Australia will offer residency to all Tuvaluans in "groundbreaking treaty"

Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano on Friday confirmed the two countries will enter a bilateral treaty that offers special visas to Tuvalu residents to work, study and live in Australia as the Pacific nation faces the existential threats of climate change. Tuvaluans will be allowed to migrate to Australia under a special mobility pathway.

Albanese described the arrangement, known as the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union, as “the most significant agreement between Australia and a Pacific island nation ever”.

While acknowledging the challenges faced across the Pacific, Albanese said Tuvalu’s “very existence is being threatened by climate change”.

As well as a new dedicated visa for Tuvaluans, the agreement includes a $16.9 million commitment from Australia to expand Tuvalu’s main island’s landmass by 6 per cent to help withstand sea level rise.



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