The Parliament of the European Union has voted to end visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for Vanuatu permanently.
The decision to remove Vanuatu from the EU’s visa waiver scheme was taken with 62 votes in favour, one against, and two abstentions, Schengen.News reports.
Commenting on the matter, Rapporteur Paulo Cunha said that this is the first time that the EU Parliament has decided to remove a country from the visa-free list. The same stressed that the decision was more than needed in order to protect the EU’s borders.
The Commission of the EU temporarily suspended visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for Vanuatu passport holders back in May 2022.
However, since the country failed to address the concerns raised about irregular migration and reduce security risks of its investor citizenship programs, the Commission required earlier this year that the requirement for Vanuatu passport holders to obtain a Schengen visa before entering the bloc be made permanent.
Vanuatu Has Been Selling Its Citizenship & Abusing EU’s Trust, Rapporteur Cunha Said
In his address, Rapporteur Cunha said that it is more than clear that the citizenship program of Vanuatu allows individuals from different parts of the world to obtain citizenship, provided that they make a financial investment in the country.
Once these foreign nationals are granted Vanuatu’s citizenship, they are automatically eligible for visa-free access to the Schengen Area. Taking this into account, Rapporteur Cunha said that Vanuatu has been selling its citizenship and, at the same time, abusing the trust of the EU.
In addition to the above-mentioned, Rapporteur Cunha stressed that another concern is that Vanuatu allows foreign individuals to obtain citizenship without requiring them to make a physical presence or meet residency requirements. This makes it easier for those who obtain Vanuatu’s citizenship to bypass immigration controls.
Concerns have also been raised about Vanuatu’s short processing periods. The expedited process, according to Rapporteur Cunha, does not allow for sufficient background checks and increases the risk of granting citizenship to people with potentially harmful intentions.
How Does End of Visa-Free Travel Affect Passport Holders of Vanuatu?
The decision to end visa-free travel for Vanuatu means that all its passport holders will need to undergo the visa application procedures and obtain a Schengen visa in order to be permitted entry into the Schengen Area
The same will apply to foreign individuals who have obtained Vanuatu’s passport through investment. They will not enjoy visa-free travel privileges to the bloc and will need to obtain a visa.
The ending of visa-free travel will have a significant impact on the country’s citizens. Even though the nation has a low number of residents, the decision will cause trouble for them, from securing an appointment to waiting for a decision on their application.
Source: https://schengen.news/eu-parliament-votes-to-permanently-revoke-visa-free-travel-for-vanuatu/
