Vanuatu has become the first country to lose its European Union (EU) visa-free access due to its controversial “golden passport” program, which granted citizenship to adopted residents. The EU imposed a full suspension of Vanuatu’s visa-free status after the country was accused of “selling its citizenship” and breaching the EU’s trust.
The European Parliament voted to make the suspension permanent, citing security risks posed by the scheme. Vanuatu’s citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program allowed individuals to buy citizenship for around $150,000, without proper vetting, raising concerns that criminals could use the scheme to gain access to Europe.
Paulo Cunha, the European Parliament rapporteur, stated that the decision to suspend Vanuatu’s visa-free access was “both proportionate and justified” due to the country’s inadequate cooperation with the EU. He emphasized the need to protect European borders from potential security threats.
The CBI program’s main issue was that all applications were approved without thorough background checks, making it vulnerable to exploitation. This raised alarms about the possibility of criminal networks using the program to secure passports and enter the EU undetected. The EU expressed frustration over how Vanuatu’s CBI program was marketed online, where it was promoted as “the fastest and most simple citizenship program available,” with minimal document requirements.
Neighboring Pacific islands, including the Solomon Islands and Nauru, are considering similar schemes. The Solomon Islands has already announced plans to draft a CBI bill, with authorities promising a “thorough analysis” to ensure risks are managed. Nauru, a small island nation with just 12,000 residents, recently revealed it would launch its own CBI program, citing the need for climate finance in the wake of the island’s climate crisis.
Agents now describe Nauru’s program as offering “fast processing” and “minimal residency requirements,” with visa-free access to 89 countries. The program is priced at approximately $140,000. Like Vanuatu, both the Solomon Islands and Nauru see these schemes as a potential source of revenue to support their economies, particularly in light of limited financial resources.
Vanuatu’s golden passport program was a major source of income, funding public services and helping the government manage debt, especially during the pandemic. However, the EU’s decision to suspend Vanuatu’s visa-free access has significantly diminished the value of its passport, with economic and diplomatic consequences.
In Vanuatu, the news has been met with disappointment among local chiefs and elders, who view the commodification of citizenship as a betrayal of the country’s Indigenous Ni-Vanuatu people, many of whom remain stateless and without passports. The marketing of Vanuatu’s citizenship as a “sellable good” has sparked widespread criticism from those who see it as undermining national sovereignty and identity.
Related topics:
- Aussie Minister Refuses Ex-Israeli Minister Visa Over ‘Social Cohesion’ Issues
- Why Ideological Vetting of Immigrants is a Dangerous Idea
- Keir Starmer: Tories’ ‘Open Borders Experiment’ Exposed by Record Migration Figures
