Andrew Tate’s status as a Vanuatu citizen has been confirmed by the government, following a comprehensive review of his citizenship acquisition. This official announcement means the controversial influencer will retain his Vanuatu passport, a decision that has drawn considerable attention due to his high-profile legal troubles globally. The government’s assessment focused on the legality of the original grant.
Government spokesperson Kiery Manassah stated that the citizenship office thoroughly examined Tate’s documents and found that he was cleared by Interpol and the UK when his citizenship was granted. This adherence to established procedures at the time is the basis for the government’s current decision, indicating no procedural faults.
Manassah acknowledged that if the government had been aware of the serious allegations against Tate during his application, he would not have been granted citizenship. He expressed regret for this oversight but stressed the legal limitations of revoking citizenship based on information that surfaced post-grant.
This incident has prompted Vanuatu to intensify its efforts to reform its citizenship program. The government is committed to implementing enhanced due diligence processes to prevent similar controversies and to improve the program’s reputation, which has faced scrutiny for its past approvals and vetting standards.
