The Pacific island nation of Nauru, a low-lying state covering just 21 km², is selling its citizenship to finance the future relocation of its population, which is at risk due to rising sea levels. The cost of a passport: $105,000, or more than €100,000.
Paying $105,000 (over €100,000) for a passport that grants access to dozens of countries—Nauru is monetizing its nationality to fund the relocation of its people, despite the risks associated with this “golden passport” system.
This low-lying island nation in Micronesia, home to nearly 13,000 people, faces threats from climate change, particularly rising sea levels that are beginning to erode its coastline. According to UN climate experts, Nauru, along with four other island nations—the Maldives, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, and Kiribati—could become uninhabitable by 2100, potentially displacing 600,000 climate refugees.
To finance the relocation of coastal residents to the island’s higher interior areas, Nauru is now offering foreigners the chance to obtain its passport for $105,000.
“For Nauru, this is not just about adapting to climate change but ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come,” President David Adeang told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
One of the smallest nations in the world, Nauru spans just 21 km² and consists of a central plateau rich in phosphate rock.
Phosphate deposits, a natural resource used in fertilizer production, once made Nauru one of the wealthiest places per capita on the planet. However, these reserves have long been depleted, and experts estimate that mining has rendered 80% of the island uninhabitable.
The remaining land is now directly threatened by rising sea levels.
A Costly Relocation
Climate financing is “insufficient” to meet the challenge ahead, says Edward Clark, head of the Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program launched in November. The first applications are currently under review, he added.
The Nauruan government expects to raise $5.7 million in the first year of the program, with hopes of gradually increasing that figure to $43 million, which would account for 20% of the country’s total annual revenue.
Nauru estimates that 90% of its population will eventually need to be relocated to higher ground, which is currently uninhabitable and requires significant development.
The cost of the first phase of this massive relocation is estimated at over $60 million. To cover the bill, Nauru is promoting its new program, highlighting the benefits of its passport, which allows visa-free entry into nearly 90 countries, including the UK, Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates.
Criminal Activities
Several other Pacific nations, including Vanuatu, Samoa, and the Kingdom of Tonga, have already implemented similar golden passport systems, according to the Australian research group Lowy Institute.
However, this system is controversial, as it can facilitate criminal activities, warns Henrietta McNeill, an expert at the Australian National University. She notes that some individuals might use their new nationality to evade justice in their home country, launder money, or take advantage of visa-free travel.
A previous attempt by Nauru to sell passports ended disastrously. In 2003, Nauruan citizenship was granted to members of Al-Qaeda, who were later arrested in Asia, according to the Australian broadcaster ABC.
Edward Clark insists that this time, Nauru will only issue passports to investors who pass rigorous background checks.
“This program is not just about acquiring a new passport,” he stated. “It is also about joining a community that is seeking innovative solutions to tackle global challenges.”
Since 2012, Nauru has received millions of dollars from the Australian government to house migrants seeking asylum in Australia. However, the program has been gradually scaled back following 14 detainee deaths, multiple suicide attempts, and at least six cases brought before the International Criminal Court.
As of August 31, 2024, Nauru was still holding 87 people, according to the latest figures from the Australian government.
Source: ouest france
