Citizenship by Investment / Nauru / Route
Nauru · Citizenship route
A single contribution from USD 90,000. Nauru permits dual citizenship — India does not, and that is the first thing to understand.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Advising UAE residents on second citizenship from our Dubai office.
Overview
Nauru's Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme, established by the Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Act 2024, grants citizenship for a single contribution. It is a contribution route only — there is no property option — and the published decision standard is three to four months.
Two recent changes matter more than the price: the United Kingdom withdrew visa-free access in December 2025, and the fee schedule was cut and restructured.
The United Kingdom removed visa-free access — because of this programme
On 9 December 2025 at 15:00 GMT the United Kingdom imposed a visa requirement on Nauru nationals, by Statement of Changes HC 1491, announced the same day in Written Ministerial Statement HCWS1143. The stated reason was this exact programme: the UK's position is that granting citizenship through investment is inherently high-risk and creates vulnerability to criminal exploitation and circumvention of immigration controls.
Nauru nationals also lost ETA eligibility and now need a standard visit visa or a Direct Airside Transit Visa. The grace period for existing ETA holders expired on 20 January 2026. Nauru sits at item 74 on the UK's visa national list today.
A Nauru passport no longer gives visa-free access to the United Kingdom.
The EU and Schengen: the listing is dormant, not live
Nauru is in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, the visa-exempt list, but with a footnote: the exemption applies only from the date an EU–Nauru visa waiver agreement enters into force. No such agreement exists. The Council's own material says so, and Germany's Federal Foreign Office lists Nauru as visa-required in practice.
So there is no Schengen access on a Nauru passport.
For context on where this is heading: Vanuatu was moved out of Annex II entirely, with effect from 3 February 2025, over its own investment-citizenship scheme.
Before anything else: what this means for an Indian passport
India does not allow dual citizenship. Section 9(1) of the Citizenship Act 1955 says that any citizen of India who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country shall cease to be a citizen of India.
Acquiring Nauruan citizenship is voluntary. So your Indian citizenship ends automatically, by operation of law, on the day you acquire it. There is no Indian decision to appeal, no discretion to exercise and no way to defer it. You must surrender your Indian passport and obtain a Surrender Certificate.
You can then apply for Overseas Citizen of India status. The Ministry of External Affairs is explicit that OCI is not to be misconstrued as dual citizenship and confers no political rights. As an OCI you cannot vote, cannot hold constitutional posts, do not have equality in public employment, and cannot acquire agricultural land, farmhouses or plantation property in India.
This is a replacement of your Indian citizenship, not an addition to it. Nauru itself permits dual citizenship and requires no renunciation — the restriction is entirely on the Indian side.
What it costs
The fee schedule made by the Amendment Regulations of 10 February 2025 has been superseded, and the current application and due diligence figures are lower.
| Item | Current |
|---|---|
| Contribution — principal applicant | USD 90,000 |
| Each additional dependant aged 16+ | USD 2,000 |
| Each sibling | USD 15,000 |
| Application fee — principal | USD 5,000 |
| Application fee — each eligible dependant | USD 2,000 |
| Due diligence — principal | USD 6,000 |
| Due diligence — each dependant aged 16+ | USD 3,000 |
| Due diligence — benefactor | USD 3,000 |
| Bank due diligence & transaction — solo | USD 1,200 |
| Bank — applicant plus up to 3 dependants | USD 1,700 |
| Bank — applicant plus 4 or more dependants | USD 2,200 |
| Bank — benefactor | USD 1,000 |
| Passport | USD 500 per passport |
The USD 90,000 reflects a USD 25,000 reduction applying to applications filed before 31 December 2026. The programme publishes only the reduced figure and the size of the reduction; it does not publish a standard undiscounted price.
There are no family-size tiers: no "family of 2–4" or "family of 5+" price. A single applicant today pays roughly USD 102,700 all in.
There is no real estate option. The Act provides a contribution route only.
Who can be included, and on what conditions
The Act sets material conditions on each category.
- Spouse — monogamous marriage or de facto relationship.
- Children under 18 — biological or adopted, included without further condition.
- Children aged 18–30 — only if unmarried and fully supported by the principal applicant.
- Adult children over 18 — if physically or mentally challenged and living with and fully supported by the principal applicant.
- Parents and grandparents over 55 — only if fully supported by the principal applicant.
- Siblings — only if not married and never married. No age limit is stated.
What the passport actually reaches
The programme's own FAQ says "over 85 countries" and names only Hong Kong SAR (90 days), Singapore and the UAE. That is the government's own figure.
Independent indices put it at around 86 destinations for 2026 and explicitly record the UK as visa-required since 9 December 2025.
Hong Kong and Singapore access is confirmed in those governments' own published lists. The UAE is reported as 90 days visa-free; XIPHIAS confirms the current UAE entry position with the UAE authorities for each file.
Process, timing and the interview
The published standard is three to four months from submission to a citizenship decision.
There is no residence or physical presence requirement — no minimum stay, no visit, and the process can be completed without travelling to Nauru.
But an interview is mandatory for every principal applicant, and dependants aged 16 and over may also be required to attend. It may be held virtually or by audio-visual link, so it does not force a trip, but it is a firm requirement.
