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Select the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Haiti.
4 routes
Visit
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Haiti Visa-Free Tourist Entry
Nationals of most countries may enter Haiti for tourism without a visa and stay up to 90 days, provided the passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. A tourist fee of about USD 10 is collected from non-Haitian passport holders on arrival at the airport. The entry does not authorise work or study, and stays beyond 90 days require a residence permit (permis de sejour) from the Direction de l'Immigration et de l'Emigration. A short list of nationalities (including the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia, Cuba, Syria, Libya, Iran, Vietnam and Yemen) must instead obtain a visa in advance from a Haitian embassy or consulate.
Government fee
$10
Max stay
90 days
Validity
90 days
Document checklist (5)
Valid passportPassport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Haiti.
Return or onward ticketEvidence of onward or return travel out of Haiti.
Proof of accommodationOptionalHotel booking or address of stay in Haiti.
Tourist arrival feeApproximately USD 10, collected from non-Haitian passport holders on arrival at the airport.
Proof of sufficient fundsOptionalEvidence of funds to cover the stay, on request of the immigration officer.
Tourist Visa
Haiti Tourist Visa (Visa-Required Nationalities)
Nationals of countries that are not visa-exempt (including the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia, Cuba, Syria, Libya, Iran, Vietnam and Yemen) must obtain a tourist visa from a Haitian embassy or consulate before travelling. Fees vary by mission: the Embassy in Washington publishes its rates locally, while the Embassy in Ottawa charges CAD 40 single-entry / CAD 50 multiple-entry. Applications should be filed at least one month before departure. The visa is for tourism only and does not authorise work or study; stays beyond 90 days require a residence permit.
Government fee
$40
Processing time
30 days
Max stay
90 days
Document checklist (7)
Visa application formVisa application form duly completed and signed.
Valid passportPassport valid for at least 6 months.
Letter explaining the visitLetter stating the purpose and duration of the visit.
Accommodation detailsHotel or residence details in Haiti.
Travel reservationAirline reservation confirmation or copy of a round-trip ticket.
Employer letterOptionalLetter from the applicant's current employer.
Transit Visa
Haiti Airport Transit
Travellers transiting Haiti generally rely on the same regime as short visitors: visa-exempt nationals transit without a visa, while nationals who require a visa to enter must hold the appropriate visa if they pass through immigration. Haiti does not operate a distinct airport-transit visa scheme, and onward travel documents are expected. The arrival tourist fee may apply to those clearing immigration. Given the security situation, most international connectivity runs through Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince with periodic disruptions.
Max stay
1 day
Document checklist (3)
Valid passportPassport valid for at least 6 months.
Onward ticketConfirmed ticket for the onward journey.
Entry visa if applicableOptionalVisa for Haiti if the traveller's nationality requires one and they clear immigration.
Business Visitor Visa
Haiti Business Visa
Visa-exempt nationals may attend short business meetings, negotiations and conferences within the 90-day visa-free entry; visa-required nationals apply for a business/visitor visa at a Haitian embassy or consulate, supported by an invitation or business documentation. Multiple-entry visas are available at some missions (for example CAD 50 multiple-entry in Ottawa). A business visit does not authorise local employment, which requires a work permit from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MAST) and, for stays over 90 days, a residence permit. Applications should be filed about one month before travel.
Processing time
30 days
Max stay
90 days
Document checklist (6)
Visa application formCompleted and signed visa application form with a 35x45 mm photo.
Valid passportPassport valid for at least 6 months with the original for inspection.
Business invitationInvitation letter from a Haitian company or proof of the business relationship.
Letter explaining the visitLetter stating the business purpose and duration of stay.
Travel reservationAirline reservation or copy of a round-trip ticket.
Proof of residency statusOptionalProof of lawful residence in the consular district where applying.
Not yet researched
Medical Treatment Visa
Pilgrimage Visa
1 route
Study & Training
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
Haiti Student Stay (Residence Permit for Studies)
Haiti has no separate student-visa class: foreign students enter under the 90-day visa-free regime (or a consular visa if their nationality requires one) and, for study programmes longer than three months, regularise their stay through the residence permit (permis de sejour) from the Direction de l'Immigration et de l'Emigration, supported by proof of enrolment at a Haitian institution. Students who also wish to work need a separate MAST work permit. The permit follows the fiscal-year cycle and is renewed annually.
Study: Authorises enrolment and study at the admitting institution.
Residency after 5 years
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Request letterLetter to the Director of Immigration requesting a residence permit for studies.
Proof of enrolmentAdmission or enrolment certificate from a recognised Haitian educational institution.
Passport photocopyPhotocopy of the biographical page of the passport.
Letter of financial supportLetter from a sponsor or family guaranteeing the stay and repatriation.
