Republic of Palau · residence general
USA, FSM and RMI citizens — entry and specified fee exemptions
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Full-review date shown above.
Citizens of the USA, Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands have statutory entry and specified fee exemptions; admission and remaining work laws still apply.
- Processing time
- Present the actual citizenship and travel evidence at the relevant entry checks. There is no ordinary visa-renewal application under this exemption; confirm remaining work/activity procedures in advance.
- Government fees
- Visa fee exemption and specified statutory labor entry/worker-document fee exemptions. Section 1326(b) covers subsection (a)(1)–(7), not the occupation-change item (a)(8); section 1345 addresses entry/worker-document fees. Do not assume every labor, occupation, environmental, tax or business charge is waived.
- Typical duration
- Current service guidance describes the citizen exemption for the duration of the visit, work or residence; not the old Regulation 304 one-year visa cap or a permanent-residence grant
- Required support
- Actual USA, FSM or RMI citizenship; remaining activity laws still apply
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
Citizens of the USA, Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands have statutory entry and specified fee exemptions; admission and remaining work laws still apply. 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/us-fsm-rmi-citizen-entry-exemption#answer
What is the USA, FSM and RMI citizens — entry and specified fee exemptions in Republic of Palau?
Actual USA, FSM or RMI citizenship; remaining activity laws still apply. Use the actual Palau category and authority process. Indicative government fees are Visa fee exemption and specified statutory labor entry/worker-document fee exemptions. Section 1326(b) covers subsection (a)(1)–(7), not the occupation-change item (a)(8); section 1345 addresses entry/worker-document fees. Do not assume every labor, occupation, environmental, tax or business charge is waived; indicative processing time is Present the actual citizenship and travel evidence at the relevant entry checks. There is no ordinary visa-renewal application under this exemption; confirm remaining work/activity procedures in advance; typical duration is Current service guidance describes the citizen exemption for the duration of the visit, work or residence; not the old Regulation 304 one-year visa cap or a permanent-residence grant. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Primary guidance checked with Republic of Palau National Code Commission on 15 November 2026.
Overview
RPPL 11-26, effective 2 November 2022, amended Title 13 to exempt these citizens from the entry-permit requirements in sections 1002(a) and (c), while preserving inadmissibility under section 1005. The current Division page says no visa or visa renewal is needed on this citizen basis. This is not a blanket repeal of Palau’s labor, occupation, investment, tax or other laws. Obtain the actual remaining Labor and Immigration procedure for the intended activity.
Additional sources
Primary source
Palau National Code Title 13 — Code Commission copy current as of 30 September 2026 ↗ · Republic of Palau National Code Commission
Link last verified:
Primary source
Immigration Division — current categories, entry and filing guidance ↗ · Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ministry of Finance
Link last verified:
Primary source
Labor Rules and Regulations 2019 — official Code Commission copy, including Part XXII fees ↗ · Republic of Palau National Code Commission
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Prove citizenship of one of the three named countries; another country’s residence card or a Digital Residency card is insufficient.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
- ✓Meet actual admissibility and border requirements; section 1005 still applies.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
- ✓Current BCBP instructions call for a passport valid at least six months, the Entry Form and a stated purpose; onward ticket is not required for this citizen basis.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
- ✓Comply with remaining labor, occupation, investment and tax requirements for the actual activity; exemption from specified fees does not itself remove every process.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
Common blockers
- !Citizenship is confused with residence in the USA/FSM/RMI.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
- !The exemption is treated as unlimited work in any regulated occupation, citizenship or an automatic PR grant.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
- !Older one-year/renewal fee wording is used without the later statute.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Passport/citizenship evidence, Entry Form and actual purpose/status records requested by Immigration.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
- ·Any Labor, employer, occupational or investment documents still required for the actual activity; obtain the competent authority’s assessment of fee exemptions.Republic of Palau National Code Commission ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the actual citizenship basis, admissibility and travel documents.
Build the evidence pack
Ask Labor/Immigration what remains required for the proposed job, residence or activity.
Submit through the official channel
Present the Entry Form and actual citizenship/purpose evidence at entry.
After approval
Follow remaining Palau laws and any activity-specific approvals; do not apply the superseded ordinary one-year visa renewal by default.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For USA, FSM and RMI citizens — entry and specified fee exemptions, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- Official guidanceApplicantRead RPPL 11-26 — citizen entry and specified labor fee exemptions ↗
Read the actual later citizen-exemption law, not only the older base Regulations.
Republic of Palau National Code Commission · verified
- Official guidanceApplicantRead Immigration Division — current categories, entry and filing guidance ↗
Confirm remaining travel and activity procedures for the actual citizenship and proposed stay.
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ministry of Finance · verified
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Related routes
Nonresident work permit and linked immigration status
Employer-led nonresident employment needs the actual labor approval and immigration status; current experience, age, fees and nationality exceptions must be checked.
US military personnel — official status documents
Current Immigration guidance provides visa-exempt handling for US military personnel presenting the required official ID and orders/status documents.
Palauan parentage — citizenship status and documentation
The 2008 constitutional amendment recognises citizenship through a Palauan-citizen or recognised-ancestry parent; obtain the actual status and documentation assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Does holding a US green card qualify?+
No. The RPPL 11-26 citizen exemption requires citizenship of one of the three named countries. Residence or a visa for one of them is not that citizenship.
What about US nationals who are not US citizens?+
The Code separately reproduces Compact section 142 concerning US citizens and nationals. RPPL 11-26’s cited entry and fee provisions use citizen wording. Obtain the actual Compact/status and fee assessment; do not infer identical fee treatment from nationality alone.
Are all work rules and fees waived?+
No. The law exempts specified entry/worker-document requirements and fees. The occupation-change item is outside the cited section 1326(b) list, and other labor/activity laws still require actual assessment.
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 PalauHow 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: Republic of Palau National Code Commission
Last checked: 15 November 2026