Andrew Tate allegedly secured a “golden passport” from the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu the month he was arrested in Romania on charges including rape and human trafficking, it has been reported.
The 38-year-old influencer allegedly received the passport through a citizenship-by-investment programme that allows foreign nationals to buy citizenship for $130,000 (£96,000), according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Intelligence Online.
The Guardian detailed in 2021 in a months-long investigation how Vanuatu sold passports – and with them visa-free access to the UK and EU – to thousands of individuals. Buyers included people linked to sanctions, or facing serious allegations, or with warrants out for their arrest. In December, the EU revoked the visa-free travel agreement because of its concerns over the scheme.
Tate’s citizenship was said to have been granted in December 2022, according to NXT Citizen, the agency that submitted the application, OCCRP reported. That month, Tate and his brother, Tristan, 36, were arrested by Romanian authorities on charges of human trafficking and forming an organised crime group. Andrew Tate was also accused of rape. His passport was issued in January 2023 while he was still being held in pre-trial detention, it has been claimed.
The Tate brothers, who grew up in Luton in the UK, have been under criminal investigation in Romania since April 2022. It is not clear when Tate applied for citizenship for Vanuatu, which does not have a formal extradition arrangement with Romania.
Tate’s spokesperson said he would not comment on the Vanuatu reports. The Guardian has also contacted Tate’s lawyers in Romania and the US.
The Tate brothers have denied the allegations in Romania, and an appeals court said in December that a human trafficking case could not proceed because of legal and procedural irregularities. The case has been sent back to prosecutors.
The Tates faced further allegations in Romania last August, including accusations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering, all of which they deny.
The pair are due to be extradited to the UK after the conclusion of proceedings in Romania. UK prosecutors confirmed last week they had authorised 10 charges against Andrew Tate, including rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain. The charges are connected to three alleged victims. Tristan Tate faces 11 charges including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking, all connected to one alleged victim. They deny the charges.
The brothers would return to Britain to defend themselves, their UK lawyer said last week.
