A Micronesia visa is not required of citizens of Azerbaijan and you can stay up to 30 days. On paper this is a visa-free paradise in the middle of the Pacific: diving among sunken ships in the Chuuk lagoon, the Nan Madol ruins on Pohnpei, stone money on Yap. But in real life the true obstacle for an Azerbaijani going to Micronesia is not the Micronesian visa, it is the way of getting there.
In this article we explain plainly the terms of the visa-free regime, why in practice the route runs through a US visa, and what a trip to these distant islands costs.
Do you need a Micronesia visa?
No. The Federated States of Micronesia admit citizens of Azerbaijan as tourists visa-free for up to 30 days. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and at the border a return ticket and the address where you will be staying may be asked for. Official information about the country is on the official portal of the Micronesian government.
| Is a visa required? | No |
| How long can you stay? | Up to 30 days |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months |
| How do you get there? | In practice via Guam, and Guam is American territory |
| The real requirement | A US visa |
| Currency | US dollar |
No Micronesia visa, but there is Guam
Micronesia’s four states, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap and Kosrae, are hundreds of kilometres apart and almost all the international flights come from Guam. United Airlines’ famous «island hopper» flight starts in Guam and goes via Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae to the Marshall Islands. And Guam is American territory, which a citizen of Azerbaijan cannot enter without a US visa. Which is to say that although Micronesia is visa-free, the door the road passes through is an American visa.
There are options that avoid the United States too — Nauru Airlines, for example, flies from Brisbane via Nauru to Pohnpei — but that route requires an Australian visa and its schedule is one or two flights a week. In practice an Azerbaijani with an American visa goes via Manila or Tokyo to Guam and from there to Micronesia.
Who goes to Micronesia?
This is not a place of mass tourism. Two groups go to Micronesia: divers and travellers collecting far-off places. The Chuuk lagoon, with dozens of sunken Japanese ships left from the Second World War, is one of the most famous diving spots in the world. On Pohnpei the stone city called Nan Madol is on the UNESCO list. The island of Yap is known for its giant stone money and its traditional way of life. The choice of hotels on the islands is limited and must be booked in advance.
Read next: How a US visa is obtained: step by step from the DS-160 form to the interview
The route and the cost from Baku to Micronesia
The typical route is Baku–Istanbul–Manila–Guam–Chuuk or Baku–Doha–Tokyo–Guam–Pohnpei; the whole journey takes more than 30 hours and three or four separate tickets are needed. The ticket is the largest part of the total cost, starting from 3,000 manats return. On a route with this many legs, cheap flight tickets have to be searched for separately for each leg, because island flights are not always visible in the big systems. As the island flights run a few times a week, the dates are fitted to the schedule in advance.
Before setting off on such a distant and complicated trip it is worth looking at Pacific tour alternatives for the same budget, for example Bali or the Philippines: both give citizens of Azerbaijan an easy visa and require no US visa.
Things to know before the trip
- Insurance. Medical services on the islands are very limited, and in serious cases the patient is taken to Guam or the Philippines. Insurance covering evacuation is a must.
- Money. US dollars. There are cash machines only on the main islands, so take cash.
- Internet. Weak and expensive, do not rely on it for work.
- Season. December–April is the dry season, and in summer there is a typhoon risk.
Frequently asked questions about the Micronesia visa
Is it possible to go to Micronesia without a US visa?
In theory via Australia or Nauru, in practice it is very difficult. The real route is via Guam and requires a US visa.
Can the 30 days be extended?
Inside the country you can extend it to up to 90 days by applying to the immigration office.
Can you cross to Palau and the Marshall Islands on a Micronesia visa?
Those are separate states. The Marshall Islands give a visa at the border and Palau gives one on arrival; you reach both, again, via Guam.
In closing
A Micronesia visa is not required, but to get there you first need an American visa. This is a destination worth it for diving enthusiasts and very complicated for everyone else. The Viza.az team helps with the US visa application and with building the multi-leg route.
You can read more about Micronesia as a destination or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The visa-free regime and the flight schedules can change, so check the official sources once more before your trip.
