The small Pacific nation of Nauru has announced the launch of its citizenship by investment program. Investors who contribute to a fund that fights climate change in the country will be able to obtain a passport. Here’s a detailed look at Nauru and how you can get its citizenship.
Where is Nauru?
Nauru is a small island in the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of just 21 sq. km with a population of a little over 11,000 people. On the map, Nauru is located to the right of Australia, between the Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands.
The island enjoys a perpetual summer with an average temperature of +27°C. There are only two seasons: a wet season from November to February and a dry season from March to October.
Climate change is a big issue for Nauru’s residents. Due to glacial melting, seasons are shifting, rainfall is intensifying, and global sea levels are rising. The island’s habitable coastal areas are shrinking, and storms are becoming more frequent. The citizenship by investment program was launched to address climate change and its consequences at the national level.
Benefits of Nauru’s Citizenship by Investment
A second passport is not just a luxury—it’s a practical way to simplify life for yourself and your family. It expands the list of countries you can visit visa-free and provides an additional option for emergency relocation during global crises.
With a Nauru passport, you can:
- Travel visa-free to Ireland, Nepal, the UAE, Hong Kong — 89 countries in total.
- Get an electronic visa for Australia.
All Ways to Obtain Nauru Citizenship
Before the launch of the citizenship by investment program, Nauru had some of the strictest citizenship rules. All criteria are outlined in the Citizenship Act of 2017.
- Naturalization: You have to live on the island continuously for 20 years, with no criminal record or serious illnesses. When applying, applicants demonstrate integration into Nauruan society. Citizenship obtained through naturalization can be revoked if the individual has been absent from the country for more than 3 years or is involved in serious crimes.
- Marriage: A foreigner must be legally married to a Nauruan citizen for at least 7 years while living on the island. Citizenship can be revoked after divorce or the death of a spouse if the applicant isn’t a descendant of native Aboriginal people. Applicants also demonstrate involvement in the local community.
- Descent: Children, whether biological or adopted, of Nauruan citizens automatically acquire the same status, regardless of their place of birth. Until the age of 20, parents apply for their child’s citizenship; after that, individuals apply independently.
- Investment: An applicant contributes a certain amount to a fund that mitigates the effects of climate change on the citizens of Nauru. This is a one-time, non-refundable payment, and citizenship is granted for life.
Who Can Apply for Citizenship by Investment?
The Nauruan government promises to simplify the process for foreign investors as much as possible.
Main requirements for obtaining citizenship by investment:
- Clean criminal record: All applicants over 16 must provide a police clearance certificate and pass background checks to ensure they are not involved in money laundering or terrorist financing.
- Legally earned capital: The main investment amount is transferred after application approval, along with a bank statement or other financial document proving the applicant’s financial stability.
- Negative HIV test: Required for all applicants over 12 years old.
Relocation to Nauru and assimilation are not required. Citizenship can be obtained without ever visiting the island.
The investor can immediately extend citizenship to:
- Biological or adopted children up to 30 years old, if unmarried and financially dependent
- A legal or common-law spouse
- Unmarried siblings of any age (including the spouse’s siblings)
- Parents, grandparents over 55 years old, financially dependent (including in-laws)
Nauru offers one of the most cost-effective citizenship by investment programs for large families. The additional fee for each new family member is ten times lower than the primary investment amount.
- Individual applicant — $105,000
- Married couple with one child — $110,000
- Married couple with 2 children or 2 elderly parents — $115,000
- Additional fee per sibling — $15,000
Additional administrative fees:
- Background check: $10,000 for the main applicant; $7,500 per additional applicant over 16.
- Application processing: $25,000 for solo applicants; $27,500 for groups of 2-4; $30,000 for groups of 5 or more.
- Bank verification and fund transfer: $1,200 per person; $1,700 for a group of up to 4; $2,200 for 5 or more.
- Passport forms: $500 per person, regardless of age.
Citizenship by Investment Application Process
Applications are reviewed by a government office, but they can’t be submitted directly. Applicants have to work with an authorized agent licensed by the Nauruan government. Astons has been confirmed as a licensed agent and is accepting investor applications.
