EU Revokes Vanuatu's Visa-Free Schengen Access Over 'Golden Passports'

EU Cracks Down on Vanuatu's Controversial Passport Scheme

The European Union has taken decisive action against Vanuatu's controversial 'golden passport' program, revoking the Pacific island nation's visa-free access to the Schengen Zone. This move comes after investigations revealed how the citizenship-by-investment scheme was being exploited by individuals facing serious criminal charges.

How the Golden Passports Worked

Vanuatu's program allowed foreign nationals to obtain citizenship and passports for $130,000, granting visa-free travel to 126 countries including:

• The Schengen Area
• United Kingdom
• Russia
• Turkey
• South Korea

This system became particularly attractive to individuals seeking to circumvent legal restrictions or extradition processes in their home countries.

Schengen Security Concerns

The EU's decision in December 2022 followed months of investigations showing how the program enabled:

• Sanctioned individuals to enter Europe
• Those with arrest warrants to travel freely
• Potential security risks to the Schengen Zone

The case of influencer Andrew Tate, who allegedly obtained a Vanuatu passport while under arrest in Romania, became a high-profile example of the program's misuse.

Impact on Schengen Border Security

The termination of Vanuatu's visa-free privileges represents a significant tightening of Schengen border controls. EU officials emphasized that citizenship-by-investment programs must meet rigorous security standards to maintain visa-free access to Europe's borderless zone.

This action follows similar EU moves against other nations with questionable investor citizenship programs, as Brussels works to maintain the integrity of the Schengen visa system.