Explore: Marshall Islands - Formalities
Clearance
COVID-19: Entry protocols for yachts have been affected by the pandemic. See the Biosecurity section for details.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES:
Advance Notification:
The Ministry of Health and Human Services now requires copies of all voyage itineraries of all vessels scheduled to arrive at any port in the Republic of the Marshall Islands at least two weeks in advance of your arrival.
Voyage itineraries should be sent to the following people for verification:
- Deputy Secretary for Public Health: Mailynn Konelios-Langinlur – [email protected]
- Public Health Director: Dr Tom Jack – [email protected]
- Surveillance and Epidemiology: Francyne Wase-Jacklick – [email protected]
Ports of Entry:
Ports of entry to the Marshall Islands are Majuro, the capital, and Ebeye Island on Kwajalein Atoll. For a variety of reasons, it is highly recommended that yachts clear in at Majuro.
General Process:
Clearance may take some time depending on the processes in place under the Government’s State of Emergency protocols for dealing with the CoronaVirus outbreak. Latest cruiser reports indicate that officials are still working out the process of how officials will meet the crew.
Call ‘Majuro Port Control’ on VHF 16 upon arrival and ask for instructions for clearance. If no answer, call the Mieco Beach Yacht Club (MBYC) on VHF Ch 71 and ask for advice.
Port Control may schedule Customs and Immigration officials to come on board to undertaken clearance procedures or to meet the skipper at the Shoreline dinghy dock (near Uliga Wharf and RRE hotel) to complete clearance.
If not, go to the Capital Building (about 10 minutes away) where, on the ground floor, you will find Customs who will then give you instructions to go to Immigration in the Mako Building, which is a five to 10 minute walk.
To avoid overtime fees, try to arrive during business hours (Monday to Friday). See fees section for details
Remember for men to wear a collared shirt and trousers and for women a dress or skirt that reaches below the knee.
Domestic Cruising:
Entry/Cruising Permits are required for every atoll to be visited. See Outer Islands page for more details.
CLEARING OUT
International Clearance:
The order of clearance is:
- The Port Captain at the Port Authority Office ( to pay a departure fee).
- Customs.
- Immigration ( who may ask to see the receipt from the Port Captain).
Last updated: February 2020
Immigration
Immigration Procedures:
All passports must be valid and if applying for a visa, must be valid for six months.
The standard Tourist visa is issued for 30 days.
Visas are not required for citizens of the United States, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau for any length of stay.
No visas are required by any crew of private yachts for stays of up to seven days.
Other Visa Information:
For longer stays, yacht crews from Australia and New Zealand, Canada, European Union (includes United Kingdom), South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Pacific Islands Forum countries are granted a free visa for 90 days. After which time you must leave and cannot return without having clearance papers from another country. They can apply for a one year visa but the application must be made within 14 days of arrival.
The 1 year visa is invalidated by flying out of the country and on return you will only be given the standard 30 day Tourist visa.
When being issued with a tourist visa, it may be necessary to provide certain documents (letter stating purpose of visit, police record dated within last three months and health record dated within last three months showing traveller is free of HIV and TB).
Last updated: March 2019
Related Businesses
Chief of Immigration – Marshall Islands
Address: Marshall Islands Government, P.O. Box 890, Majuro, Marshall Islands, 96960
Apply here for a visa in advance. There are also consulates in Honolulu and Washington DC.... Read More
Immigration Office – Marshall Islands
Address: 5th Floor, 5 story green building near MIR, Majuro, Marshall Islands,
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Address: 2nd Floor, Local Government Office, (next to Mobil Oil tank farm), Marshall Islands,
Apply here for permits to visit the outer islands.... Read More
Customs
Arriving by Yacht:
Firearms must be declared on arrival.
Only 2 cartons of cigarettes and 2 litres of alcohol can be imported duty-free.
Other Items:
Coral and turtle shell are prohibited exports.
Importing Parts/Spares:
Related Businesses
Customs Office – Marshall Islands
Address: 1st Floor, Government Building, Majuro, Marshall Islands,
BioSecurity
With the continual change in protocols due to the pandemic, we outline the last-known situation below for yacht arrivals. Skippers should follow the recommended links in “resources” to confirm the latest protocols. Always check with your intended port of arrival before getting underway to be 100% certain of what is required. Please e-mail [email protected] if you find protocols have changed.
