Over a third of Tuvalu’s population has registered for a groundbreaking climate visa program, offering permanent relocation to Australia.
Since its launch on June 16, the initiative appears heavily oversubscribed, with only 280 visas to be granted annually via a random ballot.
Australia’s foreign affairs department has hailed the visa program as a pioneering response to climate-induced displacement.
The low-lying Pacific archipelago, with an average elevation of just five meters (16ft), faces an existential threat from rising sea levels.
As of June 27, there have been 1,124 applications, encompassing 4,052 Tuvalu citizens including family members.
The island nation has a population of 10,643, according to the 2022 census.
Successful applicants will receive indefinite permanent residency in Australia, with unrestricted travel privileges.
The visa also includes access to Australian social services, such as Medicare, childcare subsidies, and subsidized education at all levels.
Entry to the 2025 ballot costs A$25 (£11.93, $16.37), and will remain open until July 18.
The visa program is a key component of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union, announced in August 2024, which commits Australia to assisting Tuvalu in the face of natural disasters, public health crises, and potential “military aggression.”
Prime Minister Feleti Teo stated last year that the agreement marks “the first time there is a country that has committed legally to recognise the future statehood and sovereignty of Tuvalu despite the detrimental impact of climate changed-induced sea level rise.”
NASA scientists project that most of Tuvalu’s landmass and critical infrastructure will be below the high tide level by 2050.
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