Medical certificateMedical certificate not older than 30 days.
Criminal recordRecent police certificate from the country of origin.
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Skilled Work Visa
Haiti Work Permit (Permis de Travail)
Any foreign national working in Haiti on a non-Haitian travel document, including business people, teachers, missionaries and retirees who work, must obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MAST) in Port-au-Prince. The process is employer-driven and requires a signed employment contract with a legally registered Haitian entity. The permit is valid for one year and is renewable for up to five consecutive years; processing typically takes two to several months. A work permit is held alongside a residence permit (permis de sejour) for stays over 90 days.
Work: Authorises employment with the sponsoring employer named in the permit.
Study: Lawful residence alongside the permit allows study.
Residency after 5 years
Processing time
90 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (9)
Work permit applicationApplication form filed with MAST by the employer or its representative.
Employment contractSigned employment contract with a legally registered entity in Haiti.
Valid passport and entry visaValid passport and the appropriate entry stamp/visa.
Medical certificateMedical certificate, generally not older than 30 days.
Police clearanceCriminal record / police clearance from the country of residence.
Educational and professional certificatesDiplomas and evidence of professional qualifications.
Employer registration documentsCompany registration certificate and tax identification number (NIF) of the employer.
Not yet researched
Digital Nomad Visa
Freelancer Visa
Self-Employment Visa
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Seasonal Work Visa
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
1 route
Invest & Capital
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Business Investor Visa
Haiti Investor / Business-Activity Residence
Haiti runs no passive golden-visa or citizenship-by-investment scheme. Foreign investors instead incorporate a company in Haiti (facilitated by the Centre de Facilitation des Investissements, CFI, whose services are free) and reside on the standard residence permit (permis de sejour), with a work permit from MAST if they take an operational role. The CFI assists with company creation, investment incentives and free-zone admission under Haiti's Investment Code, but there is no minimum-investment threshold that buys residence. Residence is renewed annually on the fiscal-year cycle.
Study: Lawful residence permits study.
Residency after 5 years
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Company registration documentsEvidence of the Haitian company's incorporation and tax identification number (NIF).
Request letterLetter to the Director of Immigration requesting a residence permit.
Passport photocopyPhotocopy of the biographical page of the passport.
Bank statementStatement from a bank operating in Haiti.
Medical certificateMedical certificate not older than 30 days.
Criminal recordRecent police certificate from the country of origin.
Haiti has no dedicated retirement visa; retirees and other self-supported foreigners who wish to live in Haiti beyond 90 days obtain the general residence permit (permis de sejour) from the Direction de l'Immigration et de l'Emigration. Instead of an employer letter, applicants show a letter from a sponsor or evidence of self-support plus a bank statement from a bank operating in Haiti. The permit is valid for the fiscal year and renewed annually with proof of income-tax payment. There is no published minimum-income threshold.
Study: Lawful residence permits study.
Residency after 5 years
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Request letterLetter to the Director of Immigration requesting a residence permit.
Passport photocopyPhotocopy of the biographical page of the passport.
Proof of self-supportLetter of support or evidence of pension/income guaranteeing the stay and repatriation.
Bank statementStatement from a bank operating in Haiti.
Medical certificateMedical certificate not older than 30 days.
Criminal recordRecent police certificate from the country of origin.
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Ancestry / Repatriation
Haiti Reacquisition of Nationality by Origin
A person of Haitian origin who lost or never formalised Haitian nationality may recover or claim it, and since the 2012 amendment this no longer requires renouncing a foreign citizenship. The applicant proves Haitian origin (typically a Haitian birth certificate or certified extract from the National Archives) and files an affidavit declaring the wish to reclaim Haitian nationality, through a Haitian consulate or in Haiti. Where civil records are missing, a proxy can request an Archives extract (about USD 33) or a lawyer can petition a court of first instance; a child born abroad to a Haitian parent can be registered via a late birth declaration. Processing of Archives records typically takes around six months.
Work: On recognition as a Haitian national, full and unrestricted work rights apply.
Study: Full access to education as a national.
Residency: Confers Haitian nationality itself; no residence-permit step is required.
Family: Children born abroad to a Haitian parent qualify by descent; each is registered individually.
Processing time
180 days
Document checklist (6)
Proof of Haitian originHaitian birth certificate or certified extract from the National Archives showing Haitian origin.
Affidavit of intentAffidavit declaring the wish to reclaim Haitian nationality.
Valid passportCurrent foreign passport.
Archives birth-record requestOptionalRequest for an official birth-register copy where the certificate is unavailable (about USD 33).
Late birth declarationOptionalDeclaration tardive de naissance for a child born abroad to a Haitian parent (with two witnesses).
