Palau
Palau visa guide: visa on arrival, entry form and long-stay visas
- 7 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Palau work
Immigration in Palau is run by the Division of Immigration within the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) of the Ministry of Finance, applying Title 13 of the Palau National Code, the Immigration Regulations 2006 and Executive Order 450. Every foreign national must hold a valid visa or work permit to enter, except citizens of the United States, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, who need no visa.
Most short-term visitors receive a 30-day tourist or business visa on arrival, extendable twice by 30 days for 50 US dollars each. Citizens of Schengen states may stay up to 90 days in any 180 days under the visa-waiver agreement Palau signed with the European Union on 7 December 2015, and Russian citizens up to 30 days under a separate agreement. Since 30 March 2026, Executive Order 499 requires travellers from 12 flagged countries to obtain written pre-clearance before boarding.
All passengers submit the online Palau Entry Form no more than 72 hours before departure and show the resulting QR code at check-in and on arrival. On arrival every visitor signs the Palau Pledge, the official entry stamp since 7 December 2017, and every visitor is charged the 100 dollar Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee, which airlines include in the ticket price. Long-stay visas, including student, resident, investor and dependant visas, are not available on arrival and are lodged with the Division of Immigration in Koror or by email.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday or family visit up to 30 days: tourist visa on arrival, extendable to 90 days.
Meetings, conferences or exploring business opportunities: business visa on arrival, same 30-day rules.
Job in Palau: labor permit from the Bureau of Labor and Human Resources, then the work permit visa.
Full-time study at a school in Palau: student visa.
Making Palau your home: resident visa; holding at least 25 percent of an approved foreign investment: investor visa.
Spouse or child of someone lawfully in Palau: dependent visa.
Visa types for Palau
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Tourist Visa on arrival
Palau issues a tourist visa on arrival to short-term visitors for tourism, leisure and social visits.
Maximum stay: 30 days, extendable to a total of 90 days
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business Visa on arrival
Palau's business visa may be issued on arrival to travellers attending meetings or conferences, negotiating contracts or exploring business opportunities.
Maximum stay: 30 days, extendable twice by 30 days - Investor visa Investor Visa
Palau's investor visa is for foreign nationals who hold a Foreign Investment Approval Certificate and are certified by the Foreign Investment Board as holding at least 25 percent of the equity.
Validity: Up to 5 years, not beyond the Foreign Investment Approval Certificate
Study and training
- Student visa Student Visa
Palau's student visa is for foreign nationals enrolled full-time at a school in Palau who live in housing maintained by the school.
Validity: No more than one year
Work
- Work visa Work Permit visa (with labor permit from the Bureau of Labor and Human Resources)
To work in Palau a foreign national first needs a labor permit from the Bureau of Labor and Human Resources.
Validity: Same term as the labor permit
Family
- Family reunification visa Dependent Visa
Palau's dependent visa is for the spouse or children under 21 of a foreign national lawfully present in Palau, such as a work permit holder, and can also be obtained by foreigners married to Palauan nationals.
Validity: Up to 5 years, ending no later than the principal's visa
Residence
- Residence permit Resident Visa
The resident visa is for foreign nationals who want to make Palau their home and is granted at the Director's discretion for up to two years, for a fee of 200 US dollars.
Validity: Up to two years
Frequently asked questions
Do I get a visa on arrival in Palau?
Short-term tourist and business visitors can be issued a 30-day visa on arrival. Nationals of the 12 countries listed in Executive Order 499 need written pre-clearance before travelling.
What is the Palau Entry Form?
An online arrival declaration that every passenger submits no more than 72 hours before departure. It produces a QR code to show on a phone or printout at check-in and on arrival.
What is the Palau Pledge?
A commitment to protect Palau's environment and culture, stamped in visitors' passports. Every visitor signs it on arrival; it has been the official entry stamp since 7 December 2017.
Do I have to pay an environmental fee?
Yes. Every visitor is charged the 100 dollar Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee, which airlines include in the ticket price. Palauan passport holders, their spouses, crew on duty, accredited diplomats and transit passengers are exempt and can claim a cash refund on arrival.
Do I need a transit visa?
No. Passengers staying up to 24 hours with a confirmed onward flight need no transit visa; if the layover exceeds 24 hours, another visa category applies.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.