The United Kingdom has instituted new visa requirements for nationals of Nauru, effective December 9, following concerns over the Pacific nation’s citizenship by investment (CBI) program. Mike Tapp, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship, announced this decision in a statement to Parliament, labeling the granting of citizenship in exchange for investment as “inherently high-risk.” Tapp expressed that this approach allows individuals to acquire a new identity with minimal connections to the country issuing the citizenship.
Under the new regulations, Nauruans will need to apply for visitor visas and Direct Airside Transit Visas to enter the UK. However, individuals who possess an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) with confirmed travel arrangements made before 3:00 PM GMT on December 9 will have a grace period of six weeks to enter the UK, provided they arrive by 3:00 PM GMT on January 20, 2026.
The visa requirement comes nearly one year after Nauru introduced its CBI program at the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, where citizenship was made available starting at $105,000 through contributions to the country’s treasury. Tapp’s statement strongly criticized the CBI program, indicating that the UK’s analysis revealed considerable risks to both border and national security, emphasizing the potential for misuse and exploitation of the program by criminal entities or individuals looking to bypass immigration controls.
Concerns regarding the program did not just center around its structural integrity, but also about the effectiveness of the vetting and due diligence processes in place. Tapp underscored a lack of confidence in the legitimacy of such processes, declaring that the program could contribute to an increased risk to UK border integrity.
This move by the UK is part of a broader trend among Western nations to address and regulate CBI programs for concerns over security and genuine ties between investors and host nations. Notably, this follows the UK’s previous decision to revoke visa-free travel for Dominica and Vanuatu in July 2023, which was carried out with similar urgency.
Despite the imposition of new visa requirements, Tapp maintained that the UK values its relationship with Nauru as a Commonwealth partner, asserting that such decisions are not made lightly and are undertaken in the national interest. The review of Nauru’s border and immigration system concluded just over a year after its CBI program’s launch, reflecting a keen awareness of potential risks in international mobility and security.
This decisive action by the UK highlights the ongoing dialogue surrounding border security and the scrutiny of citizenship programs across the globe, as nations strive to protect their borders while maintaining important international relationships.
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