You could buy citizenship to this tiny Pacific island for $105,000
Located in the Central Pacific, Nauru is home to under 12,000 people and spans just over eight miles to be the world's smallest independent republic, according to its government website. Along with a long history of Micronesian and Polynesian cultures who have lived there for over 3,000 years, the island is also rich in pristine beaches and marine life.
However, all of that is under threat by climate change. As a low-lying atoll, Nauru is at a higher risk for rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, prompting the world's third-smallest nation to introduce the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
"We stand on the frontlines of climate change, facing rising sea levels, intensifying storm surges, and accelerating biodiversity loss," Prime Minister Asterio Appi said in a news release. "The consequences of global warming are rendering Pacific Island states increasingly uninhabitable. By choosing Nauru's citizenship program, investors aren't merely securing their own future – they're investing in the future of our planet."
Developed in collaboration with global residence and citizenship by investment firm Henley & Partners, the initiative offers a Nauruan passport in exchange for financial contribution to its climate change solutions. The Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program Office did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
"By mobilizing international investment, we can provide immediate, non-debt funding for climate resilience projects, offering a crucial financial lifeline for vulnerable nations while enabling investors to support global climate action," said Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, in a statement to USA TODAY. "Rethinking how private wealth and capital intersect with public survival is key to bridging the climate finance gap. Investment-based residence and citizenship programs have emerged as one such mechanism, channeling funds into adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development efforts in high-risk regions.'
Here's what to know about Nauru's new golden passport program.
Besides helping to fund Nauru's Higher Ground Initiative – which supports climate change mitigation efforts like solar energy installation, EV infrastructure, water security and affordable green housing – successful applicants also receive a Nauruan passport and dual citizenship in about three to four months, according to the program office website.
"As a Nauru citizen, you will enjoy the benefits of a politically neutral passport, providing you with a valuable safeguard in times of global uncertainty," it states in a fact sheet.
Passport holders get visa-free access to more than 89 destinations, including Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and several places in Polynesia – and can extend citizenship to family members for an added cost. There are also no minimum stay visa requirements to achieve dual citizenship.
For a single applicant over the age of 18 years old with a clean personal background and proof of the source of funds, the contribution starts at $105,000, along with fees of $25,000 for the application, $10,000 for due diligence, and $500 for the passport itself. This totals $140,500 for one person, which is still significantly cheaper than Europe's popular golden visas – in Malta, one of the lower-cost options, the minimum investment starts at €182,000 (about $197,284).
To add a family member, costs go up. For a family of up to four members, the contribution rises to $110,000 with the application fee at $27,500 and the due diligence costing $10,000 for the main applicant plus $7,500 for each additional member over 16 years old – a total of $172,000 for a four-member family, including the $500 per passport fee. A family of five or more requires a contribution of $115,000, with an application fee of $30,000.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This island is selling citizenship in fight against climate change
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