U.S. territory

Puerto Rico: U.S. Immigration and Citizenship

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. U.S. immigration law includes Puerto Rico in its geographic definition of the United States, so there is no separate Puerto Rico immigration visa. The pathway cards below are U.S. routes that may be relevant to living in Puerto Rico, subject to each route's requirements. See the federal definition of the United States.

If you want to live there

If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need an immigration visa to move to Puerto Rico. If you are not, start with your U.S. immigration status rather than looking for a Puerto Rico visa. For example, a qualifying family relationship may support a U.S. family-based residence route, while a qualifying U.S. job may support an employment-based route. Neither example grants status simply because you plan to live in Puerto Rico.

Lawful permanent residents living in Puerto Rico may also pursue U.S. naturalization when they meet the federal requirements. USCIS publishes naturalization information specifically for Puerto Rico residents.

If you were born there

Under 8 U.S.C. § 1402, a person born in Puerto Rico on or after January 13, 1941, and subject to U.S. jurisdiction is a U.S. citizen from birth. The law has a different rule for births from April 11, 1899, through January 12, 1941; it includes a residence condition tied to January 13, 1941. Our U.S. citizenship by birth pathway checks which rule may apply. Earlier or unusual cases need their own review.

Travel between Puerto Rico and the states

U.S. citizens do not need a passport to travel between Puerto Rico and the states. Noncitizens should check the documents and conditions of their own U.S. status, especially if their itinerary also passes through another country.

Could you qualify?

Answer a few quick questions to see which U.S. pathways may apply to you in Puerto Rico. It's free, and takes just a few minutes.

See if you're a match

U.S. pathways that may apply in Puerto Rico

Career & business

For people with a job offer, in-demand skills, or a business to build. Most of these routes lead to settlement, and in time to citizenship.

U.S. National Interest Waiver Green Card The EB-2 National Interest Waiver is a green card route for people with an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose proposed work has broader… residency U.S. Company Transfer Visa The L-1 route is for employees being transferred to a U.S. office of the same company group. It generally requires a qualifying relationship between… residency U.S. Extraordinary Ability Visa The O-1 is for people with strong national or international recognition in fields such as sciences, education, business, athletics, arts, film, or… residency U.S. Priority Worker Green Card EB-1 is a permanent-residence route for people with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors or researchers, and certain multinational executives… residency U.S. Work Status for Canadians or Mexicans TN status is for Canadian and Mexican citizens with a prearranged U.S. job in a listed USMCA professional occupation. It generally requires Canadian… residency U.S. Employer-Sponsored Green Card This route covers employer-sponsored U.S. green cards for many EB-2 and EB-3 workers, including advanced-degree professionals, exceptional-ability… residency U.S. Specialty Occupation Work Visa The H-1B is for people with a U.S. employer offer in a specialty occupation that normally requires a directly related bachelor's degree or higher.… residency U.S. Work Visa for Australian Professionals The E-3 is a U.S. specialty-occupation work route for Australian nationals with a qualifying U.S. job, the right credentials, and an approved Labor… residency U.S. Work Visa for Chileans or Singaporeans The H-1B1 is a U.S. specialty-occupation work route for nationals of Chile and Singapore with qualifying U.S. professional jobs. residency U.S. Treaty Trader Visa The E-1 treaty trader route is for certain treaty-country nationals connected to substantial trade principally between the United States and the… residency U.S. Religious Worker Green Card The EB-4 religious worker route is a green card path for certain ministers and qualifying religious workers with a U.S. religious organization… residency U.S. Religious Worker Visa The R-1 route is for certain religious workers coming temporarily to work for a qualifying U.S. religious organization. residency U.S. Temporary or Seasonal Work Visa The H-2A and H-2B routes are for temporary or seasonal U.S. jobs in agriculture or non-agricultural work. They are employer-driven and limited to… residency

Investment & premium residence

For people who can qualify through an investment, real estate, business funds, or a premium residence fee rather than a job or family tie.

