Nauru Island Is Promoting Citizenship for $105,000

In November, following the newest U.S. presidential election, the variety of Google searches for how one can “depart the nation” elevated by 1,514 %, in accordance with information by VisaGuide.World. However as many shortly discovered, transferring to a different nation is not as simple as it could appear. There’s often a visa course of concerned, loads of immigration legal professionals in between, and a prolonged wait time earlier than you’ll be able to get hold of that coveted second passport. Nonetheless, one tiny island nation is hoping to make issues somewhat simpler by promoting citizenship for $105,000—and it may very well be the one factor that saves it from local weather catastrophe. 

In 2025, the island nation of Nauru, situated within the South Pacific between the Solomon Islands and Marshall Islands, launched its new passport scheme, permitting individuals to buy citizenship by funding. It is the vacation spot’s manner of elevating as a lot money as potential to maneuver lots of its 12,000 residents to increased floor because the coastal areas of the eight-square-mile island are getting ravaged by erosion as a consequence of local weather change. Moreover, massive swaths that had been as soon as used to mine phosphate deposits (an ingredient in fertilizer) have each dried up and made some 80 % of the land uninhabitable, in accordance with The Guardian.

“For Nauru, it’s not nearly adapting to local weather change, however about securing a sustainable and affluent future for generations to return,” David Adeang, the nation’s president, shared with AFP. “That is about greater than survival. It’s about making certain future generations have a secure, resilient, and sustainable house. We’re prepared for the journey forward.”

It is price noting that whereas you should buy the passport, there is no requirement to reside there to be able to achieve or preserve citizenship.

“A second passport isn’t only a luxurious—it’s a strategic asset. It unlocks better international mobility, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to extra locations,” Armand Arton, the founding father of the Passport Index, shared with Journey + Leisure. “Whereas these with highly effective passports take seamless journey as a right, hundreds of thousands face bureaucratic, time-consuming hurdles at each border. That’s why residency and citizenship by funding (CBI) applications stay in excessive demand, providing freedom, safety, and new alternatives.” 

As for who this system targets, Arton famous it is an ideal choice for anybody whose passport limits their journey choices. “With visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 90 international locations, together with South Korea and Hong Kong, Nauru citizenship is a strategic improve for these with restricted mobility.” 

Kyle Maltz, the COO at Greenback Flight Membership, agreed it is a unbelievable technique to see extra of the world for those who in any other case cannot, however added that this explicit visa comes with one different main bonus.

“Probably the most distinctive issues about this program is the truth that you are investing in a real-world environmental venture that may have a considerable affect for a small neighborhood,” he mentioned. “Investing on this venture additionally comes with the advantage of a further passport/citizenship, which is a cool bonus.”

In line with Edward Clark, the pinnacle of Nauru’s Financial and Local weather Resilience Citizenship Program, the passport scheme is already attracting candidates. Clark instructed the AFP the federal government is hoping to obtain 66 functions this 12 months, however its long-term objective is far increased, with the purpose of attracting 500 candidates, which works out to about $52.5 million. “Creating climate-vulnerable international locations are disproportionately affected by local weather change,” Clark instructed AFP. “And there may be subsequently an pressing want to make sure they disproportionately profit from local weather innovation.”