Sources consulted by the Research Directorate do not indicate whether or not foreigners who buy Kiribati passports are citizens of Kiribati.

On 17 November 1996 the President of Kiribati acknowledged in an article published by Inter Press Service (IPS) that Kiribati was selling passports for $20,000.00 each (the article does not indicate in which dollars the price was denominated) to foreigners willing to invest in the Kiribati island of Kanton.

The government of Kiribati has reportedly sold investor passports to foreigners for $18,000.00 Australian each (AFP 31 Oct. 1997; EIU News Wire 22 Jan. 1998; FT Asia Intelligence Wire 1 Jan. 1999). Australia, the United States and New Zealand did not recognize the passports (AFP 31 Oct. 1997; IPS 17 Nov. 1996, 28 Aug. 1998).

A New Zealand government Internet Website states that "Kiribati investor passports are unacceptable because they neither: a. confirm the nationality of the passport holder; nor ... clarify the status of the passport holder" (New Zealand 29 Feb. 2000).

A Hong Kong government Internet Website reported that as of 25 January 1999, "persons holding passports issued by the Kiribati Government with the status on the data page of the passport stated as 'INVESTOR' or 'N-KIRIBATI' " and holders of similar Tuvalu passports would need visas to visit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, because, according to an Immigration Department spokesperson, "we understand that they are not nationals of these countries" (Daily Information Bulletin 23 Jan. 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 31 October 1997. Michael J. Field. "Tuvalu Joining Passport Sale Business." http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/pireport/1997/november/11-03-02.html [Accessed 28 Apr. 2000]

Daily Information Bulletin. 23 January 1999. http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/199901/23/0123075.htm [Accessed 28 Apr. 2000]

EIU News Wire. 22 January 1998. "Pacific Islands Trade: Passport Revenues." (NEXIS)

FT Asia Intelligence Wire. 1 January 1999. "World of Information - Asia - Kiribati - Review 1998" (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 28 August 1998. Kalinga Seneviratne. "South Pacific: Lucrative Passport Trade Reaches the Courts." (NEXIS)

_____. 17 November 1996. Kalinga Seneviratne. "South Pacific: Money Sharks Move In as Aid Dollars Dry Up." (NEXIS)

New Zealand. 29 February 2000 [Date last modified]. "A2.15 Unacceptable Travel Documents." http://www.immigration.govt.nz/operations_manual/2124.htm [Accessed 28 Apr. 2000]