US halts visa-free CNMI entry for Chinese visitors from 30 October

The United States is suspending the visa-free travel programme for Chinese visitors to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), effective 30 October 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said. The change removes a streamlined route that allowed pre-screened Chinese nationals to fly directly to the islands without first obtaining a U.S. visa.

Key facts

• The suspension takes effect on 30 October 2026 and was announced in a Federal Register notice on 27 October.
• It applies to new applicants and to Chinese nationals who hold active travel authorisations under the programme.
• Chinese nationals already admitted and legally present in the CNMI on the effective date may stay through their authorised period of stay.
• Future visits will require a U.S. nonimmigrant visa unless another lawful exception applies.
• The affected scheme is the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorisation Programme (EVS-TAP), which began in February 2025.
• More than 3,000 Chinese nationals used EVS-TAP to enter the CNMI during fiscal year 2025, according to DHS.

What is changing?

DHS is suspending EVS-TAP, which took effect in February 2025 and let pre-screened nationals of the People's Republic of China travel directly to the CNMI without first obtaining a U.S. visa. The programme had replaced a parole policy and was designed to support the CNMI's tourism industry while adding safeguards on travel.

Under EVS-TAP, visitors were generally limited to stays of up to 14 days and were prohibited from travelling beyond the CNMI to Guam or other parts of the United States. DHS said it is evaluating the programme's future in consultation with the departments of State and Interior.

Who is affected and from when?

The suspension covers both new applicants and Chinese nationals who currently hold active travel authorisations. It was announced on Tuesday, with the Federal Register notice dated 27 October and the suspension effective 30 October.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin determined there was "good cause" to suspend the programme during the review.

What if I am already in the CNMI?

Chinese nationals already admitted under EVS-TAP and legally present in the CNMI on the effective date may remain through their authorised period of stay. After that, future visits will require a U.S. nonimmigrant visa unless another lawful exception applies. DHS said legitimate travellers from China remain eligible to visit the CNMI through the standard U.S. visa process.

Why is this happening?

DHS said the programme poses national security, immigration and law enforcement risks to the United States. The agency pointed to criminal cases involving Chinese nationals convicted of smuggling other Chinese citizens from the CNMI to Guam, where some were later encountered near sensitive military installations.

The department also raised concerns that visa-free access could support espionage and intelligence gathering aimed at military infrastructure in the Mariana Islands, citing the restoration of Tinian Air Base and the strategic importance of Guam and the CNMI. It further identified birth tourism, immigration violations and organised criminal activity, and referred to past money laundering, labour violations and corruption cases involving Chinese-linked casino operations in the CNMI.

DHS said some CNMI businesses may have built plans around Chinese tourism, but that economic interests do not outweigh what it described as acute national security, immigration enforcement and law enforcement concerns.

What this means for travellers

Chinese nationals planning a trip to the Northern Mariana Islands can no longer rely on the streamlined authorisation from 30 October and will need a U.S. nonimmigrant visa unless another lawful exception applies. Travellers already in the islands on an EVS-TAP authorisation can complete their authorised stay, but should confirm the visa route before arranging any return visit.

The outcome of the DHS review, carried out with the departments of State and Interior, has not yet been announced, and no date for a decision on the programme's future has been given.