Nauru: Nauru, a remote Pacific island nation spanning just eight square miles, has launched a controversial citizenship-for-sale initiative to raise funds for climate resilience.
Priced at $105,000 per passport, the program aims to generate revenue to relocate 90 percent of its population to higher ground and build a new community.
Facing existential threats from rising sea levels and coastal erosion, Nauru, one of the world’s smallest countries, lacks the resources to protect itself. “While the world debates climate action, we must take proactive steps to secure our nation’s future,” said President David Adeang.
Golden passports, though not new, have a history of misuse for criminal activities. However, as climate-vulnerable nations struggle for funding, such initiatives are becoming a last resort.
Nauru’s passports offer visa-free access to 89 countries, including the UK, UAE, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and are restricted for individuals with certain criminal records.
Nauru’s past is marked by environmental devastation from phosphate mining, which rendered 80 percent of the island uninhabitable. After mining revenue dried up, the country turned to offshore migrant detention for Australia, which was later scaled back. Today, it is at the center of controversial deep-sea mining plans.
Now, the citizenship program is expected to generate $5.6 million in its first year, with hopes of scaling to $42 million annually, covering nearly 19 percent of government revenue. International partnerships, including with the World Bank, will oversee the program’s integrity to prevent past scandals.
