The Nauru citizenship by investment programme allows foreigners to obtain a second passport in as little as 3 months. Until June 30th, 2026, the minimum contribution is $90,000 for a single applicant. The programme offers such advantages as no residency requirements, a fully remote process, and broad family inclusion.
Nauru citizenship is best viewed as ‘insurance’ citizenship for internationally mobile entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. While it offers limited additional visa-free travel, its main value lies in providing a backup jurisdiction, supporting contingency planning, and, for some, aligning with a sustainability-focused narrative.
What is the Nauru citizenship by investment programme?
Nauru citizenship by investment programme is a legal pathway for international investors to obtain a second passport in the country. The official name of the programme is the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, known as NECRCP or ECRCP[1] Source: Official website of the Nauru citizenship programme
The programme was established by the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Act 2024, Act No. 15 of 2024[2] Source: Nauru’s Online Legal Database: Full text of the Citizenship Act 2024
Under the Nauru citizenship by investment programme conditions, investors must make a non-refundable contribution of $115,000. It is the only option available. Contributions flow into the Nauru Treasury Fund, financing economic growth, infrastructure improvement, renewable energy, and climate resilience projects overseen by the Department of Climate Change and National Resilience.
In February 2026, the government of Nauru launched the Iruwa Initiative discount window[3] Source: Nauru’s Online Legal Database: Designation of the Iruwa Initiative
Nauru: country’s profile
Nauru is a small island nation located in Oceania, northeast of Australia. Despite its size, the country is a sovereign republic with its own government, legal system, and international relations. Nauru is a member of international organisations such as the United Nations and the Commonwealth. It is also known for its neutral foreign policy.
English is an official language, alongside Nauruan, and is widely used in government and legal matters, making communication and documentation simple and efficient.
Nauru uses the Australian dollar as its official currency, which provides monetary stability and simplifies financial transactions for international investors.
The climate on the island is tropical with warm temperatures throughout the year, typically ranging between 25 and 30°C. The country enjoys abundant sunshine and is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, offering coastal views and access to marine life.
Nauru’s economy has historically been based on phosphate mining, but in recent years the government has been working to diversify its sources of revenue, including through international partnerships and its citizenship by investment programme.
9 key benefits of the Nauru citizenship by investment programme
The Nauru citizenship by investment programme offers a relatively low entry threshold and a fully remote process. It provides investors and their families with a route to second citizenship within a few months, while supporting the country’s economic and climate resilience goals.
1. Low investment threshold
Until June 30th, 2026, the minimum investment stands at $90,000 for a single applicant. After this date, a minimum contribution of $115,000 will apply.
In Vanuatu, another island country in Oceania, applicants for citizenship must invest at least $130,000. In Caribbean states, the threshold is even higher and stands at $200,000.
2. Fast and easy processing
Investors can obtain Nauru citizenship in at least 3 months. This is faster than in most Caribbean states, where the minimum obtaining period is at least 6—8 months.
Applicants are not required to pass any language or educational exams to obtain citizenship.
3. No physical presence requirement
Investors are not required to visit Nauru at any point during the application, and the process can be completed entirely remotely. The Oath of Allegiance can be taken by audio-visual link or before a local notary public.
There is also no minimum physical presence requirement to maintain Nauru citizenship once it was granted.
4. Citizenship for extended families
Nauru allows one of the broadest family inclusion eligibility among active citizenship by investment programmes. The main applicant can add spouses, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings. This covers the relatives of both the investor and their spouse.
There are no age restrictions for dependants, which exist in other citizenship by investment programmes. Financial dependency is also not required.
5. Post-approval investment
The required investment is made only after successfully passing Due Diligence and receiving an Approval in Principle letter from Nauru’s authorities. This means applicants do not commit substantial funds until a positive decision is secured, which reduces financial risk and provides greater certainty.
