Nauru citizenship by investment

Nauru citizenship by investment is one of the newest citizenship-by-investment routes and has the lowest contribution level in the world as at 2026.

The programme’s official name is the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program (NECRCP), announced by the Government of Nauru on 13/11/2024 at the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, with a dual aim: attracting international investment capital and funding climate adaptation projects.

Theo Nauru Program Office, the programme’s official regulator within the Government of Nauru, investors need contribute only from USD 90,000 (under a promotional rate running to 30/06/2026) to obtain a Nauru passport for the whole family.

Average processing time is only 3 to 4 months, with no requirement to reside in Nauru, dual citizenship permitted and no tax on worldwide income.

An overview of the Nauru citizenship-by-investment programme

The NECRCP was established under the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Act 2024, and is the second formal CBI (Citizenship by Investment) programme Nauru has ever run. Nauru’s previous CBI programme operated until 2002 and issued around a thousand passports before closing.

The new version has been entirely redesigned to current international standards, with a rigorous due diligence process carried out by the Nauru Police together with independent international due diligence firms. Nauru citizenship by investment also complies with the principles of the Investment Migration Council (IMC) and was ranked 6th in the 2025 CBI Index Report.

The purpose of the NECRCP is not only to generate revenue for the state budget but also to fund Nauru’s key projects, including infrastructure, renewable energy, climate change adaptation and diversifying the economy. Nauru is one of the countries most threatened by rising sea levels, so the programme has particular strategic significance for the island nation’s long-term survival.

Nauru — a new citizenship-by-investment destination

A detailed article onthe country of Nauru.

The Nauru citizenship-by-investment destination is the world’s smallest independent republic and the third smallest country globally by area, after only the Vatican and Monaco. This island nation lies in the central Pacific, with a total area of 21 km² and a population of around 12,000.

Nauru was once one of the world’s wealthiest countries by GDP per capita in the 1970s–1980s thanks to phosphate mining. After the phosphate reserves were exhausted, the economy turned to financial services, fisheries and now citizenship by investment. English is one of the two official languages, alongside Nauruan.

Its isolated geographical position and neutral foreign policy give the Nauru passport a high degree of “political safety”, one of the reasons Nauru citizenship by investment appeals to global investors. Nauru citizens have visa-free access or visa on arrival in more than 85 countries and territories, including major financial centres such as Hong Kong (SAR China), Singapore, South Korea and the UAE.

Nauru citizenship-by-investment costs in detail

Nauru citizenship-by-investment costs comprise four main items: the contribution to the Nauru Treasury Fund (non-refundable), the application fee, the due diligence fee and the passport fee. All the figures below are taken directly from the Nauru Program Office, the bodyInvestment Migration Council (IMC)recognised as an official member.

The contribution to the Nauru Treasury Fund

This is the main, non-refundable payment, made directly into the Nauru government fund to finance climate adaptation projects and infrastructure development:

• USD 90,000 for the main applicant (a promotional rate running to 30/06/2026, USD 25,000 below the standard level of USD 115,000)
• USD 2,000 for each dependant aged 16 or over
• USD 15,000 for each sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse

The Application Fee

This fee is paid to the Nauru Program Office to process the application, payable on filing:

• USD 5,000 for the main applicant
• USD 2,000 for each eligible dependant

The Due Diligence Fee

This fee is paid to the independent international due diligence firms, covering police record checks, anti-money laundering and source of wealth verification:

• USD 6,000 for the main applicant
• USD 3,000 for each dependant aged 16 or over
• USD 3,000 for a financial benefactor

Bank due diligence and transfer fees

• USD 1,200 for a single applicant alone
• USD 1,700 for an applicant with up to 3 dependants
• USD 2,200 for an applicant with 4 or more dependants

Passport fee

USD 500 for each passport issued.

An example of total Nauru citizenship-by-investment costs: a single investor taking advantage of the promotional rate running to 30/06/2026 would pay around USD 102,700 (comprising the USD 90,000 contribution + USD 5,000 application fee + USD 6,000 due diligence fee + USD 1,200 bank due diligence fee + USD 500 passport fee).

Eligibility for the Nauru citizenship-by-investment programme

To qualify for the Nauru citizenship-by-investment programme, applicants must meet the following basic requirements.

The main applicant must be 18 or over, of good character and with no criminal record. They must provide a Police Clearance Certificate from every country in which they have resided for more than 6 months in the past 10 years.

All the funds used for the contribution in a Nauru citizenship-by-investment application must be of lawful and transparent origin. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a clear source of income through documents such as bank statements, tax returns, business contracts or inheritance documents.

Applicants and dependants aged 16 or over must attend a mandatory interview with the independent due diligence firm appointed by the Nauru Program Office. The interview may be conducted online or in person at an approved location, with no requirement to travel to Nauru.

The programme does not accept same-sex relationships or polygamous marriages, and has a list of certain restricted nationalities. Stateless persons and citizens of partially recognised states are considered case by case.

Who may be included in a Nauru citizenship-by-investment application?

A notable feature of Nauru citizenship by investment is the very broad scope of dependants, allowing investors to include several generations in a single application:

• The lawful spouse of the main applicant
• Children under 18
• Unmarried, financially dependent children under 30
• Parents and grandparents over 55
• Unmarried siblings of the applicant or of the spouse

Children born after the applicant obtains Nauru citizenship still have the right to inherit citizenship. Nauru passports are valid for 10 years for all applicants and are renewed at the Nauru Program Office or a Nauru embassy with no requirement to hold an address in Nauru.

