How to Obtain Nauru Citizenship by Investment (CBI): Requirements, Costs, and Benefits

Discover how to obtain a Nauru passport through its citizenship by investment program. Requirements, updated prices, comparison with Vanuatu, and everything you need to know to decide if this exotic Pacific island is your best option for a second nationality.

In a previous article, we explained eleven reasons why you should acquire an additional nationality. 2025 brings a new option for citizens of the world: Nauru citizenship, which you can now acquire with Denationalize.me. We have already written about similar programs in Vanuatu, but the Nauru option is somewhat different, although it has many similarities.

Nauru uses investments from its citizenship program to improve climate resilience. Image source: ECRCP

Denationalize.me has extensive experience in this field. We are familiar with all the proven ways to obtain a second passport and have successfully implemented numerous options for international clients, including non-German citizens.

Using Flag Theory, we develop strategies that guarantee optimal protection and meet individual needs. Vanuatu is just one of many options available and stands out for its speed, feasibility, and cost. However, the choice of citizenship also requires careful consideration of personal priorities and concerns.

Where is Nauru?

Nauru is a small island state in the Pacific: with an area of only 21 square kilometers, it is the third smallest state in the world.

The population is approximately 10,000. Nauru was once rich thanks to phosphate mining, but these resources are now almost exhausted.

Today, the economy is based on development aid and services. Nauru has a tropical climate, no capital city (the center of government is Yaren) and is known for its isolated location. Christoph has of course already been there; he even spent New Year’s Eve 2018/2019 there and took a tour of the island on New Year’s Day.

Nauru is seriously threatened by the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events are endangering the livelihoods of the population, as most of the country lies only a few meters above sea level.

To address these challenges, Nauru has introduced a citizenship-by-investment program. The revenue generated will be used for climate adaptation projects, such as coastal protection, sustainable infrastructure, and the promotion of renewable energy, with the aim of securing the island’s future.

Nauru is a solitary Pacific island with no additional archipelagos or islets.

Why Nauru?

CBI programs first emerged outside the Pacific in the 1980s. Countries such as Saint Kitts and Nevis established pioneering programs offering citizenship to foreign investors in exchange for financial contributions. These models were later adopted by European countries such as Malta and Cyprus, although they are no longer available. This income is often used for infrastructure or economic development projects.

In the Pacific, CBI programs began in the 1990s, when small island states such as Vanuatu began offering citizenship. These programs were used to diversify national income. Nauru also introduced such a program with the aim of raising funds for climate protection measures. Critics often view Pacific programs as a threat to fiscal transparency and international security.

Second citizenship in accordance with international standards

Nauru has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1968. It is subject to both the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), demonstrating that it is not an uncooperative jurisdiction that fails to report regularly to the EU and the US. Nauru has, however, been blacklisted by organizations such as the EU and the FATF, but it has introduced reforms to improve its financial transparency and is no longer on the EU blacklist.

Nauru (red circle) is an internationally cooperative jurisdiction and is no longer classified as a tax haven. Image source: EK

Nauru has taxes on income, corporations, and capital gains, with a maximum tax rate of 25%. The government also derives revenue from import duties, fees, and international aid. In response to criticism for tax evasion and money laundering, Nauru has introduced a system that fully complies with international standards. Non-residents who do not have a bank account in Nauru do not have to worry about these figures, but Nauru is far from being a zero-tax jurisdiction.

Australia’s financial, institutional, and military support for Nauru means that the country cannot remain a zero-tax zone.

Nauru levies import duties on products entering the country, which is one of its few sources of income. In addition, there are taxes such as stamp duty on certain documents and services, as well as fees for business licenses. This revenue is essential to cover the administrative costs of this small island nation.

Safe and neutral

Nauru has no army of its own and relies on agreements with Australia for its defense. It has no military history and has never been involved in any conflicts on its territory. Due to its isolation and small size, Nauru does not play an active role in geopolitical conflicts. Nauru is under Australia’s military protection, and a recently signed agreement aims to further deepen this relationship.

However, Nauru is also considered a typical vassal state of Russia and always votes in favor of Russia at the UN. It is one of the few countries in the world that recognizes the territories claimed by Russia in Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia as independent states.

Acquisition process

All relevant documents must be submitted, the main ones being: passports, criminal record certificates, medical certificates, and proof of assets.

A contract is signed with the agency responsible for processing the application, and after the first payment of the due diligence fees, the initial checks are carried out for all applicants.

After the initial approval, the application fee is paid and the due diligence process is completed.

The application is then compiled and submitted to the government for approval, together with the main donation. The internal government departments check all the relevant information and approve the application.

Once the application has been approved by the government, the document is issued and sent to the applicant within 1 to 2 months of approval.

This is a newly implemented procedure. Denationalize.me is working to establish contacts with the Nauru government and ensure that the process runs smoothly.

Important points

– A notary or lawyer can make a “certified copy.” This can be done in person or online (online may require a video call), which is usually the easiest option. In Australia, for example, other government agencies, such as the local city council or post office, can also make certified copies. An apostille is not required.

– A simple criminal record certificate is sufficient (an extended one is not required).

– Nauru allows dual citizenship. However, due to compliance with international standards on information sharing, Nauru may notify the jurisdiction of origin of dual citizenship.

– Another sibling of the main applicant or their spouse can be included for USD 15,000.

Price calculation

Type of applicant	Donation	Application fee	Due diligence fee	Passport fee
Individual applicant	105,000 USD	25,000 USD	10,000 USD for the main applicant	500 USD for each applicant
Family of up to 4 members	110,000 USD	$27,500 USD	7,500 USD for each additional member	500 USD for each applicant
Family of 5 members or more	$115,000 USD	$30,000 USD	7,500 USD for each additional member	500 USD for each applicant

 

With a total of $140,000 for a single person, the program is as expensive as Vanuatu’s pure donation option. However, for a family, Vanuatu is always more expensive due to the due diligence fees per person. In effective terms, Vanuatu is significantly cheaper if you discount the possibility of the 4-year investment for $50,000.

In principle, we continue to recommend Vanuatu citizenship and wrote this article about Nauru solely for the sake of completeness. Ultimately, Vanuatu is much more attractive as a final refuge country. Probably any of the 85 largest islands in Vanuatu can compete with Nauru in terms of scenic beauty and infrastructure.

The Vanuatu process is simpler, the country is less cooperative, and the passport is slightly stronger than Nauru’s. Check out how Denationalize.me founder Christoph got his Vanuatu passport in just 4 weeks and how you can do the same.

But if for any reason you prefer Nauru, we can help you too! Just drop us a line.