Tuvalu citizens seeking climate visa to Australia
Over a third of people in the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu have applied for landmark climate visas to Australia. This is because scientists predict that it will face being submerged as sea levels continue to rise due to climate change.
Tapugao Falefou, the country’s ambassador to the UN said that he was “startled by the huge number of people vying for this opportunity.” Tuvalu is among the nations facing the largest risk from climate change. Its population of just 11,000 people live on it nine atolls across the Pacific between Hawaii and Australia.
Since applications for a visa lottery to Australia opened this month, 1,124 people have registered. Family members bring the total up to 4,052 under the bilateral climate and security treaty.
Applications are open until 18th July and there will be an annual cap of 280 visas to Australia. This is to prevent a potential brain drain from Tuvalu, officials said in 2023 when the treaty was announced.
The visa will allow residents to live, work, and study in Australia, as well as granting them access to health benefits and education to the same extent as citizens of Australia.
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