How to Get Marshall Islands CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Not accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Not acceptedNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Authorities can withdraw citizenship from citizens who naturalise abroad.
- Available routes
- Region
- Oceania
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in the Marshall Islands, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
- Residence
- 10 years
Ordinarily resident in RMI for 10 years
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required.
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person must speak and understand Marshallese (written test).
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Understanding and respect for the customs and traditions of RMI. Reasonable knowledge and understanding of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands and the rights, privileges, responsibilities and duties of citizenship (written test).
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good character required.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Means of support.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Descent (born in country)
Person born after effective date of Constitution (1 May 1979) is a citizen if at date of birth either parent is a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person born after effective date of Constitution (1 May 1979) is a citizen if at date of birth either parent is a citizen.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of the Marshall Islands, the rules below set out what applies. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
A child may be named in an application for citizenship by naturalisation. A statement from the other parent that he or she also wishes the child to become a citizen is required.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of the Marshall Islands is the basis of this route. Where the legal conditions are met, an application leads to a mandatory grant of citizenship.
Person can apply to High Court for citizenship by registration if adopted under the laws of the Marshall Islands as a child by a person then a citizen and has been resident in RMI for at least 5 years. If over 18, required to take oath and renounce other citizenship.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of the Marshall Islands, the rules below set out what applies. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person has been resident for three years and is a parent of a child who is a citizen. The High Court considers applications for registration. The Cabinet or the Minister may issue a certificate that the person is a fit and proper person in interests of national security. The High Court is not to grant registration unless satisfied person is not a threat, danger or risk to national security. Citizen by registration must renounce other citizenship.
Citizens of specific countries
Holding the citizenship of a particular country is the basis of this route in the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Citizen of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (administered by the United States) becomes a citizen of RMI if his or her parents had land rights in Marshall Islands.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. The Marshall Islands grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Person born after date of Constitution (1 May 1979) is a citizen if born in RMI and is not at birth entitled to be or become a citizen of another country.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in the Marshall Islands. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Criteria: Distinguished service to the Republic or conferral of citizenship in the public interest, residence in RMI. Person need not renounce other citizenship and may maintain dual citizenship. Cabinet decides on applications and legislation imposes a quota of not more than 5 naturalisations per year.
Not available in the Marshall Islands: Marriage or civil partnership, Birth in the country, Former citizens (reacquisition), Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is coded as not accepted in the Marshall Islands, for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Authorities can withdraw citizenship from citizens who naturalise abroad
Minister can apply to High Court for cancellation of citizenship where person has obtained the nationality or citizenship of another country by a voluntary act (other than marriage or with the express approval of the Cabinet).
Compare with neighbours
The Marshall Islands requires 10 years, more years than the most common requirement of 5 years across Oceania.
Check where Marshall Islands sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Fiji | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Kiribati | 7 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Papua New Guinea | 8 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Solomon Islands | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Tuvalu | 7 years | None | Accepted |
 Vanuatu | 10 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 403.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Marshall Islands Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/marshall-islands/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/marshall-islands/">How to Get Marshall Islands Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Marshallese citizen?
A foreign resident needs 10 years of residence to meet the condition for naturalisation in the Marshall Islands. Other conditions also apply.
Does the Marshall Islands allow dual citizenship?
No. The Marshall Islands does not accept dual citizenship as a general rule, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Marshallese citizenship?
The law of the Marshall Islands requires language ability, shown by a test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Marshallese citizenship?
A civic knowledge test or certificate is required when applying for Marshallese citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Marshallese citizenship?
Renouncing your current citizenship is a condition of Marshallese citizenship.
Can I get Marshall Islands citizenship by marriage?
No separate marriage route is coded for the Marshall Islands. Other routes on this page may still apply to a spouse.
Can I get Marshall Islands citizenship by descent?
Yes, the Marshall Islands has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Marshall Islands citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for the Marshall Islands.
Related pages
Also see: Marshall Islands passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.