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Republic of Palau · residence general

Resident Visa — discretionary residence

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Full-review date shown above.

A discretionary Resident Visa may be granted for up to two years based on purpose, resources, qualifying dependants and Palau’s interests; it is not automatic permanent residence.

Purpose and resources assessed by the DirectorDoes not lead to permanent residencyUp to two years at the Director’s discretion; not an unlimited or automatic PR grantIn flux
Processing time
BCBP directs the relevant non-visitor visa applications to its office in Koror or its published immigration email, not an assumed arrival application. The website gives indicative 5–10 working days; the linked general form asks for ten working days for complete applications. These are service indications, not a guaranteed decision or permission to board.
Government fees
USD 200 Resident Visa issuance fee under Regulation 802. Confirm the actual assessment, citizenship exemption and other document/medical costs.
Typical duration
Up to two years at the Director’s discretion; not an unlimited or automatic PR grant
Required support
Purpose and resources assessed by the Director
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ministry of Finance ↗

In short

A discretionary Resident Visa may be granted for up to two years based on purpose, resources, qualifying dependants and Palau’s interests; it is not automatic permanent residence. Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/palau/resident-visa#answer

What is the Resident Visa — discretionary residence in Republic of Palau?

Purpose and resources assessed by the Director. Use the actual Palau category and authority process. Indicative government fees are USD 200 Resident Visa issuance fee under Regulation 802. Confirm the actual assessment, citizenship exemption and other document/medical costs; indicative processing time is BCBP directs the relevant non-visitor visa applications to its office in Koror or its published immigration email, not an assumed arrival application. The website gives indicative 5–10 working days; the linked general form asks for ten working days for complete applications. These are service indications, not a guaranteed decision or permission to board; typical duration is Up to two years at the Director’s discretion; not an unlimited or automatic PR grant. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ministry of Finance on 15 November 2026.

Overview

Regulation 309 allows the Director to grant a Resident Visa after considering the purpose of the person’s presence, dependants who may lawfully stay, ability to provide support and the Republic’s interests. The grant is limited to up to two years. The service page’s permanent-home description does not establish an indefinite or automatic permanent-residence grant. The actual application, financial evidence and authority decision remain necessary, subject to citizenship exemptions.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Check the actual residence basis, nationality exemption and whether another named category fits better.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Prepare the Resident form section and purpose, income, housing, health and character records.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Lodge through the stated BCBP office/email channel and pay the assessed fee; await the discretionary grant.

  4. After approval

    Read the actual expiry and conditions; seek any further work/investment permission and renew in time if eligible.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Resident Visa — discretionary residence, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Resident Visa — discretionary residence instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Palau

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Read Immigration Division — current categories, entry and filing guidance ↗

    Check the actual category and current filing instructions before sending a complete application.

    Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ministry of Finance · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Read Visa application form — actual resident, dependent, student and official categories ↗

    Read the checklist for the selected visa; the PDF does not itself submit the application.

    Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ministry of Finance · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Does this give permanent residence?+

No automatic PR classification is established. Regulation 309 describes a discretionary grant of up to two years. Renewal, employment and other rights need their actual legal basis.

Is there a universal published monthly income threshold?+

This class requires evidence of support and an individual assessment. The sources checked do not establish one universal numeric income threshold for every Resident Visa application.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Palau

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ministry of Finance

Last checked: 15 November 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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