Nauru Island Is Promoting Citizenship for $105,000

In November, following the newest U.S. presidential election, the variety of Google searches for tips on how to “go away the nation” elevated by 1,514 %, in accordance with knowledge by VisaGuide.World. However as many shortly realized, transferring to a different nation is not as simple as it could appear. There’s normally a visa course of concerned, loads of immigration attorneys in between, and a prolonged wait time earlier than you may acquire that coveted second passport. Nonetheless, one tiny island nation is hoping to make issues a bit of simpler by promoting citizenship for $105,000—and it could possibly 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 via funding. It is the vacation spot’s means of elevating as a lot money as attainable to maneuver a lot of its 12,000 residents to greater floor because the coastal areas of the eight-square-mile island are getting ravaged by erosion attributable to local weather change. Moreover, giant 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 isn’t 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 guaranteeing future generations have a secure, resilient, and sustainable residence. We’re prepared for the journey forward.”

There may be, nonetheless, a giant catch. Sure, you should purchase the passport, however no, you may’t really reside there. However in accordance with consultants, it could nonetheless be value it. 

“A second passport isn’t only a luxurious—it’s a strategic asset. It unlocks higher world 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 amazing 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 incredible solution to see extra of the world for those who in any other case cannot, however added that this specific visa comes with one different main bonus.

“Some of the distinctive issues about this program is the truth that you are investing in a real-world environmental venture that can have a considerable influence for a small neighborhood,” he stated. “Investing on this venture additionally comes with the advantage of an extra passport/citizenship, which is a cool bonus.”

In accordance with Edward Clark, the pinnacle of Nauru’s Financial and Local weather Resilience Citizenship Program, the passport scheme is already attracting candidates. Clark informed the AFP the federal government is hoping to obtain 66 functions this 12 months, however its long-term objective is far greater, with the goal 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 informed AFP. “And there may be due to this fact an pressing want to make sure they disproportionately profit from local weather innovation.”