Embassy of the United States Port Au Prince, Haiti

The following information is provided to U.S. citizens who may be considering residing for more than one year in Haiti.  The Embassy believes this information is accurate as of the date of printing, but experience has shown that Haitian Immigration requirements and procedures are often subject to variation and/or change without notice.

Who must obtain a Permis de Séjour:

Every person over the age of 21 who travels with a non-Haitian travel document and who intends to remain in Haiti for more than three months, for whatever reason, is required to obtain a Permis de Sejour.  This includes missionaries, teachers, businessmen, retirees and students.  Applications for this document can be made in Haiti at the Direction de l’Immigration, located at Avenue John Brown, in Port-au-Prince (downtown). 

To make an application in the United States, you must provide the following documentation to your closest Haitian consulate or Haitian Consular Agent:

• Letter stating the reason why you are intending to spend more than a year in Haiti
• Statement of good behavior from your local police station in the United States
• Set of fingerprints from your local police station in the United States
• Two (2) ID photos
• Photocopy of the first three pages of your passport
• Medical certificate from your doctor in the United States
• Bank statement

To make an application in Haiti you must:

• Write a letter requesting an application for a residence permit to the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration by notifying the reasons.
• A photocopy of the biographical page of passport of the applicant.
• A letter of employment from its employer or the person who supports it, guaranteeing the stay of the foreigner in Haiti and repatriation if necessary.
• A Medical Certificate not older than thirty (30) days.
• Two (2) photographs of the person applying (format: Passport Photo and color).
• A photocopy of the boarding card obtained during last re-entry to the country.
• A photocopy of Birth Certificate (French translation required).
• A bank statement from a bank operating in Haiti.
• A criminal record (Country of origin of recent date)

Note that when filing documents, the applicant will have to be interviewed and then to complete the application for a residence permit. His fingerprints will be taken and stored in the database of the institution. In reference to Article 34, the annual application for renewal of residence permit will be accompanied by the slip proving payment of fee income taxes of the fiscal year elapsed. For those who work for a foreign organization, the letter of introduction must be written by the organization on its letterhead.

Fees:   

(The following fees are applicable only in Haiti, for fees applicable in the United States, please contact you nearest Haitian Consular Representative).

*Payments are only accepted by “Chèque de Direction” payable to the order of “Trésor Public”

• 1^st Time issuance           5000.00 Gourdes
• Renewal                         2500.00 Gourdes                
• Student                          1250.00 Gourdes

Exemptions:

Diplomats and official government employees are exempt from this procedure, but are required to get a diplomatic visa in advance.

Other cases of exemption might be taken into consideration for religious organizations (for more information please contacts the Ministry of Interior).