There will be no immediate revocation for Andrew Tate’s Vanuatu citizenship, the government has announced after a thorough review of his application. This decision means the controversial influencer will retain his status as a national of the South Pacific island nation, despite the ongoing legal battles he faces elsewhere. The government’s stance is rooted in the legality of the original grant.
Kiery Manassah, government spokesperson, clarified that the review by the citizenship office found Tate had obtained necessary clearances from Interpol and the UK when his citizenship was granted. This compliance with existing regulations, according to Manassah, prevents immediate reversal based on any procedural faults found in the initial application process.
While acknowledging that the government would have rejected Tate’s application had they been aware of the current allegations, Manassah stated that citizenship cannot be revoked based on information that came to light later. This legal constraint impacts the government’s current stance, limiting their ability to act retrospectively.
The controversy has underscored concerns about Vanuatu’s “golden passport” scheme. In response, the government is committed to strengthening its due diligence framework to prevent future cases where individuals with questionable backgrounds might acquire citizenship, aiming to restore the program’s reputation and ensure more robust vetting in the future.