COVID-19: CLOSED
Yachting Protocols:
January 2022
- The country is still closed to everyone except for a small number of citizens that are slowly being repatriated.
- Travel Advisories continue to state that; “All liveaboard vessels and yachts, at this time are suspended from visiting the RMI until further notice”.
- Yachts have been banned since 11 March, 2020 and the entry ban continues to be extended.
- Should a yacht need to visit the RMI for whatever reason, the skipper must contact the RMI Government 2 weeks prior to entering RMI borders, or the yacht will be turned away.
Resources:
- RMI Covid Information
- Ministry of Health Facebook Page (where latest travel advisory can be found)
- To Stay or Leave? Article by Geoff Goodman and an insight into the current situation in the Marshall Islands (16 April, 2020)
History:
- On 11 March 2020, it was announced that all cruise ships and yachts were suspended from visiting the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) until further notice.
- There was also a total suspension of international travelers coming into the RMI via air travel.
- On 17 March, the Mayor of Kwajalein Atoll banned domestic
and international yachts. - Mid-April the Government closed outer islands to foreign yachts currently in the RMI. No permits were issued.
Health
Majuro has one private clinic and one public hospital. Ebeye has one public hospital. Most outer islands have very basic medical dispensaries.
MEASLES VACCINATION DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
The following documents are required by vessels entering the Marshall Islands, coming from countries that are not under the Coronavirus ban:
- Proof of MMR up-to-date vaccination
- Health clearance from the last port
- Vessel Particulars (schedule/itinerary)
- Surveillance forms completed and ready for submission
Mosquito-borne diseases:
A Dengue Fever emergency was declared here in August 2019, in particular on Ebeye Island. Precautions should be taken to avoid mosquito bites. As of October 4th, 2019, the national health emergency has been extended for another month as dengue fever cases continue to mount. A ban on passenger travel to the outer islands remains in effect. The halt to travel has so far prevented spread of the illness to remote islands that have little capacity to manage serious health problems.
Food and Water Concerns:
Avoid eating coconuts, pandanus fruit and coconuts crabs on Bikini and Rongelap atolls. It’s okay to eat lobster and fish even from Bikini lagoon where 67 bombs were tested.
Other Health Concerns:
- There may be some risk of cholera. A health certificate is required if arriving from infected areas.
- An HIV test may be required for visits over 30 days.
- Diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy exist on the Islands.
Last updated: February 2020
Documents
All vessels are required to fill out the Coronavirus Screening Card.
Cruising Permits are required for every outer island. See Outer Islands page for more details.
Fees
Immigration Fees:
Tourist visas for stays of 30 days are free for citizens of the EU, Canada, Japan, South Korea, The Philippines and Taiwan.
A single entry one-year visa costs $200.
Overtime fees:
Immigration: $100
Customs: $75
Quarantine: $100
Departure:
There is $10 fee for yacht checkout at Marshall Islands Ports Authority.
For details of the fees charged by each atoll, see the ‘Atoll’ tab on the www.infomarshallislands.com website.
Last updated: March 2019
Restrictions
The test site on Kwajalein Atoll occasionally conducts live-fire exercises within a 200-mile radius. Contact Kwajalein Atoll Control by radio beforehand if sailing in this area.
Restricted islands are those used by the US army: Kwajalein Island (but not the entire Kwajalein atoll) is a closed military base, and the missile range includes Kwajalein and the islands up to Roi-Namur Island. Monitor SSB 2.716 and VHF Ch 71 for test notices.
Local Customs
The outer islands are very conservative. Covered shoulders and long skirts for women, and shirts and trousers/pants or long board shorts for men. Display as little skin as possible.
When islanders visit your yacht, cover-up!
The drinking of alcohol is banned on all of the outer islands except for Kwajalein and Likiep and should never be given as a gift.
Clearance Agents
Related Businesses
Central Pacific Maritime Agency
Address: P.O. Box 1, RMI, Majuro , Marshall Islands, 96960
Tel:(692) 625-3250/4744 Fax:(692) 625-3505/3783
Can act as yacht agents.... Read More
Pets
Animals must be declared to Customs on arrival but are permitted to stay on board (most pet-friendly nation in the Pacific).
