How to Obtain Nauru Golden Passport

5 benefits of Nauru golden passport

Investors obtain Nauru citizenship for a family plan B. The process is quick and costs less. Obtaining a passport takes at least 3 months, and investors are not required to visit the country or live there.

The standard minimum contribution is $115,000, but until December 31st, 2026, the threshold is temporarily reduced to $90,000. 

For comparison, the minimum investment in Caribbean citizenship programs starts at $200,000, and obtaining a passport usually takes at least 6 months.

1. Visa-free entry to 71 countries

Nauru citizens travel visa-free to countries in Asia and South Africa, including Singapore and the UAE. A second passport makes business trips easier for investors and gives them more travel freedom.

Nauru citizens can enter 43 countries with a passport, obtain a visa on arrival in 23 countries, and get electronic travel authorisation for 5 countries. A visa is required to visit the Schengen Area, the USA, and the UK.

2. Second citizenship for the whole family

Investors have the right to add family members to the citizenship application: a spouse, children, parents, grandparents, as well as brothers and sisters. There are no age restrictions for family members. Adopted children can also obtain citizenship together with the main applicant.

Nauru allows dual citizenship, so investors do not need to renounce other passports to obtain a Nauru passport.

3. Citizenship for crypto investors

Nauru allows citizenship applicants to show income in the form of crypto assets. This is suitable if the investor provides a detailed transaction history. Investments and other fees under the program are paid in dollars.

4. Safe haven

Second citizenship allows one to choose where to live and gives the opportunity to quickly move to another country in case of unstable situations. For example, in Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, holders of a Nauruan passport can stay for up to 180 days.

5. Tax optimisation

Nauru residents do not pay tax on income of up to $250,000 a year received inside the country. Amounts above this are taxed at a fixed personal income tax rate of 20%.

There is no VAT in Nauru, as well as no taxes on capital gains, inheritance, or wealth.

Nauru does not set a residence requirement for obtaining tax resident status. Citizens of the country who do not have a permanent place of residence in another state become taxpayers ^[1] Source: Tax residency conditions, Employment and Services Tax Act .

About Nauru

Nauru is the world’s smallest republic and island state, covering 21 km². The country is located on the island of the same name in the western Pacific Ocean, near the Equator, and its closest neighbour is Kiribati.

Nauru has a population of slightly over 11,000 people and 2 official languages: Nauruan and English.

The local currency is the Australian dollar.

Nauru has summer-like weather all year round. The temperature stays almost unchanged, at around +28…30°C. From November to February, it is cyclone season, and it often rains. The rest of the time it is hot and dry.

How to obtain Nauru citizenship by investment

The Nauru citizenship by investment program launched in 2024. It allows foreign investors to obtain the country’s passport for a contribution to the economy. The purpose of the program is to support environmental initiatives that help the country cope with climate change ^[2] Source: Description of Nauru’s investment program, official website .

Requirements for applicants

A foreigner over 18 years old, with no criminal record and in good health, can apply for citizenship. Applicants must also confirm their income sources.

The government of Nauru does not accept applications from investors from Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Yemen, Russia, and Belarus. They can qualify for Nauru citizenship if they meet 3 conditions:

1. Investors have not lived in any of the listed countries for the last 5 years.
2. Investors have no economic ties to these countries.
3. Investors have a residence permit in an EU country, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, or the USA.

Investors obtain Nauru citizenship through a licensed agent. Independent applications are not allowed.

Requirements for the investor’s family members

The investor has the right to add relatives when applying for citizenship or after receiving approval. The application includes:

• spouse;
• biological and adopted children;
• parents of the investor or the spouse;
• grandparents of the investor or the spouse;
• brothers and sisters.

There are no age restrictions for relatives, which benefits families with children over 18. Most countries set age limits for children, for example, up to 30 in Sierra Leone and Caribbean countries.

Conditions for obtaining citizenship

Applicants for Nauru citizenship by investment program make a contribution starting at $115,000 to the country’s Treasury Fund. The country has temporarily reduced the investment threshold to $90,000, it is valid until December 31st, 2026 ^[3] Source: Current citizenship by investment conditions, official program website .

The investment amount increases if family members are included in the application: by $2,000 for a spouse and relatives over 16. Another $15,000 is paid for each brother or sister. Thus, the contribution for a 17-year-old brother is $17,000, and for a 15-year-old brother, $15,000.

