Micronesia Federation Travel Information

Most trips to the Micronesia Federation take place without major problems, but great distances and a limited service offer make it important to be well prepared. There is no Norwegian foreign service station in the Micronesia Federation, and the Norwegian authorities have very limited opportunity to assist Norwegian travelers. The outbreak of coronavirus has led to a halt in entry for travelers who have been in countries with documented cases of human infection over the past fortnight. For more information about coronavirus, see the section Health. According to Abbreviationfinder, FM stands for Micronesia in geography.

Safety

The Micronesia Federation (hereafter Micronesia) is a large country consisting of four states and many dozens of inhabited islands. The range of services, not least the possibilities for medical assistance, varies greatly, and travelers are advised to familiarize themselves with the local conditions in which they will be staying.

The biggest danger for travelers is likely to be traffic accidents. The road standard varies and in the case of car transport one should drive slowly and carefully. When traveling outside urban areas, make sure the car is in good condition, that you have enough fuel and water, and that you have communication equipment that works.

When traveling by boat, including ferries between Micronesia’s many islands, travelers should be aware that Micronesia has very limited capacity for search and rescue.

There is generally low crime in Micronesia, but pocket theft occurs. There are also frequent cases of alcohol-related violence episodes at bars and night spots. The many wild dogs that roam the streets can also be a nuisance, but pose little to no real danger to travelers.

Micronesia is a predominantly conservative society. It is generally a safe country for female visitors, but women are encouraged to inquire locally whether they should travel alone, especially on foot and in the evening. Homosexuality is not a criminal offense in Micronesia, and no targeted violence against LGBT is reported. But conservative attitudes make it not common to show love in public.

The risk of terrorist incidents in Micronesia is considered low.

  • Countryaah: Palikir is the capital of Federated States of Micronesia. Check to find information of population, geography, history, and economy about the capital city.

The whole country, especially the low-lying atolls, is vulnerable to natural disasters, especially typhoons and other tropical storms. Typhoons occur mainly from May to November, and can cause heavy flooding.

Norwegian citizens staying for a shorter or longer period of time in Micronesia are encouraged to register on www.reiseregistrering.no and make sure that they have valid travel insurance.

Micronesia does not have a national emergency number, and travelers are encouraged to inquire with their hotel or travel operator about contact numbers for local police and health services.

In case of crisis or emergency, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hour operating center on tel. +47 23 95 00 00 or e-mail UDops@mfa.no

Major Landmarks in Micronesia

Entry

Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.

Norwegian citizens do not need visas for travel up to 90 days, as a result of an agreement between Micronesia and the EU (Schengen area) on mutual visa exemption. Only passports are accepted as identification documents. Passports must be valid for at least 120 days after departure date and a valid exit ticket is required. Upon arrival, travelers must complete a ‘FSM Immigration Arrival and Departure Record’.

At this time, it is only possible to fly commercially to Micronesia via either Guam or Hawaii, both of which share US territory. Travelers must therefore ensure that they have the necessary permits to be able to stop in the US.

Every airport in the Micronesian islands has customs and immigration. Therefore, if you plan to travel to several islands, you have to go through customs and immigration every time.

It is recommended to check in advance whether islands and beaches are allowed, as Micronesian authorities have for various reasons previously imposed special travel restrictions.

Health

Coronavirus (covid-19): The outbreak of coronaviruses has led to entry stops for travelers who have been in countries with documented cases of human infection of covid-19 disease, including China and Japan, over the past fourteen days.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not create travel advice because of the risk of infection. It is the Public Health Institute that provides health professional travel advice. You can find more information and guidance from Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

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There are basic health services on the four main islands of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae, but emergency preparedness is low and access to medical care can be unpredictable. In several of the smaller islands, there is no medical help at all. For specialist health care, one must go to either Guam or Hawaii.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends measles, hepatitis A and B vaccine and typhoid vaccine for travelers to Micronesia. See Travelers’ health for more information.

Micronesia authorities can also ask travelers for documentation that they have a vaccine against, among other things, yellow fever and measles upon entry.

There is an ongoing outbreak of Dengue fever in the state of Yap, and there have previously been outbreaks of the Zika virus in several parts of the country. Both are mosquito-borne illnesses, and travelers are encouraged to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Practical information

English is the nationwide official language of Micronesia, and the language is well mastered by the vast majority. The US dollar is the official currency. The largest credit cards are normally accepted, especially in tourist-oriented places, but there are few ATMs and therefore it is advisable to bring some cash.

Micronesia spans two time zones. The states of Yap and Chuuk are eight hours ahead of Norway summer time, nine hours winter time. The states of Pohnpei and Kosrae are nine hours ahead of Norway summer time, ten hours winter time.

According to allcitycodes, the area code for calls from Norway to Micronesia is +691. There is good mobile coverage in the larger towns, otherwise more unstable, and in some places completely absent. Mobile broadband (roaming) is not possible with foreign mobile subscriptions, but several hotels and restaurants offer free WiFi. The Internet domain is.fm.

110 volts is the standard for electrical outlets and US electrical outlets are the norm.

Micronesia is close to the equator and there are tropical temperatures throughout the year. It rains most in the period July to October.