Immigration
Compact right of US residence, and controlled entry for others
Marshallese citizens may live and work in the United States without a visa under the Compact of Free Association. Inbound immigration runs through the Immigration Act with permits tied to employment or investment.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National, administered by the Division of Immigration. Compact rights operate in the United States and are governed there by US law, not by Marshall Islands law.
Governing law
- Immigration Act 1966as amended
- Compact of Free Association (art. IV, s. 141)
- Foreign Investment Business License Act 1990
- Passport Act 1984
In practice
The defining feature is outbound rather than inbound: section 141 of the Compact allows Marshallese citizens to enter, reside and work in the United States indefinitely as habitual residents without a visa, which has produced large communities in Arkansas, Hawaii and Washington. This status is not US permanent residence and does not itself lead to citizenship, and eligibility for federal benefits has fluctuated with US legislation, so advice on the US side must be taken under US law. Inbound, non-citizens need entry permits and work authorisation, and foreign-owned businesses need a foreign investment business licence before employing staff. Because land cannot be bought, there is no residence-by-property route.