Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (VFIU)
Vanuatu's financial intelligence unit. It receives, analyses, and disseminates suspicious transaction reports to law enforcement and competent authorities.
Oceania · Country coverage
AML/CTF Compliance in Vanuatu
Vanuatu regulates AML/CTF through the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.
Last updated
Screening coverage for Vanuatu
- Sanctions & PEP screening
- Adverse media checks
- Customer identity verification
- Jurisdiction risk checks
- Ongoing monitoring
Key facts
AML supervisor / FIUVanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (VFIU)
FATF statusAPG member
Primary legislationAnti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act; Proceeds of Crime Act
Overview
AML/CTF compliance in Vanuatu.
Vanuatu regulates money laundering and terrorist financing through the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act, supported by the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit, which receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports.
Regulated entities must apply customer due diligence, identify beneficial owners, monitor relationships, and report suspicious activity to the VFIU, alongside supervision from the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu. Supervisors expect a designated compliance officer, sound internal controls, and staff training.
MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.
Regulation
All solutions →Key laws and regulators.
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act
Vanuatu's principal AML statute, setting customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for financial institutions and other reporting entities.
Reserve Bank of Vanuatu
The central bank supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance, working alongside the VFIU.
APG membership
Vanuatu is a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, a FATF-style regional body, and aligns its regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.
Obligations
What regulated businesses must do.
- Apply customer due diligence and identity verification
- Identify beneficial owners of corporate customers
- Report suspicious transactions to the VFIU
- Conduct ongoing monitoring of customer relationships
- Maintain internal controls and a compliance officer
- Maintain records and provide staff training
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ
Common questions.
Who supervises AML/CTF in Vanuatu?
The Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (VFIU) receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports, while the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance.
What is the main AML law in Vanuatu?
The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act, alongside the Proceeds of Crime Act, sets the customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for regulated entities.
Is Vanuatu a member of FATF?
Vanuatu is a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), a FATF-style regional body, and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.
How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Vanuatu?
MemberCheck screens customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.
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