# Marshall Islands — Residency & Citizenship Conditions

> Source: https://residencyradar.org/conditions/marshall-islands.html | Last checked: 2026-10-12 | Last updated: 2026-10-11

## Overview
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is a Micronesian atoll nation with a free-association compact with the United States. It is best known in migration circles for two things: a 1990s passport-sale program that was shut down (the US Compact made selling citizenship a de facto route into the United States, which the US would not tolerate), and the Compact of Free Association, under which Marshallese citizens may live and work in the US without a visa. There is **no active citizenship-by-investment program today**, and no formal residence-by-investment. Naturalisation requires 10 years residence and renunciation of other citizenship. ^[https://www.goldenvisas.com/marshall-islands]

## Residency Programs

| Type | Official Program | Key Conditions | Duration | Detail |
|------|-----------------|----------------|----------|--------|
| investment_residency | Foreign Investment Business License (FIBL) | License to invest; does NOT grant residence | Business term | [[#investment-residency]] |
| passive_income_residency | Not available | — | — | — |
| digital_nomad_visa | Not available | — | — | — |
| highly_skilled_employment | Not available | — | — | — |
| startup_entrepreneur | FIBL (business) | Registrar of Foreign Investment approval | Business term | [[#investment-residency]] |
| employment_residency | Work Permit | Employer-sponsored | Contract term | — |
| student_residency | Student Permit | Enrolment in RMI institution | Course duration | — |
| family_reunification | Family permit | Dependent of citizen/resident | Aligned with sponsor | — |
| retired_residency | Not available (no formal retiree visa) | — | — | — |
| citizenship_by_investment | Not active (closed 1996) | — | — | [[#citizenship-by-investment]] |

## Per-Program Detail

### investment_residency
- **Official name**: Foreign Investment Business License (FIBL)
- **Conditions**: All non-citizens investing in RMI must obtain a FIBL from the Registrar of Foreign Investment (Attorney General's office); reviewed with the Ministry of Finance and the Investment Promotion Unit. Processing ~7–10 working days. The FIBL grants the right to invest, **not** physical residence rights. ^[https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/638719_2025-Marshall-Islands-Investment-Climate-Statement.pdf]
- **Duration / renewal**: Ongoing while business operates.
- **Path to citizenship**: None direct; naturalisation is residence-based (10 years).
- **Official source**: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/638719_2025-Marshall-Islands-Investment-Climate-Statement.pdf
- **Community verdict**: Mixed (business registration is easy, but no residence/citizenship rights attach).

### citizenship_by_investment
Not active. RMI ran a passport-sale program in the 1990s that was shut down because the US Compact grants Marshallese citizens US residence rights — selling citizenship meant selling a route into the US. There is no 60-day CBI program; any such claim is unsubstantiated/rumor. A 2026 Constitutional Convention (Citizenship) Amendment Bill would transfer citizenship-by-registration approval authority to the Cabinet, but it does not create an investment program. ^[https://www.goldenvisas.com/marshall-islands]

## Citizenship
- **Residence requirement**: 10 years ordinary residence (Citizenship Act 1984, s.403); limited to 10 naturalisations (incl. dependents) per year. ^[https://rmiparliament.org/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1984/1984-0004/1984-0004_1.pdf]
- **Language / test**: Conversational Marshallese; civics/constitution knowledge; oath of allegiance. ^[https://www.unhcr.org/au/sites/en-au/files/legacy-pdf/638592304.pdf]
- **Dual citizenship**: Prohibited — naturalised citizens must renounce other nationality (discretionary §404 exception allows dual citizenship for a few, max 5/yr).
- **Compact of Free Association**: Citizens may live/work in the US without a visa (nonimmigrant status, not permanent residency). ^[https://www.goldenvisas.com/marshall-islands]

## Tax
RMI is a low-tax jurisdiction: no personal income tax and no capital-gains tax for most residents; some businesses pay a gross-revenue tax. Corporate/offshore registration is a major sector (RMI is one of the world's largest ship registries). ^[https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/638719_2025-Marshall-Islands-Investment-Climate-Statement.pdf]

## IT / Digital Nomad
No digital-nomad visa and limited connectivity (single submarine cable; a redundant East Micronesia Cable is expected ~2026). Not an IT-hub market. ^[https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/638719_2025-Marshall-Islands-Investment-Climate-Statement.pdf]

## Yacht / Maritime
RMI is a **global leader in maritime flag registration** — the third-largest ship registry by tonnage. This is the country's signature offshore service, but flag registration does not confer residence or citizenship. yacht-captain relevance high for flag/captain licensing, nil for residence.

