This Picturesque Tropical Island Country, Nauru is Offering Citizenship for Rs 91 Lakh
In a bold move to combat the existential threat of climate change, the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru is now offering citizenship to foreigners for a minimum of $105,000 (approximately Rs 91.38 lakh). It is noteworthy that Nauru’s passport enjoys visa-free travel to over 108 countries, compared to 57 on Indian passport.
The “golden passport” initiative aims to raise funds to relocate 90% of its population to higher ground and build a new community, as rising sea levels and coastal erosion continue to devastate the island.
Nauru, spanning just eight square miles, is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. With limited resources to shield itself from a crisis disproportionately driven by wealthier countries, the government sees the citizenship program as a lifeline. The funds generated will help finance a comprehensive climate action plan, including the relocation of its 12,500 residents.
“While the world debates climate action, we must take proactive steps to secure our nation’s future,” Nauru’s President David Adeang told CNN. The island has already faced severe impacts, with king tides engulfing homes and displacing families. Tyrone Deiye, a Nauruan researcher at Monash Business School, highlighted the urgency, stating, “A lot of people residing on the coast have already lost land—some have had their entire houses engulfed by king tides, and they have lost everything.”
The Nauru passport offers visa-free travel to 108 countries, including the UK, Singapore, and the UAE, making it an attractive option for global citizens. However, the program has drawn criticism for its potential misuse, given past scandals involving citizenship sales. In the mid-1990s, Nauru’s earlier program was marred by allegations of terrorism links, including the arrest of two alleged Al Qaeda operatives carrying Nauru passports.
To address these concerns, the government has promised stringent vetting procedures, excluding applicants from high-risk countries like Russia and North Korea. The program will also be overseen by international organizations, including the World Bank, to ensure transparency and accountability.
The initiative is expected to generate 5.6millioninitsfirstyear,scalingupto5.6millioninitsfirstyear,scalingupto42 million annually, and contributing 19% of the government’s total revenue. For micro-states like Nauru, such programs can have an “absolutely enormous” economic impact, according to Kirstin Surak, an expert on golden passport programs.
Nauru is not alone in this approach. Dominica, a Caribbean nation, has used its citizenship-by-investment program to fund climate resilience projects, aiming to become the world’s first climate-resilient nation by 2030.
As Nauru navigates the promise and peril of its golden passport program, the world watches closely. For a nation on the frontlines of climate change, this initiative represents both a desperate plea for survival and a innovative step toward securing its future.
