Micronesia
Visas & entry
For ordinary visits of 30 days or fewer, FSM generally requires no advance entry permit: carry a passport valid for at least 120 days beyond arrival, an onward or return ticket, and complete the arrival formalities. Longer stays require an entry-permit process. Many itineraries transit Guam, a U.S. territory, so travelers needing U.S. transit permission must arrange it separately; verify both FSM and U.S./Guam rules before booking.
Getting in
- Guam: The main practical international transfer point. United links Guam with all four FSM state gateways, but schedules are limited and a Guam transit may require U.S. entry permission.
- Pohnpei International Airport, near Kolonia: The most useful first-entry airport for a broad, non-diver-focused FSM trip. It is the gateway to Pohnpei’s roads, rainforest, Nan Madol and lagoon.
- Chuuk International Airport, Weno: The arrival point for Chuuk Lagoon dive trips. Use it for a dedicated wreck-diving week, not as a quick general-interest stop.
- Yap International Airport, Yap Proper: Gateway for Yap’s village culture and manta diving. Yap’s air routing is more operationally separate than the Guam–Chuuk–Pohnpei–Kosrae chain, and may also involve Palau.
- Kosrae International Airport, near Tofol: The eastern gateway for a slow Kosrae stay or a Pohnpei-plus-Kosrae itinerary. Do not treat it as a one-night Island Hopper stop; onward options are limited.
Getting around
There is no practical domestic ferry circuit between the four states; inter-state travel means limited, costly flights that can consume a day or require an overnight. On the main islands, rent a car or arrange a driver for land days, and use local operators for lagoon and outer-island boats; visitor-ready public transport is not something to build a trip around. Book outer-island transport months ahead and leave buffers around domestic flights.
Money
The U.S. dollar is the currency. Carry enough cash, especially outside main towns and for small operators, because card acceptance and ATM reliability are uneven; tipping is not a major local expectation, though tips for good guides and service are appreciated.
- Do not use the word “Micronesia” as though it means only FSM; the country is one sovereign state within the wider Micronesian region.
- Build buffer nights before international flights, particularly during the wetter and storm-prone months; domestic air disruptions are not theoretical.
- Ask before photographing people, ceremonies, village spaces or cultural objects in Yap; treat village visits as hosted encounters, not open-air museum access.
- For Nan Madol, use a local guide, check the tide and wear footwear that handles wet, uneven ground.
- Do not improvise visits to outer islands from a hotel desk. Permission, transport, accommodation and supplies need advance local coordination.
- If diving Chuuk, respect certification limits and leave an appropriate no-fly interval before departure; many wreck penetrations are not beginner dives.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this country.