Getty ImagesMore than a third of Tuvalu citizens enter the world’s first climate visa vote, which will allow them to immigrate to Australia permanently.
Open for the first intake on June 16, the influx of registrations could indicate that the program will be greatly oversubscribed, with only 280 visas granted to Tuvalu citizens each year.
The visa scheme has been fixed by the Australian Foreign Ministry and is a landmark response to the threat of climate-related displacement.
Just five meters (16 feet) above sea level, the Pacific Islands are one of the most climate-threatening countries in the world.
As of June 27, 1,124 applications have been submitted, accounting for 4,052 Tuvalu citizens, including family members.
According to the census data collected in 2022, the island state has homes of 10,643 people.
Getty ImagesIf successful, the holder of the Pacific engagement visa will be granted Australia’s indefinite permanent residence and will be free to enter and exit the country.
The visa will also provide support for Australia to arrive in the country, such as the ability to obtain the country’s health insurance system, childcare subsidies, and the ability to study in schools, universities and career facilities that are the same subsidies as Australian citizens.
The price to enter the 2025 vote is $25 (£11.93, $16.37), and will end on July 18.
The new visa was created as part of the Australia-Train Vallari Alliance announced in August 2024, which includes Canberra’s commitment to defending the island in the face of natural disasters, public health emergencies and “military aggression”.
“While the harmful effects of sea level rise caused by climate change, it is legally committed to recognizing Tuvalu’s future state and sovereignty for the first time,” Prime Minister Feleti Teo said in a statement last year.
NASA scientists predict that by 2050, most of Tuvalu’s land quality and critical infrastructure will lie below the current climax level.
