Paradise island sells passports to foreigners from £81k in bid to tackle climate change ()
<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52813180%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3D4J8aUWSM6sh" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p>Nauru, a tiny Pacific island nation, is selling passports to foreigners for £81,000 to fund its climate contingency plans.</p><p>Rising sea levels are rapidly eroding the country's coastline, forcing leaders to plan a mass inland relocation.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>The scheme is one of several "citizenship by investment" programmes offered by island nations worldwide.</p><p>For Nauru, however, the initiative represents a critical funding source as it faces an existential climate threat.</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Nauru" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6465d83ab6cf40ca0ef571e5f28834cd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="272a7" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/nauru.jpg?id=58076599&width=980"/><p>Sea levels around Nauru are rising 1.5 times faster than global averages, creating an urgent climate crisis for the island nation.</p><p>It is estimated that 90 per cent of the island's population will need to relocate to higher ground as coastal erosion intensifies.</p><p>The government is struggling to fund this mass inland relocation project, which has become increasingly necessary for the nation's survival.</p><p>The passport scheme aims to generate the financial resources needed for this critical infrastructure challenge.</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><h3></h3><br/><p>Nauru's citizenship scheme is among the most affordable globally, costing £145,000 for a family of four.</p><p>The programme requires a lump sum of £81,000 for a single applicant, rising to just £85,000 for a family of four.</p><p>Additional processing and due diligence fees bring the total per-head cost for a family to approximately £36,000.</p><p>Notably, applicants need not establish prior residency on the island, and interviews can be conducted online. </p><p>Nauru's scheme compares favourably with other island nations offering citizenship by investment.</p><p>Vanuatu charges £158,000 for a family of four, plus applicants must show proof of at least £192,000 in funds.</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-mostread"></div><p><strong>LATEST DEVELOPMENTS </strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/travel/expat-italy-car-television-tax" target="_self">'I was absolutely shocked': Expat warns of unexpected costs that come with living in Italy</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/travel/easyjet-passenger-disruptive-behaviour" target="_self">EasyJet passengers cause chaos with 'disruptive behaviour' as police called in to deal with incident</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/travel/trump-travel-ban-2025-affected-countries-list" target="_self">Donald Trump plots new US travel ban as travelling abroad could be very different in 2025</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Plane in sky" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fb0cea524604e18914f4aa16225a5b94" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="2523b" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/plane-in-sky.jpg?id=58076821&width=980"/><p>Caribbean options are more expensive, with St Kitts and Nevis requiring £218,000 or property worth £250,000.</p><p>Antigua and Barbuda's programme starts at £202,000 for a family of four, while Dominica offers citizenship for £210,000 or through purchasing property worth at least £155,000.</p><p>Nauru is one of the world's smallest countries, measuring just eight square miles, with only the Vatican City and Monaco being smaller in land area.</p><p>Once wealthy from phosphate mining, Nauru now has the world's smallest GDP at around £90m. The island receives minimal tourism, with only about 200 visitors annually.</p><p>Travel connections are limited, with infrequent flights to the island. The nation also faces significant health challenges, being the most overweight country globally.</p>
