Australian National University expert Henrietta McNeill said while these schemes helped bolster government revenue, they were also prone to exploitation.
She said criminals could use these documents to evade law enforcement, launder money or exploit visa-free entry rules.
A previous Nauru attempt to sell passports ended in disaster.
In 2003, Nauru officials sold citizenship to Al-Qaeda members who were later arrested in Asia, according to Australian broadcaster ABC.
Clark said this time Nauru would only offer passports to like-minded investors that passed “the strictest and most thorough due diligence procedures”.
“This programme isn’t just about acquiring another passport,” he said.
“It’s about joining a community dedicated to pioneering solutions for global challenges.”
Nauru has accepted millions of dollars from the Australian government since 2012 for housing migrants who had sought asylum in Australia.
But the scheme was gradually scaled back following 14 detainee deaths, multiple suicide attempts and at least six referrals to the International Criminal Court.
Nauru still held 87 people as of August 31, 2024, according to latest Australian government figures.
© 2025 AFP