The investor’s additional expenses include:

• application fee — $5,000 for the main applicant and $2,000 for each family member;
• Due Diligence fee — $6,000 for the main applicant and $3,000 for each family member over 16.

The timeframe for obtaining a Nauru passport is from 3 to 4 months. The passport is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minor children. The document is renewed through the program office or at the country’s embassy in Australia, Switzerland, China, the USA, India, or Fiji.

Nauru citizenship by investment cost until December 31st, 2026

Costs	Single applicant	Family with 2 children over 16	Family of 5 or more
Investment	$90,000+	$96,000+	$98,000+
Application processing fee	$5,000	$11,000	$13,000+
Due Diligence	$6,000	$15,000	$18,000+
Bank verification	$1,200	$1,700	$2,200
Passport fee	$500	$2,000	$2,500+
Total	$102,700+	$125,700+	$133,700+

Documents for obtaining Nauru citizenship by investment

The document package is prepared individually for the investor, depending on the composition of the application. The standard list includes:

1. Photo.
2. Passport.
3. Birth certificate.
4. Document confirming marital status, for example, a marriage certificate.
5. Police clearance certificate from the country of citizenship and the countries where the investor has lived for more than 6 months in the last 10 years.
6. Military ID.
7. HIV test for applicants over 12.
8. Proof of source of income, for example, a bank statement showing salary payments.
9. Proof of residential address, for example, utility bills.

Citizens of Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Yemen, Russia, and Belarus show a residential address outside these countries. This is one of the conditions for participating in the citizenship program. For example, an address in Cyprus or Portugal is suitable.

There are no income requirements for the investor. The applicant confirms only its legality and stability. Sources may include employment and business, as well as inheritance or renting out real estate. The investor is also allowed to show cryptocurrency assets with a detailed transaction history.

Lawyers upload the document package to a secure government system. After upload, the application receives a unique number, and the investor is issued an invoice for paying government services.

Taxes in Nauru

A Nauru passport does not create automatic tax residence. Foreigners become tax residents if they hold Nauru citizenship and do not live permanently in another country.

Income tax. All income received in the territory of Nauru is subject to income tax. Citizens of Nauru and their spouses, refugees, and displaced persons with income of up to AUD 9,240 a month, or $6,600, are exempt from payment.

In Nauru, income tax is withheld at source, for example, by the employer. The rate is 20% of income ^[4] Source: Income tax rate, Nauru government gazette .

Corporate tax depends on the size of the company. For example, small businesses pay 3.5% of profit. Such companies must have an annual turnover of no more than AUD 250,000, or $178,500.

Owners of medium-sized and large businesses pay corporate tax at a rate of 20—25% ^[5] Source: Current tax rates, Nauru Department of Finance . At the same time, the first AUD 250,000 is not taxed.

Non-residents pay taxes only on income received in the territory of Nauru. The first AUD 20,000 is not taxed, this is approximately $14,400. Income above this amount is taxed at a fixed rate of 20%.

Other ways to obtain Nauru citizenship

Foreigners can get a Nauru passport not only by investment. Other routes include marriage, descent, and birth.

Citizenship through marriage. The spouse of a Nauru citizen who is officially married to them can qualify for a passport. A mandatory condition is to live with the partner for at least 7 years in Nauru. However, the Cabinet of Ministers has the right, at its discretion, to cancel this requirement or reduce the period.

Citizenship by descent. Foreigners can obtain Nauru citizenship through this route. A parent or grandparent must be a Nauru citizen by birth.

The conditions for acquiring citizenship by descent are regulated by Article 12 of the Nauru Citizenship Act ^[6] Source: Article 12 of the Nauru Citizenship Act, official Nauru legislation database .

Citizenship by birth is obtained by a person who was born in Nauru, if at least one of their parents is a citizen of the country. It is granted automatically if the child’s parents are Nauru citizens.

The Cabinet of Ministers also has the right to grant citizenship to a person who was born to Nauru citizens on an aircraft or a sea vessel on the way to Nauru or from the country. If a child was born in the country to stateless persons, the Cabinet of Ministers grants citizenship by birth at its discretion.

Why Nauru citizenship may be refused

The Cabinet of Ministers of Nauru has the right to refuse to grant citizenship if the applicant:

• does not meet the grounds for issuing a passport;
• has provided false information about themselves or their family;
• has violated immigration legislation;
• has serious diseases that pose a threat to the country’s residents;
• is suspected of terrorism and extremism.

