Just Landed in Micronesia? Your First 7 Days

FSM Telecom (FSMTC) is the dominant mobile and internet operator nationwide, with iSolutions Micronesia now offering some competition since the telecom monopoly formally ended in 2014. Expect 4G LTE in the main towns of Kolonia, Weno, Colonia and Tofol, dropping to 3G or nothing beyond them, with modest speeds and occasional outages. A submarine cable has improved fixed broadband in the capitals, but data remains expensive by regional standards.

Typical cost: SIM around USD 10 with no credit; tourist data buckets from USD 5 for 5 GB over 5 days, with a realistic monthly spend of USD 25-45 for a few gigabytes

The FSM uses the US dollar, so there is nothing to exchange, but the economy runs almost entirely on cash. Cards are accepted only at a handful of hotels and larger businesses, and ATMs are confined to the main towns and can run empty, so never rely on a single machine. Draw cash on arrival and keep a buffer, especially before the weekend when machines are often emptied.

Opening an account: Two banks operate FDIC-insured branches in all four states: Bank of Guam and Bank of the FSM. Bank of Guam is generally the more accessible for foreigners, while Bank of the FSM typically requires a valid work permit and proof of local residence alongside US-style KYC documents. Bring your passport, work permit and an employer letter, and expect the process to be done in person and slowly.

Cash: Almost entirely cash-based. Carry small US bills for taxis, markets and local shops, because change for large notes is frequently unavailable and many vendors deal only in ones, fives and tens.

Tipping: Tipping is not customary or expected. Rounding up or leaving a dollar or two for good service at a tourist-oriented hotel or restaurant is appreciated but entirely optional, and no one will chase you for it.

There is no municipal address-registration system for new residents in the FSM, and no equivalent of a residents' registry or town-hall sign-in. Your legal status is governed entirely by the entry and work permit issued by FSM Immigration, which your sponsoring employer arranges on your behalf rather than by registering where you live. Your practical obligation is to keep that permit valid and renew it before it expires; there is nothing to register at a local council.

Where: FSM Division of Immigration (national government offices in Palikir/Kolonia, Pohnpei), handled through your employer sponsor

There are no ride-hailing apps and no public bus network to speak of anywhere in the FSM. Shared taxis are the everyday option in the main towns: you flag one down, share it with other passengers heading the same way, and pay a flat local fare, often just USD 1 within Kolonia. Many residents rely on a private car or lifts from colleagues, and travel between the four states is by air on United Airlines' island-hopper or by occasional inter-island ferry.

From the airport: Pohnpei International Airport (PNI) sits on a small island just off Kolonia, linked by a causeway, so the taxi ride into town takes only about 5-10 minutes and costs a dollar or two. Agree the fare before setting off, and note that most hotels will arrange a pickup if you ask in advance.

Formal rental listings barely exist in the FSM; housing is found through word of mouth, your employer, church networks and community noticeboards, often via Facebook groups. Expat-standard homes with reliable power and water are limited and cluster around Kolonia and the other state capitals, so securing one usually means asking everyone you meet and moving fast when something comes up.

Typical rent: A basic local house rents from roughly USD 250-500 a month, while a furnished expat-standard home in Kolonia typically runs USD 600-1,500 or more depending on condition and back-up power

Deposit norm: Commonly one month's rent as a deposit plus the first month upfront, though terms are negotiated informally and vary considerably by landlord, so insist on a written agreement and a signed receipt

Each state runs a government hospital (Pohnpei State Hospital in Nett, Chuuk State Hospital in Weno, and equivalents in Yap and Kosrae) plus small rural dispensaries, but facilities are basic, specialists are scarce and medicine supplies can run short for weeks. Dental and diagnostic services are limited, and anything genuinely serious is stabilised locally then flown out. Treat the local system as adequate for minor illness and injury only.

How to access it: You generally walk in to the state hospital or a public dispensary and pay modest fees in cash; there is no appointment-heavy referral system for basic care. For anything beyond routine treatment, expect to travel off-island, so keep a health fund and insurance details to hand and do not delay seeking evacuation for a serious problem.

Insurance: There is no comprehensive national scheme covering foreigners. Arrange international health insurance that explicitly includes emergency medical evacuation before you arrive, because an evacuation flight to Guam, Hawaii or the Philippines can cost tens of thousands of dollars and is often the only route to advanced care.

• Dress modestly, especially away from resorts; on Pohnpei and Chuuk women's thighs are considered private, so long skirts or shorts to the knee are the norm even when swimming.
• Greet people warmly and take time for small talk before any business; relationships and patience matter far more than speed, and rushing reads as rude.
• Respect land and local custom absolutely: land is family-owned and deeply sensitive, so always ask before entering property, taking photos of people, or fishing near a village.
• On Pohnpei, sakau (kava) gatherings are an important social ritual; accept graciously if invited, follow your host's lead, and treat the occasion with respect.
• Sunday is widely observed for church and rest, so keep noise, work and errands low-key and expect many shops and services to be closed.
• Lower your body slightly when passing seated elders or chiefs in Yap and other traditional settings, and defer to local authority and age.
• Share food and small gifts generously when hosted, and reciprocate hospitality; giving and returning kindness underpins island social life.

• Yap and the outer islands have strict customary rules on dress, sacred sites and photography; ask permission first and accept that some areas are simply off-limits to outsiders.
• Alcohol is restricted or banned in parts of Chuuk, and drink-related trouble does occur; be careful about where, when and how much you drink.
• Do not treat reefs, fishing grounds or beaches as public property; almost everything, including the sea near a village, is owned by a family or clan.
• Avoid public displays of anger or confrontation, which cause serious loss of face and can escalate; keep disputes calm and private.
• Photographing people, ceremonies or villages without clear consent gives real offence, so always ask before raising a camera.