Kiribati
KIRKiribati is a remote Pacific nation comprising 33 low-lying coral atolls and reef islands straddling the equator and the International Date Line. With a mean elevation of less than two metres above sea level, it is one of the world's most climate-change-vulnerable countries: rising seas, saltwater intrusion, and intensifying storms threaten freshwater supplies and the habitability of several islands.
The economy depends heavily on fishing licence revenue, diaspora remittances, and foreign aid. Infrastructure and healthcare capacity are limited. The government has pursued managed migration agreements—notably with New Zealand—allowing I-Kiribati to work and eventually settle abroad as a long-term adaptation strategy. Naturalisation requires seven years of lawful residence, and dual citizenship is not permitted.
- Naturalisation
- 7 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- South Tarawa
- Region
- oceania
- Population
- 119,000
- Cost-of-living
- 72 /100
Passport Rank
#184
Visa-Free
109
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Kiribati passport has visa-free access to 109 destinations. See the full Kiribati passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Kiribati without a prior visa (122)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Kiribati
Current IRCC processing times for Kiribati nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | No processing time available |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | No processing time available |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- South Tarawa
- Currency
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Languages
- Gilbertese, English
- Population
- 119,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 7 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical oceanic; hot and humid year-round with little seasonal variation
- GDP per capita
- $2,559
- Life expectancy
- 66.6 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.45%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
72
Safety
55
Healthcare
22
Quality of Life
28
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 7 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Tarawa | — | — | — | — | — |
| Betio | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bonriki | — | — | — | — | — |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Visitor
- Work Permit
- Investor
- Student
- Family
- Residence Permit
- Authority
- Department of Immigration
- Official Portal
- www.immigration.gov.ki
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- —
- Processing
- —
Safety
GPI Rank
—
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Kiribati, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Kiribati Immigration
ImmigrationOfficial immigration page for Kiribati entry, visa-exemption, visa forms, sponsorship forms and temporary-entry source material.
Kiribati Visa Exemption Order
Visa exemptionOfficial visa-exemption order linked from the Kiribati Immigration page for short-stay visa-waiver checks.
Kiribati Immigration Visa Forms
FormsOfficial MFAI visa page and form source for visitor, group visitor, transit, work, student and investment visa handling.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Kiribati, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Short-term / business
Group Visitor Visa
Short-term / businessKiribati group visitor handling where a tour organiser lodges a group form alongside individual visitor visa applications.
Transit Visa
Short-term / businessKiribati transit visa route for travellers transiting through Kiribati who are not from a visa-waiver country.
Visa Exemption Check
Short-term / businessKiribati visa-exemption route for travellers checking whether the 2023 exemption order removes the need for a pre-arranged visitor or transit visa.
Visitor Visa
Short-term / businessKiribati visitor visa route for tourists, family visitors, business visitors, guardians, dependent children and limited-purpose visits.
Work (sponsored)
Religious Worker Work Visa
Work (sponsored)Kiribati religious-worker work visa route for qualified religious workers sponsored by an eligible charitable religious organisation.
Work Visa
Work (sponsored)Kiribati work visa route for Essential Skills, Specific Purpose or Event, Religious Worker and domestic worker categories.
Study
Student Visa
StudyKiribati student visa route for temporary study in Kiribati with programme, funds, health and character evidence.
Investor
Investment Visa
InvestorKiribati investment visa route for applicants with an approved Foreign Investment Certificate from the Investment Promotion Division.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified