EU Officially Ends Visa-Free Travel for Vanuatu Over Golden Passport |

EU Officially Ends Visa-Free Travel for Vanuatu Over Golden Passport Concerns

Charlie Immigration updates 17 December 2024 | Updated On December 23, 2024 | 0

In a historic move, the European Union has officially revoked its visa-free travel agreement with Vanuatu due to concerns over its controversial “golden passport” program.

This marks the first time the EU has taken such action against a country for operating citizenship-by-investment schemes.

Effective December 12,2024, the decision brings a permanent end to the visa waiver agreement, which had allowed Vanuatu passport holders to travel freely to the EU's member states.

The move follows a prior suspension of Vanuatu’s visa exemption in 2022, signaling the EU's growing apprehension over programs that exchange citizenship for financial investments.

Why Vanuatu’s Program Raised EU Concerns

Vanuatu's citizenship-by-investment scheme offered foreign nationals the chance to acquire citizenship and a passport with a minimum investment of $130,000. This not only provided visa-free access to the EU but also raised alarm bells in Brussels about potential risks to European security and financial integrity.

The European Commission has consistently voiced concerns about the security loopholes these schemes could create, including the possibility of money laundering, tax evasion, and other illicit activities. In its statement, the EU noted that Vanuatu's program lacked sufficient safeguards to prevent misuse, making the agreement unsustainable.

Vanuatu’s program is not the only one under scrutiny. In a December 2024 report, the EU disclosed that it is actively monitoring other visa-free countries particularly in Eastern Europe and the Eastern Caribbean that operate similar schemes. This signals a broader crackdown on programs perceived as undermining the integrity of international visa agreements.

The EU's decision serves as a warning to other nations offering golden passports that do not meet the bloc's stringent security and transparency standards.

What This Means for Vanuatu and Its Passport Holders

The revocation of the visa-free agreement is expected to have significant implications for Vanuatu’s economy, which has relied heavily on its citizenship-by-investment program as a source of revenue. Vanuatu passport holders will now require visas to travel to EU countries, complicating international mobility for its citizens and reducing the program's appeal to potential investors.

As the EU tightens its stance on such schemes, the move against Vanuatu sets a precedent that may influence other nations to reform or abandon their golden passport programs altogether.

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