6. Dual citizenship is allowed
Nauru permits dual citizenship and multiple citizenship. Applicants do not need to renounce their other nationalities, and can hold their existing passports and Nauru citizenship simultaneously and permanently.
While Nauru allows multiple citizenship, some countries restrict or prohibit it. If an investor comes from one of such countries, acquiring Nauru citizenship may lead to loss of their original nationality. This includes, for instance, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Latvia, and Slovakia.
7. Investment with cryptocurrency
The Nauru programme is one of the few citizenship by investment options that allows applicants to make the contribution in cryptocurrency. This provides additional flexibility for individuals who hold digital assets and prefer to use them directly for investment purposes.
At the same time, the entry threshold remains relatively low. For comparison, El Salvador’s Freedom Visa requires a $1 million contribution in Bitcoin or USDT.
8. Visa-free travel to 80+ countries
With a Nauru passport, investors can visit 87 countries, including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and South Korea, without visas.
In some cases, getting visa-on-arrival might be required, which is done at the customs and is much faster and simpler than the standard visa obtaining process.
9. Reputation-strengthening investment
Nauru’s contribution route can be positioned as more than a citizenship investment. Contributions are paid into the Nauru Treasury Fund and support projects linked to climate resilience, infrastructure, and economic diversification.
For applicants who value sustainability positioning, this can provide a credible and documentable impact narrative alongside the citizenship benefit.
Countries with simplified visa access for Nauru citizens
Who is eligible for Nauru citizenship by investment?
The programme is open to foreign investors who meet the requirements and can confirm the legal origin of their funds. Applicants may include close family members in a single application, subject to eligibility criteria.
Investor
A person applying for Nauru citizenship by investment must be over 18, have a clean criminal record, and prove the legality of their income sources.
Investors of some nationalities are restricted to apply. Banned countries include:
- Afghanistan,
- Belarus,
- Iran,
- North Korea,
- Myanmar,
- Russia,
- Sudan,
- Yemen.
Applicants from these jurisdictions may qualify only if they:
- Have not lived in the country for the past 5 years.
- Hold a valid residence permit in the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Switzerland.
- Do not maintain economic ties with the sanctioned jurisdiction.
Stateless persons may apply for Nauru citizenship, but for them the process is more complex and considered on a case-by-case basis. They usually need to provide additional documents to confirm their identity, background, and stateless status, as they often lack a valid passport. Due Diligence checks may also take longer, as authorities must verify their background across multiple countries.
Investor’s family members
The principal applicant can add their close family members, such as:
- spouse — officially married to the investor or in de facto partnership, if can be proved documentally;
- children of any age, including adopted ones;
- parents and grandparents of any age;
- siblings of any age.
Proving financial dependency of family members is not required.
The investment and additional expenses, such as application and Due Diligence fees, depend on the composition of the family, and increase with each dependant.
What is the cost of Nauru citizenship by investment?
The Nauru citizenship by investment cost is structured as a combination of a non-refundable contribution and several per-person government fees[4] Source: Official website of the Nauru citizenship programme: Contribution requirements
The contribution depends on the number of persons in the application. For a single investor, it is $90,000 under the discounted offer. Each dependant over 16 adds $2,000. For siblings, a fee of $15,000 is required, in addition to $2,000.
Government fees include the following:
- application fee — $5,000 for the main applicant, plus $2,000 per dependant;
- Due Diligence fee — $6,000 for the main applicant, plus $3,000 per dependant over 16;
- bank facilitation and transaction fee — $1,200 for a single applicant, $1,700 for a family of up to 4 people, $2,200 for a family of over 5 people;
- passport fee — $500 per person.
The total cost for a single applicant under the discounted offer is approximately $102,700. For a family of 4, it starts at $115,700, depending on the age of applicants and level of kinship.
Total cost of Nauru citizenship by investment
What documents are required for Nauru citizenship by investment?
Applicants under the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program must submit a set of personal, civil, financial, and Due Diligence documents before approval, followed by several final documents after approval in principle.
