Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for Micronesia depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for MicronesiaEmergency Numbers
- General
- 911
Currency
- Name
- US Dollar
- Code
- USD
- Symbol
- $
USD is the official currency. ATMs in Palikir (Pohnpei) and Weno (Chuuk). Cash preferred on outer islands. Very limited banking on Yap and Kosrae.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type A, Type B
- Voltage
- 120V
- Frequency
- 60Hz
Time Zone
Multiple: Kosrae/Pohnpei UTC+11, Chuuk/Yap UTC+10 — no daylight saving
Best Time to Visit
November–April is drier across the Federated States. Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon diving is world-class year-round — over 60 WWII Japanese wrecks sunk in Operation Hailstone (1944) make it the greatest wreck dive destination on earth. Pohnpei's Nan Madol (the 'Venice of the Pacific' — a WWII-era lost city built on 92 artificial islets) is accessible year-round.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10% | — |
| Dive guides | $10–15 USD per dive | — |
Dress Code
- Modest dress in villages — Chuuk and Yap are conservative
- Yap: women should cover knees and shoulders in traditional villages
Social Etiquette
- Yap is famous for its enormous stone money (rai) — limestone discs up to 4 metres across that still serve as a form of social currency despite nobody moving them
- Nan Madol on Pohnpei is one of the Pacific's greatest archaeological mysteries — built between 1200–1500 CE, it was the seat of the Saudeleur dynasty
- Chuuk Lagoon contains the largest collection of WWII wrecks in the world — see them as the greatest underwater WWII memorial
- The FSM is an independent nation in Compact of Free Association with the USA — FSM citizens can live and work in the USA
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- Yap: some traditional areas (including specific beaches) require permission from village elders — ask your guide
- LGBTQ+ laws vary by state; exercise caution
- Alcohol banned on certain days and in certain areas of Pohnpei
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Chuukese) | Ran annim | rahn AH-neem — 'good day' |
| Hello (Pohnpeian) | Kaselehlie | kah-seh-LEH-lee-eh — one of the most beautiful greetings in the Pacific |
| Thank you (Chuukese) | Kinisou | kee-NEE-soh |
| Thank you (Pohnpeian) | Menlau | MEN-low |
| Stone money (Yapese) | Rai | RYE — the limestone discs used as Yapese currency |
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