It's a free, online pre-arrival declaration, and it's separate from two other requirements you'll also encounter: the Palau Pledge and the Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee. This guide walks US passport holders through exactly what to submit, when, and what each requirement actually covers.
This is an independent guide, not an official government website. Below, you'll find everything American citizens need to know about the Entry Form, plus how we can help you get it right.
File My Palau Arrival CardWhat Is the Palau Entry Form?
The Palau Entry Form is a mandatory online declaration submitted at palautravel.pw before you travel to Palau. You have to submit it within 72 hours before your arrival in Palau, and once you do, you'll receive a QR code. That code is what you'll show at check-in with your airline and again when you land in Palau. Think of it as the digital version of a paper arrival card — except you fill it out ahead of time, so border processing on the ground is faster.
Did you know? It's a reasonable guess that Palau's Compact of Free Association with the United States gives US Citizens some kind of special entry treatment — but it doesn't. The Compact actually runs in the opposite direction: it lets Palauan citizens live, work, and study in the US indefinitely without a visa. American visitors to Palau go through the same visa-on-arrival process as other non-exempt nationalities. — Fact Sheet: Status of Citizens of the Republic of Palau — USCIS
| Quick facts for American travelers | |
|---|---|
| Entry Form | Mandatory — free, submit within 72 hours of arrival |
| Visa to enter Palau | Visa on arrival — up to 30 days, extendable twice for a fee |
| PPEF | $100, added to airfare when you book |
Palau Entry Form vs. the Palau Pledge vs. the Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee — Three Different Things
This is where most travelers get confused, so let's be direct about it: these are three separate requirements, and completing one does not take care of the others.
| Requirement | What it is | When it happens | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Form | Online pre-arrival declaration | Submitted within 72 hours before your arrival in Palau | palautravel.pw |
| Palau Pledge | A conservation and cultural-respect commitment, stamped into your passport | Signed in person on arrival | Immigration counter at the airport |
| Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee (PPEF) | A $100 environmental fee | Added to your airfare when you book | Collected through your airline ticket |
Submitting your Entry Form gets you a QR code. It doesn't mean you've signed the Pledge (you'll do that in person when you land) or that you've handled the PPEF (that's baked into your ticket price already). All three are independent, and US Citizens should expect to encounter each one.
Do US Citizens Need a Visa to Enter Palau?
Depending on your nationality, you may be visa-exempt or covered under a visa-on-arrival arrangement for a set stay length. But here's the important part: whether or not US Citizens need a visa has nothing to do with the Entry Form requirement. Every visitor — visa-exempt or not — must still submit the Entry Form before traveling. Visa exemption only removes the need for a visa; it doesn't remove anything else on this list.
That means US Citizens should plan for the standard visa-on-arrival process — up to 30 days, extendable twice for a fee — and should also be ready to show proof of sufficient funds (around $200 per week of your stay), a requirement that applies broadly to visa-on-arrival travelers.
Who Must Complete the Entry Form
Every visitor arriving in Palau needs to be covered by a submitted Entry Form, no matter their nationality or visa category. Good news for anyone traveling as a family: only one form is required per family or single traveler, so you won't need to fill it out separately for each person sharing the trip. If you're traveling with companions who aren't immediate family, it's safest to submit individual forms for each of you.
When to Submit: The 72-Hour Window Before Arrival
Submit your Entry Form no earlier than 72 hours before you arrive in Palau — the window is measured against your arrival time, not your departure time. This isn't something to do weeks in advance — it's meant to reflect your travel details close to the actual trip. Because of this, travelers on longer multi-leg itineraries should count back from their Palau arrival time, not their first takeoff, when figuring out when the window opens.
Information US passport holders Need
Before you sit down to fill out the form, have the following ready:
- Your passport details
- Your travel dates and flight information
- Contact information for yourself (and any family members included on the same form)
The form itself must be completed in English, so if you're helping someone who isn't comfortable with English-language forms, plan to assist them directly.
