Marshall Islands (MH)
A remote Micronesian atoll nation using USD, with English as an official language, a Compact of Free Association relationship with the United States, high imported-goods costs, limited medical capacity, and relocation risks centred on immigration status, housing supply, land tenure, health evacuation, and outer-island logistics.
Leaving Marshall Islands
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
90 days before departure: check your work visa/authorization status and confirm the cancellation process with RMI Immigration and your employer. Give written notice to your landlord. Notify the international school well in advance (one full term). Contact MISSA in person to understand your departure benefit options. Begin selling or shipping household goods — shipping from the Marshall Islands to the US (Hawaii or Guam, then onward) takes 3–6 weeks. 60 days before: apply for MISSA contribution statement. Confirm employer PAYE final reporting is on track. Cancel private health insurance with 30-day notice. 30 days before: cancel utilities (MEC electricity, water, internet) with written notice. Notify your bank of departure and update contact details. Book flights — allow buffer days for connections through Honolulu, Guam, or other hubs given limited flight frequency from Majuro. Final week: conduct move-out inspection with landlord. Return all keys and building access. Photograph the property. Settle all outstanding utility, generator, and building charges. Keep one USD account and phone number active for post-departure correspondence. After departure: monitor BOMI account for any final credits. File US federal tax return (for US persons) including FBAR for RMI accounts held during the year. Follow up with MISSA on any benefit claim.
Deregistration
The Marshall Islands has no formal mandatory address deregistration system. Required departure steps for foreign residents and workers: (1) RMI Immigration Division: if you hold a work visa, employment authorization, or non-citizen residence permit, notify the RMI Immigration Division of your departure and ensure your visa or authorization is formally cancelled rather than silently lapsed. Your employer or project sponsor typically handles this on your behalf — confirm in writing. (2) Business and employer notification: formally notify your employer and any project sponsor (government ministry, international organisation, or NGO that sponsored your presence) of your departure date. Obtain a formal departure clearance or leaving letter from your employer. (3) Company deregistration: if you registered a business entity in the RMI through the Office of the Registrar of Corporations, formally dissolve or transfer it before leaving — inactive entities may generate ongoing filing obligations. Contact the Registrar of Corporations in Majuro. (4) Ministry/agency notifications: depending on your work sector (health, education, NGO, government advisory), notify the relevant RMI government ministry of your departure. Some positions require formal handover documentation. (5) No central population registry: the Marshall Islands does not maintain a comprehensive address registry for non-citizens — departure for work visa holders is primarily tracked through immigration status.
Tax clearance
The Marshall Islands has a simple tax structure administered by the RMI Tax Division (Ministry of Finance): (1) Gross Revenue Tax (GRT): the Marshall Islands does not have a conventional personal income tax. Instead, employees pay a wage tax (income tax on wages) and businesses pay GRT on gross revenue. Employed workers typically have wage tax withheld by their employer — the rate is approximately 8–12% depending on income bracket. Request your final wage tax deduction certificate (equivalent of a withholding certificate) from your employer. (2) Employer payroll obligations: your employer must file final payroll tax returns and MISSA contribution records before or on your departure date. Confirm this has been completed. (3) Business GRT: if you operated a business in the RMI subject to GRT, file a final GRT return and deregister at the Tax Division in Majuro. (4) No capital gains tax and no exit tax on departure for individuals. (5) US Federal Tax: US citizens and Green Card holders in the Marshall Islands (a US Compact of Free Association territory) remain subject to US federal income tax obligations regardless of where they live — US departure tax rules and FBAR reporting apply to any RMI bank accounts held. Consult a US tax professional.
Pension portability
MISSA (Marshall Islands Social Security Administration, missa.org.mh) administers social security in the Marshall Islands: (1) Contribution structure: both employer and employee contribute to MISSA — the combined rate is 10% of gross wages (employer and employee portions combined). (2) Benefit eligibility: MISSA provides old-age benefits, disability benefits, survivors' benefits, and health insurance. Old-age pension eligibility requires reaching retirement age (60 for early reduced pension; 65 for full pension) with a minimum contribution record. If you do not meet the minimum threshold, you may be eligible for a lump-sum benefit. (3) Departure benefit: contact MISSA (Majuro) well before departure to obtain a statement of your accumulated contributions and to understand what benefits (if any) you qualify for on departure. MISSA's processes are less digitised than larger countries — plan for in-person visits and longer processing times. (4) Obtain and keep your MISSA number permanently — it may be needed for future benefit claims even after many years abroad. (5) No bilateral social security totalisation agreements with most countries — MISSA contributions generally cannot be credited toward a home-country pension. (6) US compact relationship: US citizens in the Marshall Islands may have complex interactions between MISSA and US Social Security — consult a specialist.
