Marshall Islands visa guide: visitors, work, study and family

Visas for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) are handled by the Division of Immigration of the Ministry of Justice, Immigration and Labor, with its head office in Majuro and a sub-office on Ebeye. The Office of Commerce, Investment and Tourism refers all nonimmigrant visa applicants to the division. Every traveller needs a passport valid for at least six months beyond the planned departure, a confirmed return or onward ticket, sufficient funds and must not be excluded under section 114 of the Immigration Act 2006.

Travellers fall into three groups. Citizens of the United States, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, US contractor personnel and official dependants, diplomats on official missions and people granted a ministerial exemption need no visa. Citizens of countries with diplomatic relations with the RMI, including Pacific Islands Forum members, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea and EU states, receive a visa on arrival or visa waiver; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade keeps the full list. Everyone else must obtain a visa before travelling, while outside the RMI.

Visa classes include V-1 visitor, B-2 and B-1 business, T-1 transit, C-1 cruising, E-1 employment, S-1 student, R-1 residence and G-1 dependant visas. Applications can be submitted in person, by mail or by email with scanned documents; processing starts only when the file is complete, and each decision passes a processing officer, the deputy director and the director. Refusals come with written reasons and can be appealed.