Nauru officially changes its name to the Republic of Naoero
Nauru officially changes its name to the Republic of Naoero?
The Republic of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, marking a significant step in reclaiming the country’s traditional name, language and cultural identity.
The name change was approved through a constitutional amendment passed by the Naoero Parliament in May 2026. The government subsequently confirmed that a national referendum would not be required, as Naoero is already an established name used by the people and appears on the country’s national coat of arms.
From Nauru to Naoero
Naoero is the traditional name of the island and is pronounced approximately “Now-ero.” The name Nauru became widely used internationally over time, partly because foreign speakers found the original name difficult to pronounce.
The government has described the change as an effort to more faithfully reflect the nation’s heritage, language and identity. Citizens of the country will now be referred to as dei-Naoero, while the country’s short name will be Naoero
The name change has also been communicated internationally. The United Nations confirms that Nauru informed the organisation on 26 June 2026 that it had changed its name to the Republic of Naoero.
The country’s international three-letter code is also transitioning from NRU to NRO. International organisations and governments are progressively updating their records and references to reflect the new name.
Impact on the Naoero Citizenship Programme
The name change also affects the country’s citizenship-by-investment framework. The programme previously known as the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program will now be referred to as the Naoero Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, reflecting the country’s new official name. According to the programme circular issued to stakeholders, Citizenship Certificates issued under the programme will bear the country’s new official name, Republic of Naoero, with immediate effect.
The transition for passports is different. Existing passports issued under the name Nauru remain valid, and passports will continue to be issued under the name Nauru temporarily until new passports carrying the country’s official name become available. This is an administrative transition and does not affect the validity of existing passports.
What applicants and existing citizens should know
The official name change represents more than an administrative rebranding. It is intended to strengthen national identity and reconnect the country with its traditional name and cultural heritage. For the citizenship programme, the change means that applicants and industry professionals will increasingly see Naoero replacing Nauru across citizenship certificates, government documentation and programme materials.
As the transition continues, applicants should ensure that they rely on the latest official programme documentation and guidance when preparing citizenship applications and related documents North Immigration will continue to monitor official updates regarding the Naoero Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program and provide further information as the transition progresses.
