The Pacific island nation of Nauru, now officially the Republic of Naoero, is offering citizenship to foreign nationals for a contribution of $90,000 per individual, down from the standard fee of $115,000 under a limited-time arrangement. The scheme, branded a "golden passport" programme, has already granted citizenship to more than 120 people since its launch early last year.
Funding Climate Relocation
The programme is designed to finance a large-scale relocation project, as reported by Business Insider Africa. The project will move roughly 90 per cent of the country's families and infrastructure away from low-lying coastal areas facing growing flood risks from rising sea levels. The government estimates the first phase of this relocation effort will cost more than $60 million.
According to France 24, President David Adeang said the island opens the contentious "golden passport" scheme as other climate financing runs dry. The island republic of about 13,000 residents sits on a small plateau of phosphate rock in the sparsely populated South Pacific.
What the Nauru Passport Offers
Applicants who pass a four-stage screening process receive Nauruan citizenship, along with a passport granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 85 destinations, including Singapore and Hong Kong. However, citizenship does not grant holders the right to purchase land in Nauru, where land ownership remains restricted under national law.
Background checks are required before any application is approved, and authorities retain the power to revoke citizenship if a holder is later found to have committed a serious offence.
Environmental Challenges
Nauru covers approximately 21 square kilometres and has faced significant environmental damage following decades of phosphate mining that left much of its interior unusable. Climate data shows sea levels around the island have risen faster than the global average in recent years, making coastal flooding more frequent.
The government's relocation project aims to address these threats, but it comes with a hefty price tag. The first phase alone is projected to exceed $60 million, a significant sum for a nation of about 13,000 people.
Security Concerns and Programme History
The programme has drawn scrutiny from some governments and security analysts who question whether investment-based citizenship schemes can be properly policed. Their concerns are not without historical basis: a previous Nauruan passport scheme operated in the early 2000s was shut down after reports emerged that individuals with criminal and security-related backgrounds had obtained citizenship through it.
In response to current concerns, Nauru says it has introduced more robust screening, continuous monitoring, and rejection powers for applications that fall short of its requirements. The total number of rejected applications has not been made public.
African Applicants Among Those Interested
Nauru's programme sits within a wider global market for citizenship by investment. Applicants from Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa are among those who have looked at such schemes as a way to access international markets more easily. Caribbean nations also run comparable programmes, though those typically require minimum contributions of between $200,000 and $250,000 depending on the route chosen.
Supporters of the Nauruan scheme argue it addresses a genuine funding gap for a country confronting an existential climate crisis, while critics continue to debate whether citizenship should be tied to financial contributions at all.
Nauru Officially Changes Name to Naoero in 2026
Recall that the Pacific island nation of Nauru officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, reverting to its traditional spelling and pronunciation. President David Adeang said the name change marks the beginning of renewed national pride and a return to the country's pre-colonial identity.
The country's international code will shift from NRU to NRO, and its people will now be known as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan.
11 Countries to Get Citizenship Through Investment
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that if you are considering moving abroad or securing a backup option for the future, you are not alone. Many people around the world are exploring countries where obtaining citizenship is relatively simple. A recent report by International Living highlights several nations offering some of the quickest and most accessible paths to citizenship in 2026.