The final document package depends on each investor’s situation and background. Immigrant Invest lawyers provide a personalised list tailored to the applicant's specific profile.
Principal documents before approval
As a rule, investors provide the following core documents:
- Completed application form.
- Valid passport with minimum 6 months remaining validity at time of submission.
- Birth certificate.
- Police clearance certificates from every country of residence exceeding 6 months in the last 10 years.
- Proof of address, such as a recent utility bill, bank statement, lease agreement, or property ownership document.
- HIV test results for applicants aged 12 and above, issued within the previous 3 months.
- Source-of-funds documentation, such as bank statements for employed applicants or company registration documents for business owners.
- Passport-size photos.
Documents after approval in principle
Once approval in principle is issued and the final payment is made, the applicant must submit several final documents, including:
- proof of payment of the contribution;
- original Oath of Allegiance for each approved applicant aged 18 and above, signed before a notary;
- passport application forms for all approved applicants;
- passport photos, including the certified photo required for passport issuance.
All documents must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation. Apostille or notarisation applies where required by the laws of the document-issuing country.
Lyle Julien,
Investment programmes expert
Nauru allows applicants to use cryptocurrency for their investment. However, this source of wealth requires a more extensive set of supporting documents.
To substantiate crypto assets, applicants should provide a clear documentary trail, including tax records, proof of wallet ownership, bank statements showing the transfer of funds, a valuation report, and transaction history. Together, these documents help verify both lawful ownership and the source of funds.
What is the step-by-step application process for Nauru citizenship by investment?
Nauru citizenship can be obtained without travelling to the country, as the process is fully remote[5] Source: Official website of the Nauru citizenship programme: Guidelines on the application process
Immigrant Invest accompanies the investor at each stage of the process.
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Immigrant Invest conducts an initial review of the applicant’s background, eligibility, family composition, and source of funds. At this stage, potential risks are identified before the case proceeds to preparation and filing.
Immigrant Invest conducts an initial review of the applicant’s background, eligibility, family composition, and source of funds. At this stage, potential risks are identified before the case proceeds to preparation and filing.
2+ weeks
Document preparation
Lawyers provide a personalised document checklist based on the applicant’s profile and family composition. Then, the applicant gathers the required personal, civil, medical, and financial documents according to the checklist.
Immigrant Invest assists with the preparation of forms, certified copies, translations, notarisation, and source of funds evidence.
Lawyers provide a personalised document checklist based on the applicant’s profile and family composition. Then, the applicant gathers the required personal, civil, medical, and financial documents according to the checklist.
Immigrant Invest assists with the preparation of forms, certified copies, translations, notarisation, and source of funds evidence.
1+ days
Application submission
All documents are uploaded to the secure NREXST system. The Program Office assigns the application a unique file number and issues an invoice for the first payment, which includes application, due diligence, and banking fees.
Once the fees are paid, the Program Office reviews the file for completeness, carries out initial Due Diligence checks, and issues an official application submission confirmation.
All documents are uploaded to the secure NREXST system. The Program Office assigns the application a unique file number and issues an invoice for the first payment, which includes application, due diligence, and banking fees.
Once the fees are paid, the Program Office reviews the file for completeness, carries out initial Due Diligence checks, and issues an official application submission confirmation.
Up to 2 months
Government processing
The Program Office conducts the 4-Tier Due Diligence and prepares a recommendation for the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet then makes the final decision on the application.
The principal applicant and family members over 16 may be requested to attend an interview conducted by the approved Due Diligence firm. The interview can be held virtually via audio-visual link or in person at a location approved by the Nauru Program Office.
The Program Office conducts the 4-Tier Due Diligence and prepares a recommendation for the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet then makes the final decision on the application.
The principal applicant and family members over 16 may be requested to attend an interview conducted by the approved Due Diligence firm. The interview can be held virtually via audio-visual link or in person at a location approved by the Nauru Program Office.
