Andrew Tate’s Citizenship Safe in Vanuatu, Review Concludes

Andrew Tate’s citizenship in Vanuatu is safe, as a government review has concluded there are no grounds for immediate revocation. This decision follows scrutiny over how the influencer obtained his “golden passport,” especially in light of the criminal investigations he faces globally. The review’s findings point to a legally sound initial application process.
Kiery Manassah, government spokesperson, stated that the citizenship office’s investigation found Tate’s documents were in order and he had received clearances from Interpol and the UK at the time his citizenship was granted. This procedural correctness, according to Manassah, is the basis for the current ruling, indicating full compliance with regulations at the time.
Manassah acknowledged that if the government had been aware of the serious allegations against Tate at the outset, his citizenship application would have been rejected. He openly admitted, “If the government had been aware of this at the start, and our processes were working, we should have not allowed him in the first place.” However, he emphasized that they cannot legally revoke citizenship based on information that emerged after the fact.
The ongoing controversy has spurred Vanuatu to strengthen its citizenship-by-investment program. The government is committed to implementing more robust due diligence processes to prevent future instances of individuals with problematic backgrounds from acquiring citizenship, aiming to restore the program’s credibility and improve its international standing.