Latest news with #Nauruan
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
You could buy citizenship to this tiny Pacific island for $105,000
You could buy citizenship to this tiny Pacific island for $105,000 Show Caption Hide Caption Want to move abroad? These are the best countries for remote workers. Here are seven countries with digital nomad visas if you're looking to move abroad. The small island nation of Nauru launched a new program selling citizenship to individuals and families in exchange for a six-figure contribution to its climate change initiatives. Facing rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, the low-lying atoll hopes to raise funds for climate resilience projects like solar energy installation and water security. If you dream of escaping to a tiny island in the South Pacific, you may just be in luck. The serene nation of Nauru recently launched a golden passport initiative selling citizenship with an investment starting at $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. What are the benefits of a Nauruan passport? 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. How much does it cost to get citizenship in Nauru? 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.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
You could buy citizenship to this tiny Pacific island for $105,000
If you dream of escaping to a tiny island in the South Pacific, you may just be in luck. The serene nation of Nauru recently launched a golden passport initiative selling citizenship with an investment starting at $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
Euronews
26-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Buy a passport, save a nation? Nauru's unique plan to fight climate change
The tiny South Pacific nation of Nauru has a novel plan to safeguard itself against rising seas: selling citizenship. As climate change causes storms to rage, droughts to persist and seas to swell, the world's third-smallest country – and one of its most climate-vulnerable – faces an existential crisis. Officials estimate that nearly all of the 21-square-kilometre island's 12,000 residents will eventually need to move to higher ground. The problem? Nauru lacks inhabitable land, and the first phase of this ambitious relocation project could cost about €60 million. To fund it, the government has pinned its hopes on a new citizenship by investment programme that seeks to raise millions quickly. A 'golden passport' for climate adaptation Under the scheme, wealthy individuals can acquire Nauruan citizenship in exchange for an investment of $105,000 (about €100,000) within four months of their application. In return, they gain visa-free access to 89 destinations, including the UK, Ireland, the UAE and Singapore. Edward Clark, who heads Nauru's Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme, said the initiative - launched at COP29 last year - is already receiving applications. Nauru's government aims to receive 66 successful applications this year. The long-term goal is much higher. 'We would like to achieve 500 applicants coming through the program,' totalling about €50 million, Clark told AFP. That total would make up about 20 per cent of all government revenues for Nauru and nearly cover the cost of the country's ambitious relocation goals. What is citizenship investment? Residence or citizenship by investment schemes, often called 'golden passports', offer people the chance to get a residency permit for a country by purchasing property or making a large investment or donation. Many developing or climate-vulnerable nations have offered them to raise funds for public works. But even large, wealthy countries have similar programmes. US President Donald Trump recently floated a $5 million (about €4.7 million) ' gold card ' for wealthy investors, for one. In recent years, however, their popularity has waned as governments have voiced concerns over security risks, as well as worries about money-laundering, tax evasion and a lack of transparency and information. Across Europe, these schemes are largely being phased out, with Spain among the most recent nations to roll back its golden passport programme. Today, Greece is one of the last to offer residency by investment. A nation struggling to stay afloat Once one of the world's richest nations per capita, Nauru was built on phosphate mining, an industry that has left 80 per cent of the island uninhabitable. Most residents live on the coast. With seas set to rise anywhere between 15 and 30 centimetres by 2050, they are highly vulnerable to storm surges and coastal erosion, according to the World Bank's climate risk profile of Nauru. Nauru is also crowded. Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has warned that small islands can sustainably support about 100 people per square kilometre. Nauru currently has 563 people per square kilometre. Other Pacific island nations facing similar threats have taken steps to ease overcrowding and adapt to climate change. Tuvalu, grappling with rising seas, saltwater intrusion and devastating floods, recently agreed to a pact with Australia, allowing hundreds of citizens to relocate each year. With limited land and resources, Nauru's long-term habitability is in question. 'It is not just about adapting to climate change but about securing a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come,' Nauru's President David Adeang told AFP. 'This is about more than survival. It is about ensuring future generations have a safe, resilient and sustainable home.' Can citizenship sales save Nauru? Initiatives like these are not without controversy. Nauru has tried selling citizenship before – with unfortunate results. A 2003 scheme collapsed after it was found that the country provided citizenship to Al-Qaeda members who were later arrested elsewhere in Asia, according to Australian broadcaster ABC. This time, Nauru says it will impose strict vetting standards. While critics remain sceptical, Clark sees it differently. 'Developing climate-vulnerable countries are disproportionately affected by climate change, and there is therefore an urgent need to ensure they disproportionately benefit from climate innovation,' he told AFP.