Within 1 month after approval
Fulfilment of investment
If the application is approved in principle, the applicant receives an invoice for the investment contribution and passport fees. The contribution must be paid in a single transfer.
If the application is approved in principle, the applicant receives an invoice for the investment contribution and passport fees. The contribution must be paid in a single transfer.
1+ weeks
Passport issuance
Upon receipt of payment the Programme Office initiates the issuance of naturalisation certificates and passports.
The Programme Office transfers the original certificates and passports to Immigrant Invest. The company delivers the original documents to the applicant.
Upon receipt of payment the Programme Office initiates the issuance of naturalisation certificates and passports.
The Programme Office transfers the original certificates and passports to Immigrant Invest. The company delivers the original documents to the applicant.
Banking compliance considerations for new Nauru citizens
After obtaining a citizenship by investment passport, banks may apply enhanced scrutiny during KYC reviews or when opening new accounts. This is because such citizenship is not acquired through standard residence or birth, and banks must verify its legitimacy, understand its origin, and ensure it is not being used to bypass regulatory, sanctions, or tax controls.
When issues typically arise
Banking friction usually occurs in three situations:
- during periodic KYC or AML reviews of existing accounts;
- when presenting a new passport to an existing bank;
- when opening accounts in jurisdictions with strict compliance standards, such as the EU or Switzerland.
In these cases, banks may request clarification on how the citizenship was obtained.
How to reduce compliance risk
The most effective approach to reduce compliance risk is proactive disclosure. Informing a relationship manager before receiving or using the new passport significantly reduces the likelihood of account reviews or restrictions. Presenting a new citizenship without context during a routine KYC check is more likely to trigger escalation.
Applicants should prepare a set of documents to support transparency, such as:
- copy of the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Act 2024;
- Programme Office Certificate of Naturalisation;
- summary of the Due Diligence process, in redacted form;
- confirmation from the authorised agent verifying programme legitimacy and approval.
This documentation helps banks understand the legal basis of citizenship and the level of due diligence performed.
Early, structured communication with banks, supported by clear documentation, is the key factor in avoiding delays or compliance issues.
What are the tax implications for Nauru citizens?
Acquiring Nauru citizenship does not, by itself, change any applicant’s tax obligations in the current country of residence and does not make an investor a Nauru tax resident. Any tax benefit requires a genuine change of tax residency through a separate, parallel process, which is its own requirements and must be undertaken independently of any citizenship acquisition.
When Nauru taxes may apply
Tax exposure arises only in limited cases:
- income is sourced within Nauru;
- individual becomes tax resident in Nauru.
An individual may be considered a tax resident of Nauru if they establish a sufficient physical and economic presence in the country. This usually involves spending a significant amount of time in Nauru, maintaining a permanent place of residence, or having primary economic or personal ties there, such as employment or business activity.
In such cases, withholding taxes may apply to certain categories of local income, such as interest, royalties, or insurance-related payments. For most investors with no economic activity in Nauru, this is not relevant.
Tax rates in Nauru
For individuals, personal taxation is either absent[6] Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette No 216. Taxation Determination
Certain taxes exist at the corporate or local level:
- Business profits tax is 25% for companies operating in Nauru.
- Withholding taxes may apply to Nauru-sourced payments such as interest, royalties, and insurance premiums, typically in the range of 10—15%.
In practice, these rates are only relevant if the investor has economic activity or income sourced within Nauru. For most applicants using the programme purely for citizenship diversification, Nauru tax rates have little to no direct impact.
CRS and financial transparency
A Nauru passport does not provide anonymity or protection from international reporting standards under the Common Reporting Standard and FATCA. This means that banks report financial account information based on tax residency, and passport nationality is not the determining factor.
As a result, financial transparency obligations remain unchanged after obtaining Nauru citizenship.
