Promote:
Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in the Northern Mariana Islands, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
CEIA, Customs and Biosecurity and Commerce: the guide’s first stops, of the 14 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Economic incentive authority
CEIA
Commonwealth Economic Incentive Authority
Promotes the Commonwealth to businesses and licenses firms in its economic incentive districts, which carry tax incentives the Authority sets.
Visit CEIA (opens in a new tab)Source: CNMI Public Law 24-05, economic incentive districts, July 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 22, 2025
- Meet requirements
Customs and biosecurity division
Customs and Biosecurity
Division of Customs and Biosecurity
Enforces excise taxes, inspects and clears cargo and baggage, and applies quarantine and biosecurity controls at the ports of entry.
Commonwealth commerce department
Commerce
CNMI Department of Commerce
Houses the Office of Foreign Corporation Liaison, which a 2025 law makes the one-stop shop helping investors obtain Commonwealth permits and licenses.
2. Export development and market information
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Small business advisory network
SBDC Network
CNMI Small Business Development Center Network
Advises existing and new small businesses on planning, marketing and export assistance.
Visit SBDC Network (opens in a new tab)Source: CNMI SBDC Network, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Get advice
Regional development organization
SPC
The Pacific Community
Regional body
Hosts the Pacific Data Hub, which carries consumer price series for the Commonwealth.
Visit SPC (opens in a new tab)Source: Pacific Data Hub, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Research markets
Federal statistics agency
BEA
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Published GDP estimates for the Commonwealth through 2022, including exports of goods and services; production is paused.
Visit BEA (opens in a new tab)Source: BEA, Northern Mariana Islands GDP page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
6 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Economic incentive authority
CEIA
Commonwealth Economic Incentive Authority
Promotes the Commonwealth to businesses and licenses firms in its economic incentive districts, which carry tax incentives the Authority sets.
Visit CEIA (opens in a new tab)Source: CNMI Public Law 24-05, economic incentive districts, July 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 22, 2025
Commonwealth commerce department
Commerce
CNMI Department of Commerce
Houses the Office of Foreign Corporation Liaison, which a 2025 law makes the one-stop shop helping investors obtain Commonwealth permits and licenses.
- Meet requirements
Company registry
Registrar of Corporations
Office of the Registrar of Corporations
Issues and holds the certificates and records that business entities must file with the Commonwealth government.
Visit Registrar of Corporations (opens in a new tab)Source: Commonwealth Code, 4 CMC section 4201 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Public land agency
Public Lands
Department of Public Lands
Manages public land and posts notices of proposed leases; its investor page describes private land leases of 55 years.
Visit Public Lands (opens in a new tab)Source: CNMI Department of Public Lands, investor information (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Federal immigration agency
USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Handles petitions for CW-1 transitional workers, the Commonwealth-only worker classification that runs through December 31, 2029.
Visit USCIS (opens in a new tab)Source: USCIS, CW-1 transitional worker page, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 12, 2025
Law publishing commission
Law Revision Commission
CNMI Law Revision Commission
Publishes the Covenant, the Commonwealth Code, public laws and the Commonwealth Register.
Visit Law Revision Commission (opens in a new tab)Source: CNMI Law Revision Commission, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
4. Customs and tax
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
Customs and biosecurity division
Customs and Biosecurity
Division of Customs and Biosecurity
Enforces excise taxes, inspects and clears cargo and baggage, and applies quarantine and biosecurity controls at the ports of entry.
- Meet requirements
Tax and licensing division
Revenue and Taxation
Division of Revenue and Taxation
Takes business license applications and sets the documents each type of business must file.
Visit Revenue and Taxation (opens in a new tab)Source: CNMI Revenue and Taxation, business license requirements (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Federal customs agency
CBP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Lists three federal ports of entry in the Commonwealth, at the airports on Rota, Saipan and Tinian.
Visit CBP (opens in a new tab)Source: CBP, ports of entry in the Northern Mariana Islands (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
5. Standards and sector requirements
1 organization. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Federal export control authority
BIS
Bureau of Industry and Security
Runs export licensing and item classification under the Export Administration Regulations; confirm with it that they cover your shipment.
Visit BIS (opens in a new tab)Source: BIS, About Licensing page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. Chambers and industry associations
1 organization. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
Chamber
Saipan Chamber of Commerce
Runs committees, events and membership meetings for businesses on Saipan.
Visit Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Saipan Chamber of Commerce, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare the Northern Mariana Islands with other countriesSet the Northern Mariana Islands beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Northern Mariana Islands project.
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Promote:Northern Mariana Islands is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.