Australia is offering visas to 280 of the Pacific Island nation鈥檚 citizens each year under a climate migration deal Canberra has billed as 鈥渢he first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world鈥.
More than 3,000 Tuvaluans have already entered a ballot for the first batch of visas, according to official figures on the Australian program, which accounts for almost a full third of the nation鈥檚 population.
One of the most climate-threatened regions of the planet, scientists fear that Tuvalu has just 80 years before it becomes uninhabitable.
Two of the archipelago鈥檚 nine coral atolls have already largely disappeared under the waves.
鈥淎ustralia recognises the devastating impact climate change is having on the livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of climate vulnerable countries and people, particularly in the Pacific region,鈥 Australia鈥檚 foreign affairs department said.
Australia and Tuvalu inked the groundbreaking Falepili Union in 2024, part of Canberra鈥檚 efforts to blunt China鈥檚 expanding reach in the region.
Under that pact, Australia opened a new visa category specially set aside for adult citizens of Tuvalu.
Already, there are signs the program will be hugely oversubscribed. Official data on the program shows 3,125 Tuvaluans entered the random ballot within four days of it opening last week.
鈥淭his is the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen,鈥 a spokesperson for Australia鈥檚 foreign affairs department said.
Tuvalu is home to 10,643 people, according to census figures collected in 2022. Registration costs Aus$25 (US$16), with the ballot closing on July 18.
Not 鈥榤uch of a future鈥
The visa program has been hailed as a landmark response to the looming challenge of climate-forced migration.
鈥淎t the same time, it will provide Tuvaluans the choice to live, study and work in Australia,鈥 Australia鈥檚 foreign affairs department said.
But they have also fanned fears that nations like Tuvalu could be rapidly drained of skilled professionals and young talent.
University of Sydney geographer John Connell warned that a long-term exodus of workers could imperil Tuvalu鈥檚 future.
鈥淪mall states do not have many jobs and some activities don鈥檛 need that many people,鈥 he told AFP.
鈥淎tolls don鈥檛 offer much of a future: agriculture is hard, fisheries offer wonderful potential but it doesn鈥檛 generate employment,鈥 he added.
The Falepili pact commits Australia to defending Tuvalu in the face of natural disasters, health pandemics and 鈥渕ilitary aggression鈥.
鈥淔or the first time, there is a country that has committed legally to come to the aid of Tuvalu, upon request, when Tuvalu encounters a major natural disaster, a health pandemic or military aggression,鈥 Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo said at the time.
鈥淎gain, for the first time there is a country that has committed legally to recognise the future statehood and sovereignty of Tuvalu despite the detrimental impact of climate changed-induced sea level rise.鈥 The agreement also offers Australia a say in any other defence pacts Tuvalu signs with other countries, raising concerns at the time that the Pacific nation was handing over its sovereignty.
Tuvalu is one of just 12 states that still have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei rather than Beijing.
Australia鈥檚 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last year his country shared a vision for a 鈥減eaceful, stable, prosperous and unified region鈥.
鈥淚t shows our Pacific partners that they can rely on Australia as a trusted and genuine partner.鈥