The Guardian
18-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: Zelenskyy rejects Russian ‘ultimatums', RBA cut welcomed, $110,000 tickets to political access
Good morning. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the meeting between Trump and Putin officials about ending the war in Ukraine, saying it was merely a forum for Russian 'ultimatums' that his country has already rejected. Back home, the Reserve Bank's interest rate cut has been broadly welcomed by Australians, amid hope for it to go further. And business leaders are forking out up to $110,000 to attend networking and fundraising functions designed to rub shoulders with politicians. Rate cut | Tuesday's rate cut has offered relief for mortgage holders, but some hope the official cash rate will fall further. In politics, the RBA's decision was welcomed by both the government and the opposition as the anticipated election looms. Double standards | As Australia's major parties stitched together a deal on donation laws in parliament, a small group of well-heeled business leaders gathered last week for dinner, with tickets costing up to $110,000. Off the rails | Negotiations between the NSW government and rail unions have gone on for nine months, with no end in sight. Here's what you need to know about the long-running saga. Visas | The Nauruan president has defended his government's offer to resettle three members of the NZYQ cohort of non-citizens from Australia – described by Australia as violent offenders – saying they have 'served their time'. Compensation claims | The first time many people ever heard of 'claim farming' was last week, when NSW police announced seven arrests over an allegedly fraudulent syndicate. But what is claim farming – and is it legal? Ukraine war | Kyiv reacted with gloom and dismay on Tuesday to the meeting between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he would never accept Russia's ultimatums. Middle East | Hamas has said it will release six hostages from Gaza this week and hand over the bodies of four others, including the remains of two young children from the same family whose deaths had not previously been confirmed. Plane crash | Footage has emerged of the fiery plane crash at Toronto's Pearson airport on Monday, showing the Delta Air Lines jet skidding along the runway and then flipping over, as a wing rips off and the tail is engulfed in flames. Bureaucracy cull | The head of the food division at the US Food and Drug Administration has quit in protest over sweeping staff cuts that he warns will hamper the agency's ability to protect public health. Hollywood | Guy Pearce, the actor Oscar-nominated for his role in Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, has opened up about his experiences when working with Kevin Spacey on 1997 film LA Confidential. Who pays for our politics and what do they want? Laws on political donations, often seen as the murky underbelly of politics, are getting a rewrite. Labor – with the help of the Coalition – has brought in new legislation but some of the changes have infuriated the crossbench. Reged Ahmad speaks to Anthony Whealy, a former judge and now chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, on what we know about those who donate to political campaigns and whether the new laws could lock out independents. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $- The RBA's announcement on Tuesday of a rate cut was clearly the one the government was after, with Labor's responses hitting journalists' inboxes mere minutes after it was announced. Josh Butler delves into how both sides of politics will use the news to prove that they are the ones to handle the cost-of-living crisis. The humble meat pie is considered quintessential Australian cuisine, but how do the supermarket frozen version of the pastries stack up? Nicholas Jordan put together a team of Sydney bakers and chefs to judge which is the best (and worst) pie found in the frozen aisle. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion AFL | The head of Foxtel says AFL fans will 'run towards the light' this season and subscribe to its pay TV service or sports streaming platform Kayo when they realise much of the season's live Saturday coverage has gone behind a paywall. Soccer | Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter has thrown her support behind Sam Kerr as the star forward turns her focus to recovering from a serious knee injury after a high-profile trial in the UK ended last week. Tennis | Andy Murray will continue to coach Novak Djokovic through to the French Open – and possibly at Wimbledon. Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has a bill in parliament to cap university vice -chancellor pay at $430,000, reports the Australian. Victims of paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale, who died on Tuesday in jail, express relief at his passing in the Sydney Morning Herald. Politics | Victoria, NSW and Queensland parliaments are all sitting. Melbourne | Ebony Bell, charged with assaulting senator Lidia Thorpe in May last year, will appear in a magistrates court. Terrorism | Asio's director general of security will release the annual threat assessment. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
The Guardian
18-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Served their time': Nauru president backs Australian plan to resettle three members of NZYQ cohort