Native-born Haitians who hold another nationality, and their descendants, are exempt from the Haitian visa requirement to enter and leave Haiti, and foreigners of proven Haitian origin may also enter without a visa. Since the 2012 constitutional amendment, Haiti recognises dual nationality, so persons of Haitian descent can reclaim or hold Haitian nationality without losing their foreign citizenship. Persons who have not formalised Haitian nationality and intend to stay beyond 90 days still register a residence presence with the Direction de l'Immigration; those who establish Haitian nationality are not subject to the permis de sejour at all.
Study: Persons of Haitian origin may study; full access follows nationality recognition.
Residency: Leads to recognition/reacquisition of Haitian nationality rather than a residence-permit track.
Family: Descendants of native-born Haitians share the entry exemption; spouses follow separate naturalisation rules.
Document checklist (4)
Valid passportForeign passport valid for at least 6 months.
Proof of Haitian originHaitian birth certificate, parent's/grandparent's Haitian birth certificate, or other proof of Haitian descent.
PhotographsOptionalRecent passport-sized photographs where formalising status.
Affidavit of Haitian descentOptionalStatement evidencing the family link to a Haitian national, where requested.
Not yet researched
Family Reunification Visa
Spouse / Partner Visa
Dependent Relative Visa
3 routes
Special Categories
Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Official / Diplomatic Visa
Haiti Official / Diplomatic Visa
Haitian embassies and consulates issue official and diplomatic visas to government representatives, accredited diplomats and persons travelling on government business, under a special procedure separate from ordinary tourist and business visas. These are distinct visa classes named on consular fee lists (alongside simple and special visas). Requirements include a note verbale or official mission documentation; fees are typically waived or set diplomatically. This route is institutional rather than for general applicants.
Work: Authorises the official function for which the visa is granted.
Family: Accompanying family of officials are typically covered under the mission.
Document checklist (4)
Note verbaleOfficial note or mission order from the sending government or organisation.
Valid passportDiplomatic or service passport, valid at least 6 months.
Visa application formCompleted visa application form with a 35x45 mm photo.
Proof of assignmentDocumentation of the official assignment or accreditation in Haiti.
Long-Term Residence Permit
Haiti Residence Permit (Permis de Sejour)
Every person over the age of 21 travelling on a non-Haitian travel document who intends to remain in Haiti for more than three months must obtain a residence permit (permis de sejour) from the Direction de l'Immigration et de l'Emigration (DIE) on Avenue John Brown, Port-au-Prince. The permit is valid for the Haitian fiscal year (1 October to 30 September) and is renewed annually, with renewal requiring proof of payment of income tax for the elapsed fiscal year. The domestic fee is about 6,000 HTG. The applicant is interviewed and fingerprinted, and the file is stored in the DIE database. This is the core residence document underlying work, study, retirement and family stays.
Study: Permits lawful long-term stay including for study purposes.
Residency after 5 years
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (9)
Request letterLetter to the Director of Immigration and Emigration requesting a residence permit.
Passport photocopyPhotocopy of the biographical page of the applicant's passport.
Letter of support/employmentLetter from the employer or person supporting the applicant, guaranteeing the stay and repatriation if necessary.
Medical certificateMedical certificate not older than 30 days.
Bank statementStatement from a bank operating in Haiti.
Criminal recordRecent criminal record (police certificate) from the country of origin.
Boarding card copyPhotocopy of the boarding card from the most recent re-entry into Haiti.
Birth certificatePhotocopy of the birth certificate with a French translation.
Permanent Residence
Haiti Naturalisation by Residence
Under Article 12-1 of the 1987 Constitution, any foreigner may obtain Haitian nationality by naturalisation after five years of continuous residence in Haiti, in accordance with the implementing law. Foreign spouses of Haitian citizens can naturalise on a shorter basis (commonly cited as two years of marriage and residence). The application is filed with the immigration authorities / Ministry of Justice; foreign-language documents must be translated into French and legalised or apostilled. Naturalised Haitians may vote but must wait five years before holding certain public offices. There is no published statutory fee schedule.
Work: Naturalised nationals have full work rights.
Study: Full access to education as a national.
Residency after 5 years
Family: Spouses qualify on a shorter timeline; minor children may derive status.
Document checklist (7)
Naturalisation applicationApplication to the immigration authority / Ministry of Justice for naturalisation.
Proof of 5 years' residenceEvidence of five years of continuous legal residence in Haiti (residence permits/renewals).
Valid passportCurrent passport and identity documents.
Birth certificateBirth certificate, translated into French and legalised/apostilled.
Criminal recordPolice certificate / certificate of good conduct.
Marriage certificateOptionalFor the spouse route: marriage certificate to a Haitian citizen.
Proof of meansOptionalEvidence of lawful means of support.
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