U.S. Treaty Investor Visa The E-2 is a temporary U.S. route for nationals of treaty countries who invest a substantial amount of capital in a real, active U.S. business. It… residency U.S. Investor Green Card EB-5 is a green card route for investors who place a large qualifying investment into a U.S. commercial enterprise and plan to create at least 10… residency

Family

For joining a partner, parent, or child who already lives there — or claiming citizenship through marriage.

U.S. Green Card through an Immediate Relative This green card route is for the spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of an adult U.S. citizen. It generally requires a qualifying family… residency U.S. Citizenship Through Citizen Spouse Some lawful permanent residents married to U.S. citizens can apply for naturalization after 3 years instead of the ordinary 5-year period. citizenship U.S. Fiancé Visa The K-1 visa is for a foreign fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen who plans to enter the United States, marry within 90 days, and then apply for permanent… residency U.S. Family Preference Green Card This green card route is for certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who do not fit the immediate-relative categories.… residency

Ancestry & heritage

A parent, grandparent, or birth in the country can make you a citizen already — or let you claim it, often without relocating.

U.S. Citizenship Through Citizen Parent This pathway is for people born outside the United States who may have been U.S. citizens from birth through a U.S. citizen parent. It generally… citizenship U.S. Citizenship by Birth Most people born in a U.S. state or Washington, D.C., are citizens from birth. Federal statutes also cover qualifying births in Puerto Rico and the… citizenship U.S. Citizenship Through Parent After Birth Some people born outside the United States became U.S. citizens after birth as children when they lived in the United States as lawful permanent… citizenship

Study

Routes to study there, and often to stay on and work after you graduate.

U.S. Academic or Vocational Student Visa The F-1 and M-1 student visa routes are for people accepted by approved U.S. schools. They are temporary study routes, but F-1 study can sometimes… residency U.S. Exchange Visitor Visa The J-1 route is for people accepted into approved U.S. exchange visitor programs, including interns, trainees, scholars, teachers, au pairs, and… residency

Citizenship by residence

Once you've lived there long enough and settled, you can often apply to become a citizen.

U.S. Citizenship After Residence U.S. naturalization is the ordinary citizenship route for lawful permanent residents who have enough residence, physical presence, good moral… citizenship U.S. Citizenship Through Military Service Some current and former members of the U.S. armed forces can qualify for special naturalization rules based on military service. citizenship

Other routes

Nationality-specific schemes and special cases.

U.S. Cuban Adjustment Act Green Card The Cuban Adjustment Act can allow certain Cuban natives or citizens, and some qualifying family members, to apply for a U.S. green card after being… residency U.S. Diversity Visa Selection in the Diversity Visa program can lead to U.S. permanent residence, but the State Department currently pauses consular DV issuance.… residency U.S. Protection Through Asylum U.S. asylum is a protection route for people already in the United States, or arriving at the border, who fear persecution in their home country for a… residency U.S. Temporary Protected Status Temporary Protected Status can protect eligible nationals of designated countries, and some stateless people who last lived there, who are already in… residency U.S. Family-Abuse Survivor Green Card VAWA self-petitioning can help certain abused spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents seek immigration… residency U.S. T Visa for Trafficking Survivors The T visa is a protection route for certain survivors of severe human trafficking who are in the United States because of trafficking and meet… residency U.S. U Visa for Victims of Certain Crimes The U visa is a protection route for certain victims of qualifying crimes who suffered substantial harm and were helpful, are being helpful, or are… residency U.S. Special Immigrant Juvenile Green Card Special Immigrant Juvenile classification can lead to a green card for certain young people in the United States who have a qualifying state-court… residency U.S. Refugee Protection and Resettlement U.S. refugee resettlement is for qualifying people outside the United States. Ordinary processing and admissions are suspended, with only narrow… residency