## Notes for RU Citizens
Standard consular processing; no dedicated agreements. The 10-year residence + renunciation requirement makes RMI unattractive for Russian applicants seeking a second citizenship. [[fiji]] and [[samoa]] are more practical Pacific options.

## Community Pulse
RMI is tracked in the CBI community mainly for its 1990s passport-sale history and the "sold passports → US access" cautionary tale. No active program means no current backlog/rejection reporting. Offshore company and ship registration are the active service lines.

## Country Snapshot

| Field | Value | Source / Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Population | ~41,600 | [Freedom House](https://freedomhouse.org/country/marshall-islands/freedom-world/2025) — hard/official |
| Main religion | Christianity (Protestant majority) | [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Islands#Religion) — hard/official |
| Main language | Marshallese, English | [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Islands) — hard/official |
| Main city (capital or largest) | Majuro | [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majuro) — hard/official |
| On the coast? | Yes (29 atolls, 5 islands) | Geographical fact [soft/estimate] |
| Tourism impact in season | Low — tourism niche/small scale | [soft/estimate] |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | ~$6,950 (2025 est.) | [Spain MAEC ficha país](https://www.exteriores.gob.es/documents/fichaspais/islasmarshall_ficha%20pais.pdf) — hard/official |
| Median net monthly salary | No reliable data | confidence low |
| Cost of living index | No reliable data | confidence low |
| Monthly rent, 1-bedroom apartment | No reliable data | confidence low |
| Effective personal tax rate for remote workers | ~0% (no personal income tax) | [US State Dept](https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/638719_2025-Marshall-Islands-Investment-Climate-Statement.pdf) [soft/estimate] |
| Remote-work / self-employment residence available? | No dedicated DN visa | See [[#overview]] |
| Years to citizenship | 10 years ordinary residence | [Citizenship Act 1984](https://rmiparliament.org/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1984/1984-0004/1984-0004_1.pdf) |
| Maximum permitted absence during residence | No reliable data | confidence low |
| Passport strength after citizenship | 128 visa-free destinations (Henley Jan 2026, rank 38) | [Henley & Partners](https://cde.news/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Henley-Passport-Index-2026-January-Global-Ranking.pdf) — hard/official |
| Rule of Law Index | No reliable data (not WJP-indexed) | confidence low |
| Freedom House score | 93/100 Free (2025) | [Freedom House](https://freedomhouse.org/country/marshall-islands/freedom-world/2025) — hard/official |
| Average annual sunshine hours | No reliable data | confidence low |
| Average annual temperature | ~28 °C (Majuro, tropical) | confidence low |

## Country Card

### General description
The Marshall Islands is a small, low-lying Micronesian state closely tied to the US through the Compact of Free Association. Its economy centres on US grants, fisheries, and a globally significant offshore ship registry. It offers no investment-migration route, but its citizens enjoy rare US access rights — which is exactly why its 1990s passport sale was forced to close.

### Well-known strong points
- Compact of Free Association: citizens can live/work in the US without a visa
- Zero personal income tax and a world-leading ship registry
- Stable democracy (Freedom House 93/100 Free)
- Decent passport (128 visa-free destinations)

### Well-known problems
- No citizenship-by-investment or residence-by-investment program
- 10-year naturalisation clock, strict annual quota, and dual-citizenship ban
- Climate vulnerability (sea-level rise) and extreme remoteness
- Limited connectivity and infrastructure

## Status
- **Last monitored**: 2026-10-12
- **Recent changes**: 2026 Constitutional Convention (Citizenship) Amendment Bill (Cabinet authority for registration) under consideration.
- **Watch items**: Whether the citizenship-registration amendment passes; persistent "CBI relaunch" rumors (unsubstantiated).

## Official and primary sources
- https://rmiparliament.org/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1984/1984-0004/1984-0004_1.pdf
- https://www.goldenvisas.com/marshall-islands
- https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/638719_2025-Marshall-Islands-Investment-Climate-Statement.pdf
- https://www.unhcr.org/au/sites/en-au/files/legacy-pdf/638592304.pdf