Starting a business in Marshall Islands: foreigner's guide (2026)

Non-Resident Domestic Corporations (IBCs) and LLCs can be incorporated within one business day through any of IRI's 28 worldwide offices. No mandatory minimum share capital exists; a nominal authorized capital of USD 50,000 is conventional but not legally required.

For IBC/LLC structures there are no nationality restrictions on directors, shareholders, or officers — all may be of any nationality and reside anywhere. Beneficial ownership details are not filed in any public registry under RMI law.

Any non-citizen wishing to conduct business within the RMI must obtain a FIBL from the Registrar of Foreign Investment in the Attorney General's Office. Application fee is USD 250; a 2024 OCIT/Ministry of Finance reform program reduced the target processing time to 30 days, down from a prior 60–90 days.

Foreign investors are barred from small-scale retail (annual turnover under USD 50,000), small-scale agriculture, and water-taxi services. Retail and wholesale businesses above the USD 50,000 turnover threshold must have at least 51% Marshallese ownership.

Entities carrying out 'relevant activities' — banking, insurance, fund management, financing, shipping, headquarters, distribution, IP holding, and holding company business — must satisfy RMI economic substance rules; pure holding companies face a lighter-touch test.

After obtaining a FIBL, a domestic operator must reserve a company name with the Registrar of Corporations (USD 100, one day), notarize charter documents at the Attorney General's Office, file Articles of Incorporation with the Registrar, and appoint a registered agent physically present in the RMI — mandatory for all entity types.