Zoe Lodge
Numerous programs offering citizenship in exchange for hefty investments have popped up worldwide, bringing problems and questions along.
Passport control in the United States. James Tourtellotte. CC0 1.0.
As the world grapples with rising seas and shifting borders, citizenship has gained traction as a form of currency or financial motivation. In countries like Nauru, a remote Pacific island grappling with destruction caused by climate change, governments are turning to “golden passport” or “gold visa” programs as a lifeline, offering citizenship or residency in exchange for investments. But while these programs promise much-needed funding for some vulnerable economies, they raise troubling questions about ethics, inequality and national security for others.
Nauru, which spans just over eight square miles in the South Pacific, just northeast of Papua New Guinea and Australia, has been promoting its version of the golden visa, available for those who make an investment of US$105,000. With rising tides threatening parts of the island in the coming decades, the government is encouraging wealthy foreigners to make monetary contributions or invest in local property in exchange for citizenship. When foreign aid is unreliable and international climate funding remains slow, selling citizenship may seem like one of the few viable paths toward survival. Proponents argue that the funds can help the country adapt to climate change and develop sustainable infrastructure while allowing global citizens to invest in a growing economy and gain a passport that provides access to 89 countries. While it is unclear exactly how many have been granted citizenship through the scheme, the country’s overall goal for the program is to receive 500 applicants. This is Nauru’s second attempt at the program, after a similar scheme fell through in 2003 after the country was found to have offered citizenship to members of Al-Qaeda. For many, the appeal of Nauruan citizenship isn’t the opportunity to live on the island, but rather the visa-free access to 89 countries.
Aside from saving an island nation from the perils of rising tides, golden visa programs have raised concerns. Selling citizenship, especially from countries with relatively strong passports or connections to the European Union, can provide cover for improper business practices, tax evasion and political corruption. The European Union has warned member states like Malta and Cyprus about the risks posed by such programs, especially when due diligence is weak or transparency is lacking. Some of the primary concerns surrounding golden visa programs include inflation for residents, skirting immigration requirements and alleged corruption. Wealthy Russian and Chinese elites have taken advantage of golden passport programs in places like Portugal and Greece, raising concerns over how easily financial capital can translate into political access and legal protection. After Russia invaded Ukraine, several EU countries moved to shut down or scale back their golden visa programs, wary of offering sanctuary to potential threats to global peace and safety.
In the United States, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, sometimes nicknamed the “golden visa,” has existed since 1990. Foreign nationals who invest at least $800,000 in American startups are eligible for a green card. Donald Trump has also moved to introduce his own version of the golden visa, called the “Gold Card” or the “Trump Card,” in which individuals can be granted permanent residency in exchange for a $5 million investment. There are significant concerns with Trump’s program, as it has not gone through Congress, the typical route for new immigration legislation. Critics are also fearful about this program in connection with the Trump family’s closeness in business dealings with China and Russia.
In this new age of global movement, passports are not just travel documents; they are financial tools, lifeboats, and, in some cases, “get-out-of-jail-free” cards. The challenge for the international community is to ensure that climate adaptation doesn’t come at the cost of ethical erosion, especially with the current issues surrounding citizenship and immigration within the United States. As the Trump administration hastily moves to deport undocumented individuals and stop foreign students from entering the country while simultaneously listing citizenship for sale, concerning ethical questions are raised. Should nationality be for sale to the highest bidder? What happens to democratic accountability when wealthy global elites can buy their way out of the consequences of political instability or environmental collapse?
Zoe Lodge
Zoe is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is studying English and Politics, Philosophy, & Law. She combines her passion for writing with her love for travel, interest in combating climate change, and concern for social justice issues.