About the Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands are a chain of volcanic Pacific islands just north of Guam, known for clear blue waters, white sand beaches, and Saipan's mix of Chamorro and Carolinian culture with World War II history. The islands form the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) — a self-governing commonwealth in political union with the United States, not an independent country and not part of any other nation. Residents are US citizens, the US dollar is the currency, and the islands operate under the US legal and healthcare framework, administered locally.

Because the CNMI is US territory, a trip there from elsewhere in the United States is treated as domestic travel — no passport is required for US citizens, and there are no destination-specific international travel vaccines required or recommended beyond routine US immunizations. For this reason, dedicated international-style travel health guidance for the Northern Mariana Islands is not maintained separately on this site. For destination highlights, itineraries, and full trip planning specific to the islands, see our dedicated Northern Mariana Islands vacation guide.