Getting here, and settling in
Saipan is a long way from everywhere. Here's how people get here, a few rules worth knowing before you book, and guides for the move itself.
Travel tips
Routes from the mainland, cabotage, the International Date Line, and what to expect when you arrive.
ReadSurvival guides
Survival manuals, a map of attractions, hiking trails, moving to Rota and more.
ReadSchools
Public and private schools, from Montessori and international schools to college.
ReadBringing pets
Flights, vaccines, FAVN testing and the CNMI entry permit.
ReadShipping things
Post office, freight forwarders, air cargo and ocean freight.
ReadFlights from Saipan
Only a handful of airlines fly to Saipan (airport code SPN), and schedules change often, so always check the airline's own website before you book. As of October 2026:
| To | Airline | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Guam (GUM) | United | Daily |
| Tokyo Narita (NRT) | United | 3× weekly |
| Seoul Incheon (ICN) | Jeju Air | 4× weekly |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | Hong Kong Airlines | 2× weekly |
| Manila (MNL) | Philippine Airlines | 2× weekly from Oct 25, 2026 |
| Tinian, Rota | Star Marianas Air, MACS (small commuter planes) | Several daily to Tinian; a few daily to Rota |
Almost every trip to Hawaii or the mainland starts with United's Saipan–Guam flight, then United onward through Honolulu, or goes through Tokyo. Most of the Asia flights leave Saipan in the middle of the night.
Cabotage, in plain English
U.S. law bans “cabotage”: a foreign airline may not carry paying passengers only between two U.S. points. For this rule, Guam, the CNMI and Hawaii all count as the U.S. What that means for you:
- No foreign airline can sell you Saipan–Guam, Saipan–Honolulu or Guam–Honolulu. Between U.S. points it's United, plus the small commuter airlines within the Marianas.
- Routing through Asia on foreign airlines (for example Saipan–Seoul–Los Angeles) is allowed, because every flight crosses an international border.
- Travel agents and locums companies sometimes treat Saipan as a foreign country. Double-check any itinerary they build for you.
How not to get stranded
- Leave a buffer day. With one flight a day to Guam, a cancellation or missed connection usually costs a full day.
- Book one ticket. Put the whole trip on a single reservation so the airline has to rebook you if a flight is late.
- Typhoons can hit in any month. Watch the forecast before every trip.
- Passports. U.S. citizens don't need one for Guam, Hawaii or the mainland, but you do for Japan, Korea, Hong Kong or the Philippines.
