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Northern Mariana Islands benefits for Veterans and families, each checked against an official Northern Mariana Islands source and linked to it. Federal VA benefits work the same everywhere, and the CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs (Office of Military Liaison and Veteran Affairs) can help you apply for them at no cost.
10 benefits from official sources2 unverifiedLast verified
CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs (Office of Military Liaison and Veteran Affairs)
How to read the labels:In effect confirmed on an official page. Not yet finalized announced or passed but not in force yet. Unverified — confirm with the agency we couldn't confirm it on an official page, so ask the agency.
Help from your state veterans office
CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs (Office of Military Liaison and Veteran Affairs), Saipan
In effect
The office was set up by the Military Liaison and Veteran Affairs Office Act of 2002 (PL 13-34, effective Dec. 5, 2002), which moved the Division of Veterans Affairs into the Office of the Governor. Under 1 CMC §20123 it is the single point of contact for veteran affairs. It helps returning veterans find jobs and get federal and local benefits, and it coordinates ID, medical and retirement issues with the military. It also runs the CNMI Veterans Cemetery.
Who qualifies
CNMI veterans and families.
Amount or details
Phone 670-664-2650, 2651 or 2652 (per DoD's benefits library).
CNMI income tax follows the IRC: military pay and retired pay are taxable
Unverified — confirm with the agency
Not confirmed on an official page: The only source is DoD's federal page. The CNMI Finance revenue page had no relevant text, and the CNMI rebate structure was not verified.
Residents file with and pay the CNMI Division of Revenue and Taxation. DoD's benefits library says military pay and retired pay are taxable in the CNMI. VA disability compensation and DIC are not.
Veteran / Disabled Veteran plates at 25% off; free for 100% P&T; Gold Star plates
In effect
Under 9 CMC §2116, Veteran and Disabled Veteran plates cost 25% less than a regular plate, both at first registration and at renewal. Disabled Veteran plates require a rating of 10% or more. Veterans rated 100% permanent and total by VA pay no plate fee. There is no limit on the number of vehicles, but plates are for non-commercial passenger vehicles and motorcycles only. Gold Star plates are available to family members of service members who died. PL 24-23 (Mar. 11, 2026) amended the definitions to include reserve component service.
Who qualifies
Discharge other than dishonorable. Active duty or reserve service.
Amount or details
25% off the plate fee, or free at 100% P&T.
How to apply
Apply to the DPS Bureau of Motor Vehicles with a DD-214, an OVA certification or a VA ID card. For a fee waiver, bring the VA decision letter.
Resident tuition at Northern Marianas College for covered veterans and dependents
Unverified — confirm with the agency
Not confirmed on an official page: The only source is DoD's federal page. NMC's own policy page was not reviewed.
NMC charges resident tuition to veterans who live in the CNMI and enroll within 3 years of discharge after 90+ days of active duty. The same applies to spouses and children using transferred benefits or the Fry Scholarship. This tracks the federal 38 U.S.C. §3679(c) rule. DoD says the CNMI has no separate territorial education aid for veterans.
CNMI Government Veterans' Preference Act of 2023: extra points in civil service entry
In effect
Under 1 CMC §§8701-8703 (PL 23-05, Aug. 1, 2023), a preference eligible uses the federal definition in 5 U.S.C. §2108(3)-(4) and §2108a(c). Applicants entering the civil service through Preferential Credit of Qualification Evaluation get 2 extra points under §2108(3)(C)-(G), which covers disabled veterans, spouses, widows and mothers. Those under §2108(3)(A)-(B), non-disabled veterans, get 1 point. OPM writes the implementing rules.
Who qualifies
Federal preference-eligible definition.
Amount or details
2 points or 1 point.
How to apply
Claim it on the CNMI civil service application. OPM regulations apply.
Discounted Call-A-Ride (COTA) shared rides; NMHC help with VA Native American Direct Loans
In effect
COTA's Call-A-Ride Saipan program offers veterans discounted shared rides once they file an application and a DD-214. The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation's Mortgage and Credit Division helps honorably discharged veterans of CNMI descent with VA's Native American Direct Loan (NADL).
Who qualifies
Veterans. NADL is for veterans of CNMI descent who have a DD-214 and a Certificate of Eligibility.
CNMI Veterans Cemetery (Marpi, Saipan), free burial for veterans; satellites authorized on Tinian and Rota
In effect
Under 1 CMC §20126, the CNMI Veterans Cemetery was established in Marpi, Saipan, with satellite cemeteries authorized on Tinian and Rota. Under §20128, eligible veterans are buried free of charge. Spouses and dependents pay a cost-based fee. Under §20127, a veteran must have been born in the CNMI, been a resident when entering or leaving service, or lived there for 2 consecutive years.
Who qualifies
CNMI connection and honorable service. Spouses and minor or dependent children are eligible.
Amount or details
Free for veterans. Dependents pay a fee set by schedule.
The OVA has no standalone website that I could find. The Office of the Public Auditor lists OVA only for audit reports. The agency URL used is the DoD page that links to OVA, and the phone number also comes from DoD.
Property tax: no veteran exemption was found, and the CNMI real property tax structure was not checked. Not marked none_offered.
Veterans home: none found.
Veteran ID / driver's license designation: not found in the materials reviewed.
Legislation: the CNMI Legislature's bill database was not searched. Only PL 24-23 (2026) and PL 23-05 (2023) were identified, through the code's source notes.
cem.va.gov's state listing for MP loads its content with JavaScript, so the cemetery facts come from the statute.
Code text comes from the CNMI Law Revision Commission at cnmilaw.org. The cnmilaw.gov address returned 404.
Federal benefits you can use in Northern Mariana Islands
This territory page was last reviewed against official sources on November 1, 2026. Our watcher re-checks those pages automatically and flags any item whose quoted wording disappears.