Andrew Tate’s Vanuatu citizen status has been confirmed after a period of scrutiny by the government, which found no grounds for immediate revocation. This outcome ensures that the controversial influencer will retain his “golden passport,” despite the significant public and media attention surrounding his legal entanglements. The government’s decision was based purely on the legality of the initial process.
Government spokesperson Kiery Manassah clarified that the citizenship office’s examination of Tate’s documents confirmed that he had received necessary clearances from Interpol and the UK when his citizenship was approved. This adherence to established procedures at the time is the reason for the current decision, as no faults were found in the original vetting process.
Manassah acknowledged that if the government had possessed prior knowledge of the allegations against Tate, his citizenship would have been denied. He stated, “If the government had been aware of this at the start, and our processes were working, we should have not allowed him in the first place.” However, he emphasized the legal limitations on retroactively revoking citizenship.
The government is now focused on strengthening its citizenship-by-investment program to prevent future controversies. Manassah confirmed that new regulations are being introduced to enhance due diligence, with the aim of improving the program’s reputation and ensuring more rigorous background checks for all future applicants.