Nauru’s Climate-Funded “Golden Passport” Scheme

Nauru launched the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program (ECRCP) on 1 January 2025 as a citizenship-by-investment scheme linked to climate adaptation finance. The programme offers Nauruan citizenship and a passport in return for a financial contribution, and it is connected to relocation and infrastructure plans for the island state.

Nauru and Citizenship-by-Investment

Citizenship-by-investment programmes grant nationality in exchange for a prescribed economic contribution. Nauru’s scheme is one of the small-state models used to raise public revenue through passport sales, and it operates under national rules on eligibility, screening, and revocation. The standard contribution for a single applicant is US115,000, and a limited-time offer reduces the amount to US90,000 until 31 December 2026. Successful applicants receive a passport that provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 85 destinations, including Singapore and Hong Kong.

Climate Adaptation and Relocation Plan

The main purpose of the programme is to finance climate adaptation in Nauru, including the relocation of about 90 per cent of Nauruan families and infrastructure to higher ground. The first phase of the relocation plan is estimated to cost more than US$60 million. Nauru is a low-lying Pacific island state, and climate adaptation planning in such states often includes land elevation, settlement relocation, coastal protection, and infrastructure reinforcement.

Security, Land Rules, and Travel Access

Nauruan citizenship obtained through the scheme does not confer the right to purchase land in Nauru, because land ownership remains restricted to native Nauruans. The programme also includes background checks, continuous monitoring, and the power to revoke citizenship if a person engages in criminal activity. The scheme has faced scrutiny because a previous Nauruan passport programme in the early 2000s was discontinued after reports of suspected terrorists holding Nauruan passports. In December 2025, Britain introduced a visit visa requirement for Nauruan nationals and removed Nauru from the list of countries eligible for an Electronic Travel Authorization.

Important Facts for Exams

• Nauru is a small island country in the Pacific Ocean and is one of the world’s smallest sovereign states by area and population.
• Citizenship-by-investment is also called a “golden passport” scheme in many countries.
• Electronic Travel Authorization is a pre-travel screening system used by some countries for visa-exempt travellers.
• Land ownership restrictions in Nauru remain linked to native Nauruan status under domestic rules.

Recent Administrative Change

Nauru officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero in 2026, restoring its traditional spelling and pronunciation. As of 4 August 2026, more than 120 citizenships had been granted under the programme.