From today, 30 December 2025, citizens of the Pacific island state of Nauru must obtain a standard visitor visa before travelling to the United Kingdom. The change was legislated in this month’s Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules and is now live, meaning Nauru is no longer on the UK’s visa-waiver list.
The Home Office says the move is a direct response to Nauru’s recently launched Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programme. Ministers argue that the scheme—under which third-country investors can obtain Nauruan passports with limited residency or due-diligence requirements—poses “an unsustainable risk” to UK border security by offering a back-door identity to individuals who may wish to circumvent immigration controls.
Practically, Nauruan travellers must now complete an online visa form, pay the £115 application fee and provide biometrics in person before departure. Processing times for low-volume nationalities are typically three weeks, although the Home Office says it will “monitor demand” and adjust capacity if required.
![Nauru nationals now need a visa for UK visits as new security rule kicks in]()
If you need help navigating these new requirements, VisaHQ’s dedicated UK visa service can streamline the process. Through our portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/), applicants receive tailored document checklists, real-time status tracking and support with booking biometric appointments—cutting out guesswork and helping to avoid avoidable delays.
For businesses, the immediate impact is likely negligible—fewer than 50 Nauruan nationals entered the UK in 2024—but the precedent matters. It is the second time this year the UK has slapped a visa requirement on a country operating a CBI scheme (after Antigua & Barbuda in July). Mobility managers should therefore track CBI developments globally: the Home Office has signalled that any programme failing to meet UK security standards could trigger similar action.
The policy also illustrates the government’s readiness to deploy visa leverage in foreign-policy disputes. Unlike universal changes to the ETA or eVisa system, targeted visa requirements can be imposed rapidly, with minimal legislative friction, to deter practices that London deems high-risk.
The Home Office says the move is a direct response to Nauru’s recently launched Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programme. Ministers argue that the scheme—under which third-country investors can obtain Nauruan passports with limited residency or due-diligence requirements—poses “an unsustainable risk” to UK border security by offering a back-door identity to individuals who may wish to circumvent immigration controls.
Practically, Nauruan travellers must now complete an online visa form, pay the £115 application fee and provide biometrics in person before departure. Processing times for low-volume nationalities are typically three weeks, although the Home Office says it will “monitor demand” and adjust capacity if required.
If you need help navigating these new requirements, VisaHQ’s dedicated UK visa service can streamline the process. Through our portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/), applicants receive tailored document checklists, real-time status tracking and support with booking biometric appointments—cutting out guesswork and helping to avoid avoidable delays.
For businesses, the immediate impact is likely negligible—fewer than 50 Nauruan nationals entered the UK in 2024—but the precedent matters. It is the second time this year the UK has slapped a visa requirement on a country operating a CBI scheme (after Antigua & Barbuda in July). Mobility managers should therefore track CBI developments globally: the Home Office has signalled that any programme failing to meet UK security standards could trigger similar action.
The policy also illustrates the government’s readiness to deploy visa leverage in foreign-policy disputes. Unlike universal changes to the ETA or eVisa system, targeted visa requirements can be imposed rapidly, with minimal legislative friction, to deter practices that London deems high-risk.