Thanks to the agent’s involvement, the procedure is completely remote. The main steps include:
- Consultation with Astons experts and receiving a document checklist.
- Collecting and preparing documents for the entire family.
- Application submission — no travel required, the agent handles everything.
- Comprehensive background check.
- Remote interview for all applicants over 16.
- Investment transfer after the application is approved.
- Receiving a digital citizenship certificate via email, with passports delivered by courier.
Required Documents for Nauru Citizenship
For marriage- or naturalization-based citizenship, proof of long-term residence in Nauru is needed. However, the requirements for investors are minimal:
- National passports, birth/adoption certificates, or equivalent identity and relationship documents
- Official marriage certificates
- Proof of cohabitation for common-law spouses
- No criminal record certificates for applicants over 16
- Bank statement or equivalent proof that the main applicant controls the required funds
- Military ID or equivalent
- Name change documents or equivalent
- Negative HIV test for applicants over 12
You can renounce your Nauruan citizenship at any time by:
- Paying a fee
- Submitting an application
- Awaiting the update in the citizenship register (you can request a copy of the update at any time)
Pros and Cons of Life and Tourism in Nauru
A resident of a metropolis is unlikely to consider moving to Nauru permanently. There are no opportunities for business development, no luxury villas, or modern apartments that might attract digital nomads or wealthy retirees. Most products, including drinking water, are imported, and the level of healthcare and education can’t be compared to that of Australia or New Zealand.
Even tourism on the island is not well developed. Due to its small size, the country has only 5 hotels, all with modest ratings on TripAdvisor. However, Nauruans are friendly towards foreigners. You can reach the island from Brisbane, Australia, in just 4.5 hours, with regular flights 4 times a week. Nauru has its own airline, Nauru Airlines, and is also served by Australian carriers. A Nauru passport grants visa-free transit through Australia and free entry to the island.
By obtaining citizenship through investment, you can visit Nauru at any time and stay as long as you like. Although the country is not developed, it is quiet, peaceful, and stable. The most common crimes are bicycle theft and pickpocketing. Nauru remains distant from global politics and economic crises, and the country doesn’t even have its own army.
Economic and Political System of Nauru
For a long time, the island’s economy was based on phosphate mining. Mining operations destroyed much of the tropical forest on this already tiny landmass. Australia, as the primary developer of these resources, continues to pay Nauru compensation for the natural resource destruction. Today, many mines have been closed, but Nauru’s GDP remains high—over $9,800 per capita.
The country generates revenue by selling fishing rights in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, which is 25,000 times larger than the island itself. Another source of income is an Australian immigration center where refugees wait for documents to enter Australia.
Interesting fact! Nauru doesn’t have its own currency; the country uses the Australian dollar.
Nauru proudly calls itself the world’s smallest island republic. The country elects 19 parliamentary deputies every 3 years, and they choose a president from among themselves, who then selects 5 ministers from the remaining deputies and appoints the supreme and some local judges.
Culture and Language
The Nauruan language is one of the least studied in the world. Linguists still debate the meaning of the country’s name. Nauruan has no traditional writing system—the alphabet was created by linguists using the Latin script. The language is primarily spoken in daily life, while school textbooks and newspapers are printed in English, which almost everyone on the island understands.
Investors don’t have to learn Nauruan. The mandatory interview is being conducted in English, French, Chinese, or several other languages.
However, knowing a couple of Nauruan phrases might help make a good impression on the committee:
- Ekamowir omo — Hello
- Tubwa kör (Toob-wa kör) — Thank you
You can find more Nauruan phrases like “hi,” “how are you,” and “my name is…” here.
Nauru’s popular culture is no different from the global Western mainstream. The government tries to preserve traditional songs, dances, and fishing and hunting techniques, but locals have long embraced Australian football, basketball, and popular music. Globalization will help an investor’s family adapt more easily to local life if they ever need to relocate.
FAQ
Can you buy Nauru citizenship?
Citizenship can’t be bought anywhere. You can obtain a Nauru passport by contributing to the local economy.
How long does it take to process an application?
Can you move to Australia with a Nauru passport?
Is it difficult to get visas to other countries with a Nauru passport?
Is Nauru a safe place to live?
What are the future prospects for Nauruan citizens?
