Chinese visitors need a US visa for Saipan again from 30 October: what airlines and OTAs need to do

The US Department of Homeland Security is suspending EVS-TAP. The programme let prescreened Chinese nationals visit the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) without a visa. The CNMI includes Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The suspension takes effect at 2:00 pm EDT on Friday 30 October 2026. That is 7:00 pm in Paris on 30 October and 4:00 am on Saturday 31 October in Saipan.

From that moment, new applications stop and every existing EVS-TAP travel authorisation is suspended, including ones approved months ago. Chinese nationals who want to visit the CNMI will need a US visa, unless another lawful exception applies. The notice appeared in the Federal Register on 27 October. That leaves sellers three days.

The key facts

Point What the notice says

What changes EVS-TAP, the CNMI-only travel authorisation for nationals of the People's Republic of China, is suspended

When 2:00 pm EDT on 30 October 2026 (19:00 Paris on 30 October, 04:00 Saipan on 31 October)

Who is affected Chinese nationals planning a visit to the CNMI for business or tourism, including those who already hold an approved EVS-TAP authorisation

What they need instead A US nonimmigrant visa, normally a B1/B2 visitor visa, before they travel

Already in Saipan? Chinese nationals admitted under EVS-TAP and "legally present in the CNMI on the effective date" of the notice (the suspension starts at 2:00 pm EDT on 30 October, which is 04:00 on 31 October in Saipan) can stay for their authorised period of stay. They need a visa for any future trip

Old parole policy Not restored. The case-by-case parole that existed before February 2025 does not come back

How long No end date. DHS says it will evaluate the programme with the State and Interior departments

Legal basis INA section 212(l)(5) and 8 CFR 212.1(r)(3). Federal Register notice 91 FR 67595, 27 October 2026

What EVS-TAP was

EVS-TAP (Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program) started on 20 February 2025 as a restricted part of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program. Approved Chinese nationals got a one-year electronic authorisation, could stay up to 14 days per visit, and could only enter the CNMI. Guam and the rest of the United States were never included. DHS says more than 3,000 Chinese nationals used it in fiscal year 2025.

DHS cites national security, onward smuggling to Guam, birth tourism and organised crime as its reasons.

What does not change

Other Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver travellers. The notice only suspends EVS-TAP for Chinese nationals. It does not change the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program for other eligible nationalities.

ESTA travellers. The notice only suspends EVS-TAP. It describes the Guam-CNMI programme as separate from the US Visa Waiver Program, which uses ESTA, and says nothing that changes ESTA travel. Our reading: ESTA travellers are not affected.

Chinese nationals who already hold a valid B1/B2 visa. They can still travel on that visa. CBP says holders of 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 visas in passports issued by the People's Republic of China must also have a valid EVUS enrolment to travel to the United States. That rule is not new.

What travel sellers should do

OTAs and tour operators selling Saipan from China

Stop selling visa-free Saipan packages to Chinese passport holders for trips after the cut-off of 2:00 pm EDT on 30 October (4:00 am Saipan on 31 October). The notice does not say whether a flight's departure or arrival time counts. For any trip close to the cut-off, check with the carrier, CBP or the notice itself before relying on an EVS-TAP approval.

Contact customers already booked for travel from 30 October. Tell them their EVS-TAP will not work and that they need a US visa. Then offer the change or refund options in your terms.

Remove "visa-free" and "no visa needed" wording for Chinese passport holders from Saipan and CNMI product pages, ads and package descriptions.

Airlines flying into Saipan

From the cut-off on 30 October, check that Chinese passport holders bound for the CNMI hold a valid US visa, and a valid EVUS enrolment where it applies. An EVS-TAP approval is no longer enough. Under INA section 273 (8 U.S.C. 1323), carriers can be fined for bringing in a passenger who needs a visa and does not have one.

Watch the timing on flights that leave before the cut-off but land after it. The notice does not say whether departure or arrival time counts. The cautious approach is to check against the arrival time. For any flight that crosses 2:00 pm EDT on 30 October (4:00 am Saipan on 31 October), confirm with CBP's Carrier Liaison Program.

From 3 November, flights into Saipan from a foreign country also fall under the CDC attestation rule: every passenger signs a statement that they were not in the DR Congo in the past 21 days.

TMCs

Check upcoming CNMI trips for travellers on Chinese passports, including staff of companies with operations in Saipan. Business visitors need a B1/B2 visa too.

How SimpleVisa handles it

Treat the CNMI as a visa destination for Chinese passport holders from 2:00 pm EDT on 30 October, with no end date. Do not plan around a quick return of EVS-TAP. The notice does not promise one. If you show US entry options at booking, make sure Saipan and the other CNMI islands follow the same rule as the rest of the United States for Chinese travellers. Check again if DHS publishes a new notice.

FAQ

When does EVS-TAP stop? At 2:00 pm EDT on 30 October 2026. That is 7:00 pm Paris time on 30 October and 4:00 am on 31 October in Saipan.

Does an EVS-TAP approval issued before 30 October still work? No. The suspension covers new applicants and travellers who already hold an approved EVS-TAP authorisation.

What visa does a Chinese tourist need for Saipan now? A US nonimmigrant visa, normally a B1/B2 visitor visa, unless another lawful exception applies. CBP requires holders of a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 visa in a Chinese passport to also have a valid EVUS enrolment.

What about Chinese visitors already in Saipan when the suspension starts? The notice says those admitted under EVS-TAP and "legally present in the CNMI on the effective date" may remain for their authorised period of stay. The suspension takes effect at 2:00 pm EDT on 30 October, which is 4:00 am on 31 October in Saipan. They need a visa for any future trip.

Does this affect Guam? Chinese nationals could not use EVS-TAP for Guam in the first place, so nothing changes there. This notice does not affect the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program for other nationalities.

How long will the suspension last? The notice gives no end date. DHS says it will evaluate the programme with the State and Interior departments.

Operational guidance for travel sellers, not legal advice. Updated 27 October 2026.

Sources

Federal Register, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, "Suspension of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP)", 91 FR 67595, FR Doc. 2026-21880, 27 October 2026 verified 27 Oct 2026 · Federal Register, CDC attestation order, 91 FR 67582, 27 October 2026 (definition of "United States" includes the Northern Mariana Islands) verified 27 Oct 2026 · U.S. Customs and Border Protection, "Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)" (last modified 23 October 2026) verified 27 Oct 2026 · 8 U.S.C. 1323 (INA section 273), "Unlawful bringing of aliens into United States", text via Cornell LII verified 27 Oct 2026

Loris Mazloum

Founder, SimpleVisa

Loris Mazloum founded SimpleVisa and writes the coverage notes on this blog for airlines, OTAs, and other travel companies. Each note is checked against the government source named at the bottom before it publishes. SimpleVisa keeps requirement data for 190+ destinations and files applications where a government channel exists.