Considerations for US citizens
Acquiring Nauru citizenship does not eliminate, reduce, or suspend US federal income tax obligations, as US citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of residence country or additional passports held. This means FATCA and FBAR obligations continue unchanged.
Renouncing US citizenship is the only mechanism for eliminating US worldwide taxation.
How does Nauru citizenship compare with other CBI programmes?
Alongside Nauru, other island countries operate comparable citizenship by investment programmes, notably:
The programmes are similar in terms of structure but differ in requirements, investments, and associated costs.
Programme comparison: key features
Criteria
Eligible family members
Spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings
Spouse or partner, minor children, parents and grandparents over 55
Spouse, children under 25, parents over 50
Criteria | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Investment | $90,000+ | $90,000+ | $130,000+ |
Processing time | 3+ months | 2+ months | 2+ months |
Visa-free countries | 87 | 71 | 95 |
Schengen Area access | No | No | No |
Residency requirement | None | None | None |
Dual citizenship permitted | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Interview required | Yes, online | No | No |
Eligible family members | Spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings | Spouse or partner, minor children, parents and grandparents over 55 | Spouse, children under 25, parents over 50 |
Programme launch | 2024 | 2025 | 2017 |
Risks and pitfalls to avoid when obtaining Nauru citizenship by investment
The Nauru citizenship by investment programme carries several risks that applicants should assess carefully before proceeding.
1. Missing the application deadline. The reduced contribution rates are available only to applications submitted by June 30th, 2026. Document preparation can take several weeks or longer, so starting late may make it impossible to meet the deadline.
2. Bearing non-refundable costs. Government contributions are not payable before approval, but Due Diligence and application fees are non-refundable. Investors who proceed without a proper eligibility assessment bear this financial risk.
3. Facing dual citizenship restrictions. Nauru allows dual citizenship, but some investors’ countries of origin may restrict or prohibit holding a second nationality. Acquiring an additional passport without checking local laws may lead to loss of original citizenship or legal complications.
4. Encountering banking and compliance challenges. Passports from smaller programmes may face enhanced scrutiny during bank onboarding, particularly in EU jurisdictions and Switzerland. This can result in delays or additional checks.
5. Facing enhanced Due Diligence. Applicants with multiple residencies and stateless persons may face longer processing times, additional document requests, and increased due diligence.
6. Underestimating total programme costs. The contribution is only part of the total expense. Additional costs include government fees, Due diligence, professional services, as well translation and notarisation of documents.
7. Working with unlicensed intermediaries. Applications must be submitted through authorised agents. Using unlicensed advisers will result in rejection and funds loss.
How Immigrant Invest can help
Immigrant Invest is a consulting company specialising in citizenship and residence by investment with 20 years of experience and over 10,000 successful cases.
We have an in-house compliance and AML department that reviews each case before submission, covering background checks, source of funds, and overall risk. This process reduces the rejection risk to around 1%.
Our company operates as a licensed or authorised agent across multiple jurisdictions and follows the EU’s 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive. The team includes Investment Migration Council members and certified AML specialists, ensuring a structured and compliant approach.
The process of obtaining Nauru citizenship by investment follows 7 stages, from initial consultation to post-approval support, with risk assessment completed before any major costs are incurred. Each client works with a dedicated adviser supported by legal and compliance specialists.
Key takeaways on Nauru citizenship by investment programme
- The Nauru citizenship by investment programme is a legitimate, government-administered programme based on the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Act 2024.
- To obtain Nauru citizenship, investors must make a non-refundable contribution to the Nauru Treasury Fund. The standard rate is $115,000, which is reduced to $90,000 under the Iruwa Initiative until June 30th, 2026.
- The process takes at least 3 months and is fully remote with no travel to Nauru required at any stage.
- Investors may include their family members, such as a spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings, in one application. There are no age and financial dependency requirements.
- Nauru recognises dual citizenship, which means investors do not need to renounce their existing nationality upon obtaining a Nauru one.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.
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