The Nauruan president has defended his government's offer to resettle three members of the NZYQ cohort of non-citizens from Australia – described by Australia as violent offenders – saying they have 'served their time'. Australia's home affairs minister, Tony Burke, announced on Sunday that the three men – one convicted of murder – would be resettled in Nauru after the Albanese government struck a deal with the tiny Pacific nation for an undisclosed amount of money. Interviewed by a government staffer and speaking Nauruan, the president, David Adeang, emphasised the three men had 'served their time' in Australian prisons, and were no longer subject to any punishment. 'Australia is trying to send them back to their country but they are not wanted back home. So we accepted them from Australia. They are not Australian and Australia doesn't want them,' he said in an interview posted online. Adeang said Nauru had demonstrated its capability and willingness to resettle migrants during its history as an offshore processing site. 'Even for the refugees that came here, they have the same history: some of them killed people, some of them are disturbed people. But they will not do that here, instead they will live their life as normal and be happy along with us all.' Adeang said the three men had been granted 30-year visas and the right to settle and work in Nauru. 'They will be living among us like normal free people … nothing stops them from working and being a normal citizen. They are also subject to our laws, they will also get same punishment if they break the law.' At least one of the three men re-detained in Australia ahead of his removal to Nauru had been told he would be flown to the Pacific island next Monday. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email But sources in contact with the men told Guardian Australia a legal challenge was being contemplated. The men were released from indefinite immigration detention to live in the community as part of a larger cohort of more than 280 non-citizens after the high court ruled in 2023 it was unlawful for the government to detain someone indefinitely. Two of the men had been taken back into detention in Villawood, in Sydney, while another was re-detained at Western Australia's Yongah Hill detention centre. The deal with Nauru will test laws passed in November that give the Australian government the power to pay third countries to accept unlawful non-citizens on a removal pathway, allowing them to be re-detained if they refuse. The Australian government has refused to say how much it has paid Nauru to take the three men, or if other concessions were offered, but Burke said the deal was proposed by Nauru. Burke said he expected a legal challenge to the decision to remove the men whom he described as 'violent offenders'. 'Whenever I make any decision, I presume that there'll be a contest in the courts,' he said on Sunday, adding he was confident of the legality of the government's position. Australia now holds about 100 refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru. Those are people who arrived by boat to Australia to claim asylum but were forcibly removed to Nauru under Australia's 'enduring' offshore processing regime with the Pacific nation. Abdul*, an asylum seeker who had been held on Nauru for eight months, said while housing in the processing centre – which is not locked – was sufficient, 'we cannot eat enough'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'We cannot get enough money to buy enough nutritious food, we never have three meals a day, only two meals a day. Everybody has lost weight, and is very sick. 'And we are so stressed, we cannot sleep, we are worrying always about our future. We can't find any hope, and we cannot spend our life like this for an indefinite period.' Abdul said he did not believe the new transfers would be accepted within Nauru's tight-knit familial community. 'Everyone sent here is suffering, we are all going hungry, and these people will also be suffering if they are sent here.' Jana Favero, the deputy chief executive of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, said the government's actions sent 'a clear message': 'If you are not born in this country, you will never be treated equally.' She said that the forcible transfer was announced in the media, possibly in the shadow of a federal election being called, raising questions about the fairness of these actions. 'We are considering all options, including legal challenges, and will continue to fight for people's rights. 'There has to be consideration of the lawfulness of banishing people offshore when they've been living as part of our community.' Amnesty International said the government's move to forcibly detain and deport people to Nauru was a 'blatant attack' on the rights of people seeking protection and a 'back-door deportation scheme' to continue people's indefinite detention when it had been ruled unlawful by Australian courts. Amnesty argued the new policy effectively extended people's indefinite detention elsewhere. 'This decision sets a dangerous precedent for future policies that could see more people removed without proper safeguards,' Zaki Haidari, Amnesty International Australia's refugee rights campaigner, said. 'The Labor government must put an immediate stop to these deportations.' As of December 2024, 64 of the NZYQ cohort are subject to electronic monitoring while a nighttime curfew is imposed on 37.