Health insurance
The Marshall Islands has a public health system (Ministry of Health and Human Services) but it is limited in capacity. Most expats and international workers rely on employer-provided international health insurance and medical evacuation coverage: (1) Employer health insurance: ends on your last working day. Confirm the exact end date with HR and request a certificate of coverage. (2) Medical evacuation coverage: the Marshall Islands' most serious medical cases are medevac'd to Hawaii or Guam — ensure your evacuation coverage remains active through your final departure day and includes the actual departure journey, which may involve ocean travel. (3) MISSA health benefits: MISSA provides some health insurance coverage to contributors. Confirm your MISSA health benefit status before departure — benefits may include coverage for treatment while still in the RMI. (4) Arrange international health insurance before your RMI cover lapses. (5) Medical records: request copies from the Majuro Hospital or your clinic. Allow sufficient time — the Majuro Hospital administrative capacity for records may require 2–3 weeks. Ensure vaccination records are included. (6) Prescription medications: collect a 90-day supply for essential medications — pharmaceutical availability in the Marshall Islands is limited, and some medications may not be available in your destination without prescriptions.
Bank account
Banking in the Marshall Islands is limited to a small number of institutions. The Bank of the Marshall Islands (BOMI) and Bank of Guam are the primary options. The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency: (1) Keep your account open for 2–3 months after departure to receive: final salary, MISSA correspondence, and rental deposit return. (2) BOMI accounts: BOMI has limited international wire capability — plan fund transfers early. Large transfers may require advance notice and documentation. (3) USD is the local currency — no FX conversion needed for transfers to US accounts. Wise supports USD transfers. (4) Update your registered mobile number and contact details before cancelling your Majuro SIM — bank OTPs require your registered number. (5) Close accounts in person if possible — BOMI and Bank of Guam prefer in-person closure. Obtain written account closure confirmation. (6) US FBAR reporting: US citizens and permanent residents must report RMI bank accounts with balances over USD 10,000 on FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) annually.
Utilities
Utility infrastructure in the Marshall Islands is limited and reliability varies: (1) Electricity — MWSC (Marshalls Energy Company, MEC): contact MEC to close your electricity account and request a final meter reading. Settle any outstanding balance. Security deposits are refunded after final settlement — allow 30–60 days and be prepared for delays. (2) Water — MWSC also manages water services in Majuro. Request account closure and final meter reading. (3) Internet/telecommunications — NTA (National Telecommunications Authority), DOCOMO Pacific: most internet services are month-to-month — provide written notice and confirm the cancellation date. Return any rented equipment. (4) Mobile phone: the options are limited (NTA, DOCOMO Pacific). Cancel postpaid plans in store; prepaid can lapse. Retain one number for international contact during the transition. (5) Generator fuel: if your accommodation relies on a private generator (common in outer islands), settle outstanding fuel accounts and return any fuel storage equipment to your supplier.
Rental contract
The Marshall Islands rental market operates primarily on contract-specific terms — there is no comprehensive residential tenancy legislation. Practical departure considerations: (1) Notice period: check your lease carefully — typically 30–60 days written notice is expected for standard residential leases. Some US government or NGO housing arrangements have specific handover protocols. (2) Written notice: provide notice in writing to your landlord or housing manager. Keep a dated copy. (3) Move-out inspection: conduct jointly with the landlord or property manager. Photograph and video every room, appliance, and the exterior — pay special attention to mould, water damage, typhoon/storm-related wear, and appliance condition. The Marshall Islands climate is tropical with high humidity and frequent storms; landlords may have specific expectations about preventive maintenance compliance. (4) Deposit return: agree the return date and method explicitly before handing over keys. International bank transfers of deposits require your overseas bank details in advance. Delays in the Marshall Islands are common — build extra time into your planning. (5) US government housing: if housed in US-government-provided accommodation (compact-funded or military-adjacent housing), follow the specific procedures of your sponsoring organisation for housing handover.
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