,000,000 (~USD 44,000–50,000) | Lodged with the VFSC; held for the life of the licence; one per firm, not per class. |
| Government Application Fee | ~USD 2,000 | Payable to the VFSC on submission. |
| Annual Licence Fee | ~USD 5,000 | Ongoing, to maintain the licence in good standing. |
| Professional Indemnity Insurance | Premium varies | Minimum VT 5,000,000 per claim / VT 50,000,000 aggregate cover. |
| Class D Minimum Capital | From ~USD 500,000 | Applies only to the digital-asset class, in addition to Classes A–C. |
Figures are indicative, set by the VFSC and subject to change; USD equivalents move with the VT exchange rate. Finjuris will provide a precise, project-specific cost breakdown.
From engagement to a live, licensed brokerage, the pathway runs through four coordinated phases. Realistic end-to-end timing is roughly three to six months. Finjuris manages all phases.
Vanuatu is one of the few no-direct-tax jurisdictions — there is no corporate income tax, no capital gains tax, no withholding tax on dividends or interest, and no tax on foreign-source profits. This is a real structural advantage rather than an exemption that must be claimed each year.
That said, “no local tax” is not the whole story for a brokerage owned from elsewhere. Tax residence, controlled-foreign-company rules and economic-substance expectations in the owners’ home countries can all bear on the position. Finjuris structures your operation so the Vanuatu advantage is real and defensible — not undermined by exposure in another jurisdiction.
This is general information, not tax advice. Your overall position depends on where the business and its owners are tax-resident and on rules in force at the time; obtain tailored advice before relying on any figure.
Vanuatu is accessible, but the regime has tightened — the security bond, mandatory insurance, resident management and experience tests catch out applicants relying on outdated, low-cost proposals. Finjuris manages the entire pathway so you launch on solid legal ground.
Formation, security bond, insurance, licensing, local presence, AML/CFT framework and banking — delivered as one coordinated workstream.
We apply the regime as it stands today, including the class structure, bond and PII requirements — avoiding avoidable delays and rejections from outdated proposals.
With experience across crypto, fintech and financial-services licensing in multiple jurisdictions, we help you choose the right base — and flag when Vanuatu is, or isn’t, the best fit.
We build operations that withstand scrutiny from regulators, banks and investors, with a tax position that holds up beyond Vanuatu’s borders.
Legal structuring, AML and data-protection compliance, taxation guidance and litigation support as your business grows.
Tell us about your project and our regulatory team will assess the right licence classes, structure and timeline for your brokerage — with the current VFSC framework correctly applied and a single point of contact from first call to launch.
