Andrew Tate will remain a citizen of Vanuatu, as the government has decided against reversing his citizenship after a thorough review. This announcement comes despite the recent public outcry and reports surrounding his acquisition of the “golden passport,” particularly in light of his arrest shortly after its alleged grant. The government’s decision indicates a focus on the legality of the original application process.
Vanuatu’s government spokesperson, Kiery Manassah, confirmed that the citizenship office conducted an in-depth examination of Tate’s naturalization process. He reiterated that at the time of the grant, Tate had received all necessary clearances from international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and the UK. These clearances, Manassah stated, validated the initial decision and provided no grounds for immediate revocation.
Manassah acknowledged that if the government had been aware of the serious charges Tate now faces, his citizenship would have been denied. However, he stressed the legal limitations on revoking citizenship based on information that became available only after the fact. This legal constraint, he explained, prevents retrospective action on what was deemed a compliant application at the time.
The ongoing controversy has prompted Vanuatu to re-evaluate its citizenship-by-investment scheme. The government is now focused on implementing more robust due diligence procedures to prevent future incidents and to salvage the program’s international reputation, which Manassah admitted was “very bad” and in need of urgent reform.