With a price of 105,000 USD per passport, the environmental protection program called "Citizenship for Climate Resilience" is expected to earn more than 5 million USD in the first year. However, nearly half a year since it began in February, only 6 citizen applications have been approved, including 2 families and 4 individuals.
Despite a slow start, Mr. David Adeang - President of Nauru - is still optimistic: "We welcome the new citizens, who will contribute to helping Nauru towards a sustainable and prosperous future for future generations".
Nauru expects the program to attract a total of 500 subscribers, equivalent to about $43 million - accounting for nearly 20% of the national budget revenue.
However, this program also raises concerns about the risk of being exploited. Edward Clark, who runs the climate passport program, said a petition had been withdrawn after a problem was discovered during a background check. That would certainly be rejected if it were not voluntarily withdrawn, he said.
Nauru has failed to sell passports in the past. In 2003, the country was notorious for giving allegiance to Al-Qaeda members, and was later arrested in Asia.
One of the first successful registrations was a family of four from Germany, currently living in Dubai. According to Mr. Clark, they are seeking a second nationality as a "reservation plan" in the face of global political instability.
Nauru passports allow visa-free entry to more than 80 countries and territories. Currently, more than 60 countries in the world are applying the same form of investment settlement. Pacific island countries such as Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga have also experimented with this form.
Located in the central Pacific, Nauru has an area of only 21 km2, most of its land is formed from nutrient-rich phosphate rock - once making the country the richest place on the per capita. However, resources have long been depleted, and about 80% of the territory has been destroyed by mining activities.
Currently, the remaining land of Nauru is facing rising sea levels - 1.5 times faster than the global average. The island nation will have to relocate about 90% of its population, with an initial estimated cost of more than $60 million.