What this citizenship is, in law
The Act creates "economic and climate resilience citizenship" as a distinct statutory category, separate from citizenship under the Naoero Citizenship Act 2017. The Act is silent on whether it carries the right to reside in Nauru, to vote, to own land or to hold office — there is no express restriction, but equally no express grant. Clients should not assume it confers a right to live in Nauru.
Cancellation grounds do exist: fraud, terrorist financing, becoming a designated person, or becoming a citizen of a UN-listed high-risk country. Ineligibility covers terrorism, money laundering, organised crime and child sexual offences.
Nauru does permit dual citizenship — section 16 of the Naoero Citizenship Act 2017 is explicit, and renunciation is voluntary. The restriction that matters for an Indian client is entirely on the Indian side.
Talk to a Nauru citizenship consultant in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has advised families on second citizenship since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022. Our immigration consultants in Dubai will take you through the legal requirements, costs and timeline for Nauru.
Sources
- Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme — contribution and fees
- Nauru ECRCP — frequently asked questions
- Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Act 2024
- Naoero Citizenship Act 2017, section 16 (dual citizenship)
- UK Written Ministerial Statement HCWS1143, 9 December 2025 — visa requirement for Nauru
- UK Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list (Nauru, item 74)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annex II (Nauru, subject to a visa waiver agreement not yet concluded)
- Council of the EU — EU visa agreements with non-EU countries
- Hong Kong Immigration Department — visit visa requirements (Nauru, 90 days)
- Singapore ICA — entry visa requirements
- Citizenship Act 1955, Section 9(1) — Government of India
- Government of India — passport surrender certificate
- Ministry of External Affairs — Overseas Citizenship of India scheme
Verified against government and primary legal sources on 30 September 2026.
What you getالمزايا
Published decision standard of three to four months.
No residence requirement and no minimum stay. The process can be completed without travelling to Nauru.
Over 85 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations per the programme's own FAQ, including Hong Kong SAR (90 days) and Singapore.
Nauru permits dual citizenship without restriction (Naoero Citizenship Act 2017, section 16).
Family inclusion covers spouse, children, parents and grandparents over 55, and siblings, each on stated conditions.
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Qualifying investment
Contribution — principal applicant
Reflects a USD 25,000 reduction applying to applications filed before 31 December 2026. The programme does not publish a standard undiscounted price.
Contribution — each additional dependant aged 16+
Contribution — each sibling
Application fee — principal applicant
Application fee — each eligible dependant
Due diligence — principal applicant
Due diligence — each dependant aged 16+
Due diligence — benefactor
Bank due diligence and transaction — single applicant
Bank due diligence and transaction — applicant + up to 3 dependants
Bank due diligence and transaction — applicant + 4 or more dependants
Bank due diligence and transaction — benefactor
Government & due-diligence fees
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Be at least 18 years old with a clean criminal record.
Pass due diligence screenings and provide proof of legal source of funds.
Be in good health.
Make the contribution: USD 90,000 for the principal applicant, plus USD 2,000 for each dependant aged 16 or over and USD 15,000 for each sibling.
Attend the mandatory interview, which may be held online.
Take the oath of allegiance to Nauru.
Proof of funds
Who cannot apply
Incomplete or falsified documentation.
Failure to pass due diligence or background checks.
Using non-approved channels for the donation.
Criminal history or adverse legal record.
Document checklistالوثائق
Identity & Civil
- ✦Passport copies (validity ≥ 12 months)
- ✦Birth and marriage certificates (apostilled if applicable)
- ✦Proof of name change (if applicable)
- ✦De facto partnership proof (if applicable)
Financial & SOF
- ✦Bank statements (6–12 months)
- ✦Proof of donation payment
- ✦Source-of-funds documents
Compliance
- ✦Police clearance certificates
- ✦Medical certificate (including HIV test)
Your XIPHIAS advisor prepares a personalised document list at onboarding. The checklist above is indicative and may vary by family size.
Family scopeالأسرة
All eligible dependants can be included in one application or added after approval.
Age limits, dependency definitions, and addition fees vary by jurisdiction. Your advisor confirms exact rules at onboarding.
Risk notes
Indian citizenship ends automatically on acquiring Nauruan citizenship. Read what this means for an Indian passport before committing funds.
The United Kingdom imposed a visa requirement on Nauru nationals on 9 December 2025, citing this programme, and removed ETA eligibility. There is no UK visa-free access.
There is no Schengen access. Nauru's Annex II listing depends on an EU visa waiver agreement that has never been concluded.
The contribution is non-refundable.
This is a distinct statutory class of citizenship. The Act does not state that it carries a right to reside in Nauru.
Citizenship can be cancelled for fraud, terrorist financing, becoming a designated person, or becoming a citizen of a UN-listed high-risk country.
Compliance
An interview is mandatory for every principal applicant. Dependants aged 16 and over may also be required to attend. It may be held virtually or by audio-visual link.
Enhanced due diligence and full source-of-funds verification apply to all adult applicants.
The USD 90,000 contribution reflects a reduction applying to applications filed before 31 December 2026. The programme does not publish a standard undiscounted price.
There is no real estate route. The Act provides a contribution route only.
Start the Nauru route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.