Promote:
Invest in Nauru
A short guide for companies expanding into Nauru: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Nauru at a glance
PopulationEstimate
12,025
The World Bank reports a population of 12,025 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Naoero population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$176 million
The World Bank reports GDP of US$176,040,044 in current dollars for fiscal 2025, which ended June 30, 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Naoero GDP in current dollars, FY2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of FY2025 (July 2024 to June 2025)
GDP per personEstimate
US$14,640
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$14,639.50 in current dollars for fiscal 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Naoero GDP per person, FY2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of FY2025 (July 2024 to June 2025)
Real GDP growthEstimate
2.1%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 2.1 percent for fiscal 2025, which ended June 30, 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Naoero real GDP growth, FY2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of FY2025 (July 2024 to June 2025)
Inflation
4.4%
Consumer prices rose 4.4 percent in the year to the March 2025 quarter, the Bureau of Statistics reports.
Source: Bureau of Statistics, CPI report, March 2025 quarter (opens in a new tab) · as of March 2025 quarter
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$-19,000
Foreign direct investment inflows were negative US$0.019 million in 2025, UNCTAD reports; the World Bank balance-of-payments series shows negative US$18,923.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment inflows, Naoero (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Australian dollar.
Source: World Bank WDI metadata, Naoero (opens in a new tab) · as of October 8, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Naoero Foreign Investment Authority, set up by the Foreign Investment Act 2025, considers and approves applications for foreign investment certificates.
Source: RONLAW, Foreign Investment Act 2025, consolidated September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
The Justice and Border Control business section is the first stop for registration and licensing, but no one-stop shop for investors is published.
Source: Justice and Border Control, business registration and licensing information sheet (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
The Act's Reserved List keeps 21 activities for citizens, among them phosphate, airlines, shipping, utilities, grocery retail and wholesale, agriculture, restaurants and cafés.
Source: RONLAW, Foreign Investment Act 2025, consolidated September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
No economic or free zone appears in the 2026-27 budget papers or the registration guidance read. Check with the Department of Commerce and Foreign Investment before you rely on a zone.
Source: Department of Finance, Budget Paper 2, 2026-27 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Nauru
- Apply to the Naoero Foreign Investment Authority for a foreign investment certificate; the activity must not be on the Reserved List.Naoero Foreign Investment AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: RONLAW, Foreign Investment Act 2025, consolidated September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 30, 2026
- Get a provisional Tax Identification Number from the Revenue Office before you apply to register.Nauru Revenue OfficeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Justice and Border Control, business registration and licensing information sheet (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Register the business name and apply for a business license with the Justice and Border Control business section.Department of Justice and Border Control$200 for the name and $300 for the licenseOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Justice and Border Control, business registration and licensing information sheet (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- To incorporate, apply for a certificate of incorporation; a foreign corporation also needs certified home-country documents, a Naoero address and a local representative.Department of Justice and Border Control$1,200 for the certificateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Justice and Border Control, business registration and licensing information sheet (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Name a nominated officer and register the beneficial owners of the corporation, partnership or trust.Department of Justice and Border Control$25 and $50Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Justice and Border Control, business registration and licensing information sheet (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Arrange a business visa for each foreign director or worker with the Immigration Division.Immigration DivisionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Justice and Border Control, business registration and licensing information sheet (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Open a business bank account; the registration sheet says a bank needs the tax number, business license and incorporation documents.Not publishedOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Justice and Border Control, business registration and licensing information sheet (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Foreign Investment Authority and Nauru Customs. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Foreign investment approval authority
Foreign Investment Authority
Naoero Foreign Investment Authority
Considers and approves the foreign investment certificate a foreign investor needs, and keeps the list of activities reserved for citizens.
- Meet requirements
Business registry and border department
Justice and Border Control
Department of Justice and Border Control
Registers business names, corporations, partnerships and trusts, issues business licenses and beneficial ownership registrations, and runs immigration and quarantine.
Show 1 more organization
Visa and border control
Immigration Division
Issues visas to foreign nationals, including business visas, and screens passengers arriving and leaving.
Visit Immigration Division (opens in a new tab)Source: Justice and Border Control, Immigration Division page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Nauru Customs
Nauru Customs Service
Assesses import duties and runs trade facilitation and border protection.
Visit Nauru Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Finance, Nauru Customs Service page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax and revenue office
NRO
Nauru Revenue Office
Issues Tax Identification Numbers, collects government revenue and issues cash export licenses.
Visit NRO (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Finance, Nauru Revenue Office page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Finance ministry
Finance Department
Department of Finance
Houses the customs, revenue and statistics offices, runs the national budget and publishes the budget papers.
Visit Finance Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Finance, home page, read November 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
Chamber of Commerce
Naoero Chamber of Commerce
Names a representative to the national committee that steers the Small Business Enterprise Fund, the 2026-27 budget papers say.
Visit Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Finance, Budget Paper 2, 2026-27 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Logistics and border performance
The 2026-27 budget papers set out a customs tariff review, X-ray scanners and a new seaport customs facility, after ASYCUDA World went live.
What to do: Ask Nauru Customs which entry steps and duty rates apply before you ship.
Sources: Department of Finance, Budget Paper 1, 2026-27 (opens in a new tab); Department of Finance, Nauru Customs Service page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Currency and settlement
The 2026-27 budget papers say development partners secured reliable access to banking services; the long-liquidated Bank of Nauru was repealed by an Act certified January 29, 2026.
What to do: Confirm with your own bank how payments reach Naoero before you commit.
Sources: Department of Finance, Budget Paper 1, 2026-27 (opens in a new tab); Naoero Government Gazette No. 27, January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
State-led economy
Government and state-owned enterprises account for around 90 percent of GDP, and private sector jobs are under 7 percent of employment.
What to do: Check whether a buyer or partner is state-owned, and confirm payment terms in writing.
Sources: Naoero Bureau of Statistics, GDP 2024-25 information release (opens in a new tab); Department of Finance, Budget Paper 2, 2026-27 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
External revenue dependence
The 2026-27 budget papers say 58 percent of government revenue comes from external sources, mainly the bilateral hosting arrangements with Australia, leaving the economy highly exposed to external shocks.
What to do: Check how a change in government revenue would affect your buyer or partner before you commit.
Sources: Department of Finance, Budget Paper 1, 2026-27 (opens in a new tab); Department of Finance, Budget Speech, 2026-27 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 2 more
Foreign investment approval
Under the Foreign Investment Act 2025, a foreign investor needs a certificate from the Naoero Foreign Investment Authority, whose members Cabinet appointed in January 2026.
What to do: Ask the Department of Commerce and Foreign Investment how your project would be approved before you commit funds.
Sources: RONLAW, Foreign Investment Act 2025, consolidated September 2026 (opens in a new tab); Naoero Government Gazette No. 15, January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Reserved sectors
The Act's Reserved List bars foreign investors from 21 activities, including phosphate, shipping, utilities, grocery retail and wholesale, agriculture, restaurants and handicraft retail.
What to do: Check the Reserved List in the Act and confirm with the Foreign Investment Authority before you start a project.
Source: RONLAW, Foreign Investment Act 2025, consolidated September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Nauru with other countriesSet Nauru beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Nauru project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Promote:Nauru is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.