Even though you might need to get a visa to travel to the US, if you are from one of 12 countries, you can come to Saipan, for business or pleasure, without getting a visa in advance. Just book your flight and come!
As of November 28, 2009, U.S. immigration law applies to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program (G-CNMI VWP) is in effect. GCVWP applicants may be boarded without a visa, providing all of the following criteria are met:
- Arrives on a G-CNMI VWP signatory carrier
- Traveling only to Guam or the CNMI not exceeding 45 days as a visitor for business or pleasure or transit. May not engage in local employment or labor for hire.
- Holds a round trip ticket that is nonrefundable and nontransferable with a confirmed departure date not exceeding 45 days from the date of admission.
- Has completed and signed the Form I-736.
- Is a Citizen of and has a machine readable passport issued by one of the following eligible countries:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Russia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- United Kingdom
- Hong Kong*
- Taiwan**
* Hong Kong – Including citizens of the former colony of Hong Kong who are in possession of the United Kingdom passport that states “British National Overseas” or holders of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) travel document. Both of these travel documents must be in conjunction with a Hong Kong Identification Card.
** Taiwan – Only applies to residents of Taiwan who: 1). Begin their travel in Taiwan and who travel on direct flights from Taiwan to Guam or the CNMI. 2). Are in possession of a Taiwan National Identity Card and a valid Taiwanese passport with a valid reentry permit issued by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affiairs. [Note: On October 2, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Napolitano announced the designation of Taiwan into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Eligible Taiwan passport holders can travel on the VWP beginning November 1, 2012.]
Persons who are travelling to Guam or the CNMI and utilitizing the Guam-CNMI VWP do not need to get an ESTA.
Travelers who plan to spend more than 45 days in Guam and the CNMI or plan to travel on to another U.S. destination may be able to utilize the regular Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for their trip. Using the regular VWP requires an ESTA and a VWP compliant passport.
Travelers going to any U.S. destination (including Guam and the CNMI) who plan to work or study in the U.S. or have certain medical problems, criminal convictions, prior denial of entry into the U.S., etc. will continue to need visas.
For further information on Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, please see here.
Courtesy of US Department of State