European Parliament Ends Visa-Free Travel for Vanuatu Passport Holders Permanently

The European Parliament has officially voted to permanently end visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for citizens of Vanuatu. The decision was made with 62 votes in favor, one against, and two abstentions, marking the first time the EU has removed a country from its visa-free list.

Rapporteur Paulo Cunha commented on the significance of the decision, stressing its necessity to safeguard the EU’s borders. “This is the first time we have removed a third country from the visa-free list. We do not take this decision lightly; it is both proportionate and justified by the inadequate cooperation of the Republic of Vanuatu and the need to protect European borders from a threat of this scale,” Cunha stated.

The EU first temporarily suspended visa-free travel for Vanuatu passport holders in May 2022. Since then, the island nation has failed to address the issues flagged by the European Commission, particularly those related to irregular migration and the security risks posed by its investor citizenship programs. As a result, earlier this year, the Commission recommended that the visa requirement for Vanuatu citizens be made permanent.

In his address, Rapporteur Cunha criticized Vanuatu’s citizenship-by-investment program, which allows foreign nationals to acquire citizenship through financial investment. He argued that the program has been exploited by individuals seeking visa-free access to the Schengen Area and accused Vanuatu of undermining the EU’s trust. “By now, it is clear that Vanuatu’s citizenship program allows individuals to obtain citizenship in exchange for a financial investment, granting applicants visa-free access to the Schengen Area: Vanuatu has been selling its citizenship and abusing the European Union’s trust,” Cunha said.

Cunha also raised concerns about the lack of residency or physical presence requirements for those seeking Vanuatu citizenship. He pointed out that this loophole enables individuals to bypass immigration controls. Furthermore, he criticized Vanuatu’s expedited citizenship processing times, noting that the short periods prevent adequate background checks and increase the likelihood of granting citizenship to individuals with potentially harmful intentions.

The permanent end of visa-free travel to the Schengen Area means that all Vanuatu passport holders will now be required to apply for a visa before entering the bloc. This requirement extends to those who obtained Vanuatu citizenship through its investment program, denying them the visa-free privileges they previously enjoyed.

The new visa requirement is expected to have a significant impact on Vanuatu’s citizens. While the country has a small population, the decision will create logistical challenges for passport holders, including securing visa appointments and enduring the often-lengthy application process.

By fLEXI tEAM