Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Nauru, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. If you break local laws in Nauru, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in Nauru regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a Nauru, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest notifications in Nauru: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, Nauru may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the the U.S. Embassy in Suva or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Nauru is a small, remote tropical island. Access to and from Nauru is limited to a small number of commercial air flights each week. Transportation may be interrupted due to weather, political or labor disputes, economic difficulties, and other reasons. If you travel to Nauru and an emergency arises, you should be prepared to remain in Nauru until the emergency passes or to arrange for a private air or sea charter from the island, which may cost tens of thousands of dollars. The U.S. government only arranges evacuation transportation in crises that pose a potential for loss of life or an imminent physical danger to the safety and security of U.S. citizens, and when commercial options are not possible. The U.S. government is required to seek reimbursement for government organized evacuations in an amount equal to the average cost of a one-way ticket on a commercial carrier at the time commercial services are stopped.

Currency: In Nauru, the Australian dollar is the legal currency. A traveler should verify in advance whether a hotel will accept traveler’s checks or a credit card for payment. Exchange of foreign currency is limited and for some currencies may be non-existent. Credit card services on the island are limited to non-existent. At present time, there are four ATMs in the country, which function periodically, and very limited hotel options.

Customs: Nauru's customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Nauru of items such as foodstuffs, animals, and pornographic materials. Please contact the Consulate General of Nauru in Melbourne, Australia, for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Please see our information on Customs Information.

Citizenship documents: Please carry a copy of your U.S. passport with you at all times, so that you will have proof of identity and U.S. citizenship readily available if questioned by local officials. If you are detained or arrested, please request that local authorities notify a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, of your detention.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION:  If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBT events in Nauru. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Nauru, you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Nauru, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what they find in the United States. Local law does not specifically prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities. No legislation mandates services for persons with disabilities or access to public buildings. Although the government has installed mobility ramps in some public buildings, many buildings in the country are not accessible. There is no government agency with specific responsibility for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. There are no formal mechanisms to protect persons with mental disabilities.