{"id":50515,"date":"2025-08-07T13:52:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T13:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/50515\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T13:52:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T13:52:09","slug":"nauru-sells-first-passports-to-help-fund-relocations-as-sea-levels-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/50515\/","title":{"rendered":"Nauru sells first passports to help fund relocations as sea levels rise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia’s Pacific neighbour, Nauru, has sold its first passports as part of a program raising funds for the relocation of residents affected by rising sea levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The tiny island nation launched the scheme in February but it only approved its first six applicants this week, nearly half a year after it started.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Selling for at least $US105,000 ($160,000), Nauru’s “golden passports” offer citizenship by investment and the country claims it would enable visa-free entry into 89 countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These are said to include the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The Nauru government expects 90 per cent of its residents will need to relocate due to rising sea levels. (Getty Images: mtcurado)<\/p>\n

Edward Clark, the head of Nauru’s Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program<\/a>, told ABC Pacific Beat that a “relatively well-known” German family was among the successful applicants.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said, altogether, the family of four paid around $US250,000 ($380,000), with $US140,000 of these funds to go toward climate resilience projects in Nauru. \u00a0<\/p>\n

“They had a long-standing family business in Germany, they sold it recently, and had relocated to Dubai,” Mr Clark said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Our understanding is that they’re concerned about some of the volatility in Eastern Europe and the impact that might have on them as a family.<\/p>\n

“So they were looking for a secondary citizenship just as a back-up plan if, for example, Germany were to implement military conscription.”<\/p>\n

Despite the slow start, Mr Clark said there were around 20 other applications being processed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We are a new program so we are working to build credibility and awareness in the market,” he said.<\/p>\n

“We are starting to build interest and work through the existing pipeline of applications … and we have many others we know are coming.”<\/p>\n

\"Adeang<\/p>\n

Nauru President David Adeang has welcomed the island nation’s new citizens by investment. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)<\/p>\n

Nauru President David Adeang was upbeat about the latest milestone.<\/p>\n

“We welcome our new citizens whose investment will assist Nauru to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come,” he told AFP on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Mr Clark said the target for the passport program is to generate $60 million a year.<\/p>\n

‘In-depth’ checks<\/p>\n

Nauru is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with scientists measuring sea levels rising 1.5 times faster than global averages. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Unusually pure phosphate deposits \u2014 a key ingredient in fertiliser \u2014 once made Nauru one of the wealthiest places, per capita, on the planet.<\/p>\n

But these supplies have long dried up and researchers estimate 80 per cent of Nauru has become uninhabitable due to mining.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What little land Nauru has left is threatened by encroaching tides, which local authorities believe will force 90 per cent of its residents to relocate to higher ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first phase of this mass relocation is estimated to cost more than $US60 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pacific sea level rises inevitable, NASA finds<\/a><\/p>\n

Sea levels will rise for Pacific Island Nations even if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.<\/p>\n

While the island has pinned its hopes on the new passport program to foot the bill, there are fears the scheme could be ripe for exploitation.<\/p>\n

Mr Clark told AFP one application has already been withdrawn after officials flagged “adverse findings” during background checks.<\/p>\n

“The application would have been rejected had it not been withdrawn,” he said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Mr Clark told the ABC the government conducts an “in-depth” due diligence process involving the financial intelligence unit, police, and third-party checks.<\/p>\n

“This is important to uphold and maintain the reputation for the country … and for maintaining the integrity of the Nauru passport,” he said. \u00a0<\/p>\n

A previous Nauru attempt to sell passports ended in disaster.<\/p>\n

In 2003, Nauru officials sold citizenship to Al-Qaeda members who were later arrested in Asia.<\/p>\n

When asked how successful applicants could be sure their funds went toward economic and climate resilience projects, Mr Clark said it would appear in government records.<\/p>\n

“Because the program is at an early stage, the funds will just be co-mingled into the government treasury accounts and will be reported on through that mechanism,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We are in discussions with Nauru government to set up a framework to make sure that those funds are allocated toward specific projects or initiatives if the program starts to generate revenue that is above the $10 million threshold.”<\/p>\n

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