The benefits of holding Nauru citizenship

Nauru citizenship through Nauru citizenship by investment brings a number of notable benefits for investors and their families, particularly suiting high-net-worth individuals seeking a second citizenship as a risk hedging tool.

• Visa-free access to more than 85 countries and territories: including major financial centres such as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, the UAE, Ireland and the United Kingdom (with an ETA electronic travel authorisation). The list of visa-free countries is expanding as Nauru negotiates further bilateral agreements.
• No residence requirement: investors are not required to travel to Nauru before, during or after obtaining citizenship. The entire application process may be carried out remotely. The Oath of Allegiance may be taken by video call or before a notary in the applicant’s own country.
• Tax optimisation: Nauru charges no personal income tax, worldwide income tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax. This is a major advantage when structuring international assets through Nauru citizenship by investment.
• Data confidentiality: the Nauru Program Office undertakes to keep investor data confidential to international standards. The identity of new citizens is not made public.
• Dual citizenship accepted: Nauru permits dual citizenship, so investors need not renounce their original citizenship. This differs from some CBI programmes requiring the former citizenship to be renounced.
• A politically neutral passport: Nauru maintains a neutral foreign policy, so the passport has a high degree of safety in unstable geopolitical contexts — a “safety net passport” for global investors.

The NECRCP application process

The Nauru citizenship-by-investment process comprises seven main steps, all of which must be carried out through an Agent licensed by the Nauru Program Office. Investors may not file directly with the Government of Nauru themselves.

• Step 1 – Advice and preparation of the application: the Agent assesses the investor’s eligibility, advises on how to structure the application and prepares the document list.
• Step 2 – Completing the application pack: gathering birth certificates, passports, police certificates, evidence of funds, marriage certificate (where applicable), educational certificates and professional documents.
• Step 3 – Filing the application and paying the initial fees: the Agent files the application electronically with the Nauru Program Office together with the application fee and due diligence fee.
• Step 4 – Multi-layered due diligence: the Nauru Police, the Nauru Program Office’s Compliance Officers and the independent international due diligence firms simultaneously carry out AML (anti-money laundering) checks, background checks and document verification. The applicant and dependants aged 16 or over are interviewed during this stage.
• Step 5 – Risk assessment and recommendation: the Nauru Program Office carries out a comprehensive risk assessment and recommends to the Minister that the application be approved or refused.
• Step 6 – The Cabinet’s final decision: the Registrar reviews the application again and submits it to the Nauru Cabinet for a final decision. Where preliminary approval is granted (Approval in Principle), the applicant receives a Letter of Approval and instructions for transferring the contribution.
• Step 7 – Contribution, oath and receipt of the passport: after the applicant contributes to the Nauru Treasury Fund and pays the passport fee, they take the Oath of Allegiance. The Nauru Program Office issues the Certificate of Citizenship and the Nauru passport.

The total time for Nauru citizenship by investment from filing to receiving the passport is usually 3 to 4 months, provided all documents are prepared fully and accurately.

Comparing Nauru with other CBI programmes

The Nauru citizenship-by-investment programme has much in common with Caribbean CBI programmes such asGrenada citizenship by investment, Turkey citizenship by investmentandresidence by investment in Malta, but also has significant differences investors need to weigh when choosing.

On cost, the promotional contribution of USD 90,000 for Nauru citizenship by investment is one of the lowest in the world, considerably below the USD 200,000 – 250,000 of Caribbean CBI programmes or the EUR 300,000 and above for Turkey.

On processing speed, Nauru’s 3 to 4 months is as fast as Turkey and the Caribbean countries. The absence of a residence requirement is also common to this CBI group, suiting investors who do not wish to change where they live.

On passport strength, the Nauru passport gives visa-free access to more than 85 countries — fewer than Grenada (around 145 countries), Turkey (around 110 countries) and Antigua (around 150 countries). However, the Nauru passport covers certain strategic destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE, Ireland and the United Kingdom (ETA) — which not every low-cost CBI programme covers.

Nauru is currently the only CBI programme with a clear “climate and sustainable development” orientation, suiting investors with an ESG mandate or wishing to contribute to social impact. This factor helps Nauru citizenship by investment avoid being classed as a “concern” by bodies such as the EU Commission or the OECD, as some other CBI programmes have been.

For further reference on citizenship-by-investment or residence-by-investment programmes, investors may consult theResidence and citizenship by investment map.

Risks and points to note on Nauru citizenship by investment

Every CBI programme carries its own risks, and Nauru citizenship by investment is no exception. Investors need to assess the following factors before deciding.

• The Nauru citizenship-by-investment programme is new: the NECRCP only launched in November 2024 and has no long track record to assess. Although the legal framework and process have been built to international standards, there remains a risk of policy changes in future.
• Passport value: compared with Caribbean CBI programmes with 10–20 years of history, the passport issued through Nauru citizenship by investment does not yet have as broad visa coverage. Bilateral agreements are being actively negotiated by Nauru but coverage is expanding gradually.
• Practical ability to reside: although Nauru citizenship by investment has no residence requirement, the infrastructure and services on the island of Nauru (21 km², population 12,000) are very limited. Investors should not expect to live there — this is a programme for obtaining citizenship for travel and political insurance, not for residence.
• A time-limited promotion: the USD 90,000 price applies only until 30/06/2026. After that date, the basic contribution returns to USD 115,000 for the main applicant, a 28% increase.
• AML and KYC compliance: the due diligence process for Nauru citizenship by investment is very rigorous. Investors with unclear sources of wealth or who have previously been refused under other CBI programmes should proceed cautiously and consult their Agent carefully before filing.

Frequently asked questions about Nauru citizenship by investment