More than a third of the people of the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu have applied for the world’s first climate change visa, which will allow them to move permanently to Australia, the BBC reports.
Applications for the visa began on the 16th of June, and it is already clear that the program will be overwhelmed, as only 280 visas are to be drawn each year. The climate change visa program is run by the Australia’s foreign affairs department as part of a move to help people who have been forced to leave their homes because of climate change.
The tiny archipelago of Tuvalu lies just five meters above sea level, and its people are among the nations most threatened by climate change. As of the 27th of June, 1,124 applications had been submitted, covering a total of 4,052 Tuvaluan citizens. According to the 2022 census, the islands have a total population of 10,643 people.
Winners of the ballot will be able to live permanently in Australia, and will be able to leave and enter Australia without restrictions.
The visa will also provide the opportunity to receive assistance provided by the Australian government during the move – access to the health care system, support for raising children, and the opportunity to study at schools, universities and vocational training institutions with the same support as Australian citizens.
Applying for the lottery costs 25 Australian dollars, and will close on the 18th of July.
The new visas were created by the Australia-Tuvalu Union, which was established in August 2024. Canberra is committed to defending the islands against natural disasters, public health threats and against military aggression. Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo said last year that for the first time in history, a country has made a legal commitment to recognize Tuvalu’s future statehood and sovereignty despite the effects of rising sea levels caused by climate change.
NASA scientists predict that by 2025, most of Tuvalu’s land and critical infrastructure will be underwater at high tide.
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