Australian Climate Visa for Citizens of Tuvalu: Showcasing cross-border partnership in light of the climate crisis

While the impacts of climate change are undoubtedly felt across the world, many countries and communities suffer more significantly to the point of having to flee from their homeland. In Tuvalu, citizens are applying for a climate visa to Australia to seek refugee from the crisis.

Climate-related Risks in Tuvalu

Climate change is one of our greatest challenges to date. The rising temperatures trigger rising sea levels, erratic weather patterns, and more severe natural hazards. The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report has estimated that the global mean sea-level rise would reach 0.44 m–0.74 m by the end of the 21st century.

Often, the countries least responsible and most ill-prepared suffer the greatest impacts of the crisis. Tuvalu, a microstate in the southern Pacific Ocean, is among them. With a surface area of 26 km² and a population of approximately 10,000, Tuvalu is one of the most climate-vulnerable states on Earth. The island’s average height is only less than 3 meters above sea-level, posing a great risk of flooding due to high tides and extreme weather events.

The climate-induced risks exacerbated the social and economic challenges in the state, including poverty and inequality. The World Bank’s estimation shows that 26.6% of Tuvalu citizens live below the national poverty line.

Climate Visa Applications

Harsh living conditions due to the climate crisis can force people to flee their home in search for better places to live. In 2022, for instance, weather-related hazards caused nearly 32 million displacements. Beyond climate-related disasters, climate crisis also exacerbates other risks that can trigger displacement and migration, including poverty and loss of resources leading to food insecurity. Therefore, ensuring legal protection and safe mobility for those affected becomes important.

In June 2025, Australia opened a climate visa application for Tuvalu citizens, allowing them to move, work, and study in Australia. This climate visa scheme is a part of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty signed in November 2023. One of the treaty’s goals is to co-design a safe pathway to assist Tuvalu citizens’ mobility to Australia, especially in light of climate-related disasters.

Eligible Tuvalu citizens must first register in a pre-application ballot. Then, those selected through the ballot can apply for the climate visa by July 18 for the 2025/2026 period. Only 280 visas will be rewarded annually to ensure a proper and dignified migration process between the countries. The BBC reported that as of June 27, 1,124 applications have been submitted to the ballot, accounting for 4,052 Tuvalu citizens with the inclusion of family members.

Responding to Climate Crisis

The emergence of schemes like a climate visa serve as an example of cooperation between countries in ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of their citizens. With the crisis lacking signs of slowing down, countries must strengthen actions to halt the climate crisis and improve mitigation plans to prevent further social, economic, and environmental damage.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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