Why A Sinking Tiny South Pacific Nation Wants An Australian Climate Change Visa

Last Updated:July 11, 2025, 22:00 IST

Under the Falepili Union Treaty, 280 Tuvaluans will be chosen every year through a secret ballot to move to Australia.

Tuvalu, one of the world’s smallest countries, consists of nine tiny coral islands (Pexels/Representative Image)

Climate change, a sad reality, is affecting some nations more than others. One such country is Tuvalu, which consists of nine small coral islands. It is currently facing an uncertain future, with the threat of becoming uninhabitable in the coming years. The fear of erasure has led almost one-third of the 10,000 inhabitants of Tuvalu to leave their country and move to Australia.

Being extremely vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, Tuvalu is expected to be fully submerged underwater by 2050. Almost half its population currently resides in the capital city, Funafuti, which consists of a thin strip of land stretching between a vast lagoon and the Pacific Ocean.

Tuvalu’s call for help was heard by Australia, which responded in November 2023 with an agreement to support its citizens. The Falepili Union Treaty, as it is known, was signed to facilitate the movement of Tuvalu citizens in a systematic manner. As the treaty comes into force this year after months of consultations, it has eased mobility for citizens of Tuvalu to move to and from Australia.

Explaining the details of the Falepili Union Treaty, a DW report stated that a secret ballot will be held every year, selecting 280 people over the age of 18 to move to Australia under the climate visa. Only those who hold a Tuvaluan passport and were either born in Tuvalu or have a parent or grandparent born there will be allowed to participate in the ballot.

What is a climate visa?

While a normal visa allows people to move to another country in search of a job or for their studies, the climate visa under the Falepili Union Treaty frees Tuvalu citizens from such restrictions. This allows them to move freely between Tuvalu and Australia. However, it is to be noted that those who move to Australia will not be treated as refugees and, therefore, will not be eligible for the benefits granted to refugees.

Moreover, while Australian visas usually exclude people with disabilities, chronic health conditions, or special needs, the climate visa exempts Tuvalu citizens from such terms. Given the uncertain times, over 3,000 Tuvaluans have already applied for the first round of the secret ballot. While it currently allows only 280 spots per year, the number could be adjusted in case of need.

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