The Marshall Islands requires a valid passport for entry. Citizens of the United States enter visa-free under the Compact of Free Association signed in 1986 and can stay indefinitely with the right to work. Citizens of most other countries receive a 90-day entry permit on arrival. Official visa information exists at https://rmiembassyus.org. United Airlines operates the sole scheduled commercial service into Marshall Islands International Airport on Majuro, with flights from Honolulu typically twice weekly. The flight duration from Honolulu spans approximately four hours. Nauru Airlines operates occasional regional flights connecting Majuro with other Pacific nations. No direct flights connect the Marshall Islands to Asia, Australia, or any location outside the United States and select Pacific islands.
Air Marshall Islands operates domestic flights between Majuro and outer atolls including Kwajalein, Jaluit, Wotje, and Mili. These flights use small propeller aircraft with capacity restrictions. The government-operated field trip ships transport passengers and cargo between atolls on irregular schedules that can change based on weather and cargo needs. A journey from Majuro to an outer atoll by ship can take anywhere from several days to two weeks depending on routing and stops. No fixed ferry schedules exist. Kwajalein Atoll requires special permission for entry due to the United States Army Garrison presence on the main island. Travel to Bikini Atoll occurs only through organized dive operations with advance permission from the Bikini Council, as the atoll remains officially uninhabited due to lingering radiation from nuclear tests conducted between 1946 and 1958.
Majuro contains the Marshall Islands Resort, which opened after renovations in the 2010s and offers the primary hotel accommodation in the country. The Robert Reimers Hotel operates in the Delap-Uliga-Djarrit urban area. Several smaller guesthouses and locally-run lodges exist on Majuro with varying levels of amenities. Ebeye on Kwajalein Atoll has minimal accommodation options, primarily because most visitors stay on the restricted United States base area. Outer atolls generally lack formal hotels. Visitors to outer atolls arrange stays with local families through advance contact, often facilitated by atoll councils or local government offices. Arno Atoll has received some visitors through homestay arrangements. The general absence of tourism infrastructure on outer atolls means accommodation involves basic structures without consistent running water or electricity in many locations.
The United States dollar serves as the official currency. The Marshall Islands does not issue its own currency for daily transactions. The Bank of Marshall Islands and the Bank of Guam operate branches in Majuro with ATM access. Credit cards see acceptance at the larger hotels and some stores in Majuro, but cash remains necessary for most transactions. Outer atolls operate almost entirely on cash economies with no ATM access and no card payment systems. Travelers should carry sufficient US dollars in smaller denominations for any travel beyond Majuro. The Bank of Marshall Islands has limited branch presence outside Majuro. Wire transfers through Western Union operate from the main post office in Majuro.
The National Telecommunications Authority provides mobile service in Majuro and Ebeye with limited coverage on some outer atolls. International calling rates remain high. Majuro has internet cafes and WiFi availability at major hotels. Connection speeds lag substantially behind continental standards. Outer atolls generally lack reliable internet connectivity. Mobile signals exist in Majuro and parts of Kwajalein Atoll but fade in most other locations. Satellite phones provide the only reliable communication option for many remote atolls. Mail service operates through the United States Postal Service system with Majuro receiving the country's only postal deliveries. Mail to outer atolls travels on irregular field trip ships.
Majuro Hospital operates as the primary medical facility with basic emergency services and limited surgical capabilities. Complex medical cases require evacuation to Honolulu, which occurs regularly for Marshall Islands residents under Compact of Free Association health provisions. Ebeye has a smaller hospital facility. Outer atolls depend on health centers staffed by health assistants with basic training but limited equipment and medication supplies. No hyperbaric chambers exist in-country despite active diving tourism at Bikini Atoll, meaning decompression illness requires evacuation. Pharmacies in Majuro stock common medications but selection remains limited. Travelers should bring prescription medications in original containers with copies of prescriptions. Dental services exist in Majuro but with long wait times.
Marshallese serves as the daily language across all atolls, spoken by the indigenous population. English holds official status and appears on government documents and signage in Majuro. Hotel staff and government officials in Majuro generally speak functional English. Outside Majuro, English comprehension drops substantially. Older residents, particularly those who lived through the Japanese mandate period from 1914 to 1944, may retain some Japanese language knowledge. Marshallese uses a Latin-based alphabet introduced by missionaries in the nineteenth century. The language contains two main dialect groups corresponding to the Ratak Chain in the east and Ralik Chain in the west. Learning basic Marshallese phrases aids significantly in outer atoll travel where English speakers may be scarce.