EU could suspend Vanuatu visa-free travel over ‘golden passports’ scheme

EU states set to vote on proposal after commission found deficiencies including the granting of citizenship to applicants listed in Interpol's databases'

The European Commission has proposed suspending a visa-free travel arrangement with Vanuatu due to concerns about the Pacific nation's controversial golden passports" scheme.

The proposed suspension, which still needs to be voted on by EU states, would prevent all holders of passports issued as of 25 May 2015 - when Vanuatu started issuing a substantial number of passports in exchange for investment - from travelling to the EU without a visa.