Citizenship is annulled if a foreigner obtained it through fraud, bribery, or misrepresentation. This rule does not apply to people who obtained a Nauru passport by right of birth.

Alternatives to Nauru citizenship by investment

Foreigners obtain citizenship by investment in Oceania, Africa, America, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Dominica grants citizenship by investment for a contribution starting at $200,000. Investors choose one of two options: a non-refundable contribution to the state fund or the purchase of government-approved real estate.

The process is fully remote: investors do not need to visit Dominica before or after applying, or take language and history exams. A Dominica passport takes at least 6 months to obtain.

Grenada offers citizenship by investment for a minimum contribution of $235,000 to the National Transformation Fund. Another option is to buy government-approved real estate for at least $270,000.

Investors obtain Grenada passports in at least 8 months. They do not need to visit the country before or after obtaining citizenship, or pass exams on the language or history of Grenada. 

A Grenada passport also allows the holder to apply for a US E-2 business visa.

Antigua and Barbuda grants citizenship by investment for a minimum contribution of $230,000 to the National Development Fund. Investors can also donate to the University of the West Indies fund, buy government-approved real estate, or invest in an approved business project.

The process of obtaining citizenship takes at least 6 months. The investor’s spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings can be included in the application. To renew the first passport, the investor must visit Antigua and Barbuda and spend at least 5 days there within 5 years.

St Kitts and Nevis has the oldest citizenship by investment program in the world: it has operated since 1984. Investors obtain citizenship for a contribution starting at $250,000 to the Federal Consolidated Fund or to social and infrastructure projects. Another option is to buy real estate for at least $325,000.

The timeframe for obtaining a St Kitts and Nevis passport is at least 6 months. The documents are submitted remotely, but the investor and their family members must provide biometrics at one of the centres in St Kitts and Nevis, the UAE, or China. 

Real estate investments can be recovered after 7 years.

St Lucia grants citizenship by investment for a contribution starting at $240,000 to the National Economic Fund. Investors can also fund approved infrastructure or business projects, buy government bonds, or purchase government-approved real estate.

The process takes at least 6 months. Applicants do not need to live in St Lucia or take a language exam. Citizenship can be obtained together with a spouse, children, parents, and siblings.

El Salvador grants citizenship by investment for a non-refundable contribution of $1,000,000. The investment is transferred in cryptocurrency, Bitcoin or USDT, to the program account and is allocated to the country’s economic development.

The process of obtaining an El Salvador passport takes 1—3 months. 

The investor can include a spouse and minor children in the application. During the procedure, the investor passes Due Diligence and submits biometrics at one of the centres in El Salvador, the USA, or Spain. 

Vanuatu is the fastest citizenship program in the world. Investors obtain a passport in 1—4 months and for an investment starting at $130,000. The applicant does not need to take an exam on the country’s language and culture.

São Tomé and Príncipe has been issuing passports by investment since September 2025 ^[7] Source: Conditions for obtaining São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship, Decree‑Law No. 07/2025 . Investors obtain citizenship if they have made a non-refundable contribution starting at $90,000 to the state fund and passed a Due Diligence check. 

The process of obtaining a passport takes at least 2 months and is fully remote.

The Sierra Leone passport is obtained for an investment starting at $140,000: the investor makes a non-refundable contribution to the state fund. For family members in the application, an additional amount starting at $10,000 is paid.

The investor does not need to come to Sierra Leone and submit biometrics, the documents are submitted remotely. The process of obtaining citizenship takes at least 3 months.

Türkiye grants citizenship for an investment starting at $400,000. A foreigner buys residential or commercial real estate, government bonds, or investment fund units, opens a deposit in a Turkish bank, or creates a company.

The investments are returnable: after 3 years, it is permitted to sell the housing or share in the business and return the money. The timeframe for obtaining a Turkish passport is at least 8 months.

Key points about Nauru citizenship by investment

1. Nauru is the smallest island state in the world, located in the western Pacific Ocean.
2. Nauru citizenship can be obtained by naturalisations, birth, descent, or by investment.
3. Foreign investors obtain a Nauru passport for a contribution starting at $115,000 to Nauru’s economy. Until December 31st, 2026, the investment amount is reduced to $90,000.
4. Nauru citizenship opens visa-free entry to 71 countries, including Singapore and the UAE, but not the Schengen Area.
5. For some nationalities, the acceptance of applications for Nauru citizenship is restricted, but other investment programs are available to them, for example, citizenship of Caribbean countries.