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Kiribati

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
513
Top destination, 2023
New Zealand
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
212
UK visas issued, 2025
2
NationalityKIISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<KIKIRIBATI<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KI4<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Kiribati need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Kiribati move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. New Zealand468
  2. Japan24
  3. United States10
  4. Australia9
  5. South Korea2

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

314628200020032006200920122015201820212023
3146282000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200019
2001159
2002384
2003286
2004294
2005496
2006244
2007628
2008563
2009494
2010444
2011484
2012424
2013406
2014413
2015424
2016406
2017499
2018375
2019454
2020201
202155
2022227
2023513
Share going to the top destination
91.2%
Destinations recording arrivals
5
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Kiribati who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. New Zealand3,015
  2. Australia1,585
  3. Fiji808
  4. Nauru279
  5. Marshall Islands276
  6. Solomon Islands253
  7. Tuvalu64
  8. Samoa10
  9. Slovakia7
  10. Bulgaria4
  11. Denmark2
  12. Norway2

Living abroad by year

3,1536,30619901995200020052010201520202024
3,1536,30619902000201020202024
Data table
19903,919
19953,882
20003,819
20053,783
20103,344
20154,086
20205,053
20246,306
Living abroad, 2024
6,306
Change since 2000
+65.1%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
47.8%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Kiribati by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2106
  2. C1/D24
  3. A223
  4. J119
  5. R113
  6. G28
  7. C36
  8. A14
  9. F13
  10. C12

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

241482201720182019202020212022202320242025
24148220172019202120232025
Data table
2017327
2018442
2019482
2020166
202123
2022120
2023202
2024247
2025212
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV2
Immigrant visas, FY2025
2
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Kiribati who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Kiribati with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1020201620212024
1020201620212024
Data table
201610
202110
202420
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens10
  2. Diversity visa lottery10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Kiribati)
20
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Kiribati)
0
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
400
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Kiribati (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Kiribati (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Work2

Visas issued by year

362011201420192025
362011201420192025
Data table
20112
20136
20143
20163
20191
20246
20252
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Kiribati, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

7142005–062007–082010–112012–132014–152016–172020–212022–232024–252025–26
7142005–062009–102012–132015–162020–212023–242025–26
Data table
2005–063
2006–074
2007–084
2009–101
2010–114
2011–123
2012–132
2013–141
2014–154
2015–161
2016–173
2018–191
2020–211
2021–221
2022–231
2023–243
2024–257
2025–2614
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Labour Agreement13
  2. Core Skills1
Granted, 2025–26
14
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Kiribati living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

10192012201420162018202220242025
10192012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20127
20136
20146
20157
201616
201719
201814
20198
20228
202312
202413
202514
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student4
  2. Permanent Resident4
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National2
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services2
  5. Long-Term Resident1
  6. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident1
Residents, December 2025
14
In work-related statuses
2
Share in work-related statuses
14.3%
Students
4
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Kiribati in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Work6
  2. Family3
  3. Other reasons1
First permits by country
  1. Slovakia3
  2. Italy2
  3. Portugal2
  4. Switzerland1
  5. Germany1
  6. France1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities6
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
0
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
0
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
1
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
32
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Kiribati

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Kiribati, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
Japan1——
Countries
2
Missions
2
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Kiribati, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

142820062009201220152018202120242025
1428200620102014201820222025
Data table
200613
200714
200814
200914
201016
201117
201218
201317
201416
201514
201616
201718
201820
201920
202015
202113
202228
202312
202415
202523
Remittances received, 2025
US$23 million
Share of GDP, 2025
6.5%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more