Nauru International Airport in Aiwo District is the sole point of entry. Nauru Airlines, formerly known as Our Airline, operates the only scheduled passenger service, flying from Brisbane once weekly with occasional stops in Honiara or Nadi depending on schedule. The airport code is INU. The runway is 2,150 meters long, built during Japanese occupation in World War II and upgraded in the 1970s using phosphate revenues. There is no airport shuttle, no taxi rank, and no public transport infrastructure. Hotels arrange pickup directly with arriving passengers, confirmed by email or phone before departure. The alternative is walking along the coastal ring road, which circles the entire island at approximately 19 kilometers total distance, though this is impractical with luggage in equatorial heat.
Visa on arrival is available for most nationalities at no cost for stays up to 30 days. Passport validity of six months beyond intended stay is required. Australian, New Zealand, and Commonwealth citizens receive automatic entry. Other nationalities should confirm current requirements at https://www.naurugov.nr before booking flights. There is no Nauruan embassy network abroad. The Nauru Mission to the United Nations in New York handles consular matters for North America. Extension beyond 30 days requires written application to the Department of Justice and Border Control in Yaren, with sponsorship from a local employer or resident. Overstay penalties are enforced.
The Australian dollar is the official currency, adopted in 1966 after independence negotiations determined Nauru would not establish its own currency. No currency exchange facilities exist on the island because none are needed. Australian banknotes and coins circulate exclusively. Travelers arriving from outside Australia should exchange currency in Brisbane during the layover. The Bank of Nauru, located in Aiwo, is the only bank. It opens Monday through Friday, closing hours vary but typically 1600. ATMs exist at the bank and at Capelle and Partner supermarket in Aiwo. Both accept Visa and Mastercard. Withdrawal limits are 500 AUD per transaction. ATM failures occur during power outages, which happen irregularly. Bring Australian cash as backup.
Credit cards are not accepted anywhere on Nauru except at Menen Hotel, which takes Visa and Mastercard for room charges only, not for meals or additional services. All other transactions on the island are cash only. The Capelle and Partner supermarket, the RONPhos staff store, the handful of private shops in Denigomodu and Aiwo, the fuel station, and any restaurant or food stall require Australian dollars in hand. There are no payment apps, no mobile money systems, no contactless payment terminals. Budget 150 to 200 AUD per person per day to cover imported food, bottled water, transport arrangement, and basic needs. This budget assumes self-catering with supermarket purchases and minimal restaurant meals. Hotel accommodation adds 120 to 200 AUD per night at the Menen Hotel or Od-N-Aiwo Hotel, the two operating guesthouses. No hostels exist.
Mobile coverage operates on a single network run by Digicel Nauru. The network uses 2G and limited 3G technology. International roaming functions for some Australian carriers, but data speeds are approximately 0.5 to 1 Mbps under optimal conditions. Prepaid SIM cards are sold at the Digicel office in Aiwo for 10 AUD, with data packages starting at 20 AUD for 1GB valid seven days. Passport required for purchase. Internet access is otherwise available only at the Menen Hotel through a paid WiFi system, charged separately from room rate, operating at similar slow speeds. No internet cafes exist. No coworking spaces exist. The entire island's international bandwidth runs through a single satellite link managed by Nauru Utilities Corporation, and congestion is constant. Video calls rarely function. Email and text-based communication is feasible but slow. Plan accordingly for any work requiring connectivity.
Electricity operates on 240V, 50Hz, using Australian Type I plugs with three flat pins. Power outages occur irregularly throughout the year, sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, lasting from 30 minutes to several hours. The Nauru Utilities Corporation generates power from diesel generators that experience fuel supply interruptions and mechanical failures. Bring a headlamp or flashlight. The Menen Hotel has a backup generator that powers rooms during outages, but smaller guesthouses may not. Air conditioning units stop during outages, and in equatorial heat without ventilation, rooms become uncomfortable within 20 minutes. No voltage stabilizers are needed for standard electronics, but surge protectors are advisable given the unstable grid.