How to Complete the Entry Form — Step by Step
- Go to palautravel.pw within 72 hours of your arrival in Palau.
- Fill in your passport, travel, and contact details.
- Submit the form.
- Save the QR code you receive, either as a screenshot or a printed copy.
- Check your inbox — a confirmation copy is also emailed to you after submission. Keep this alongside your QR code.
Getting Your QR Code and What to Do With It at the Airport
Once you submit the form, your QR code is generated immediately. You'll need to show it twice: once at check-in with your airline, and again upon arrival in Palau. Whether you keep it on your phone or print it out, make sure it's easily accessible — you don't want to be digging through your email at the check-in counter.
The Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee (PPEF): What It Costs and Who's Exempt
The PPEF is a $100 environmental fee charged to visitors entering Palau. Unlike the Entry Form, you don't fill out anything for this — it's automatically added to your airfare when you book your flight. Certain exemptions apply, so if you believe you qualify, check the current exemption details before you travel. The key point for US Citizens to remember: this fee is not something you handle through the Entry Form, and submitting the Entry Form doesn't mean you've already paid it (or that you still need to — it's already built into your ticket).
The Palau Pledge: What You'll Sign on Arrival
The Palau Pledge is a conservation and cultural-respect commitment that every arriving visitor signs — literally stamped into your passport at the immigration counter when you land. Palau became the first country in the world to do this, starting in 2017. It's not something you complete online, and it's not part of the Entry Form. You'll encounter it in person, after you've already submitted your Entry Form and arrived in Palau. It's a short, meaningful gesture that reflects how seriously Palau treats environmental stewardship, and it's worth knowing about ahead of time so it doesn't catch you off guard at immigration.
Common Mistakes US Citizens Make
- Confusing the Entry Form with the Pledge. Submitting your Entry Form online does not mean you've signed the Pledge — that happens separately, in person, on arrival.
- Assuming the Entry Form covers the PPEF. The $100 fee is charged through your airfare, not through the Entry Form.
- Thinking visa-exempt status means no Entry Form is needed. It doesn't — the Entry Form applies to every visitor, regardless of visa status.
- Counting the 72-hour window from departure instead of arrival. The window opens 72 hours before you land in Palau, not 72 hours before you leave home — on a long multi-leg trip, those can be a day or more apart.
- Filing separate forms for family members when one will do. One form per family or single traveler is all that's required.
- Assuming the Compact of Free Association simplifies entry. It doesn't — the Compact benefits Palauan citizens traveling to the US, not the other way around. US Citizens still need the standard visa-on-arrival process, the Entry Form, the Palau Pledge, and the PPEF, exactly like other non-exempt visitors.
Ready to Travel to Palau?
Submitting your Entry Form is the first practical step toward your trip — and now that you know it's separate from the Pledge and the PPEF, you can plan for all three without any surprises at the airport.
How TravelDeclaration.com Can Help American Citizens
You're always welcome to complete the Entry Form yourself directly through the official channel. Where we come in is everything around the process: reviewing your entries for the mistakes covered above, coordinating multiple passports and travelers in one household, and making sure nothing gets missed before you're standing at the gate.
We know there are other assisted-filing services out there — what we're focused on is being the most accurate and transparent one, not the only one.
Get Started With TravelDeclaration.comMore Palau Entry Form Guides by Nationality
- Palau Entry Form for Japanese Citizens
- Palau Entry Form for South Korean Citizens
- Palau Entry Form for Taiwanese Citizens
FAQ for US Citizens
Is the Palau Entry Form the same as the Palau Pledge?
No. The Entry Form is an online declaration you submit before you travel. The Pledge is a passport stamp you sign in person on arrival. They're entirely separate.
Is the Entry Form free?
Yes. There's no government fee to submit the Entry Form.
Does the Entry Form include the Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee?
No. The PPEF is a separate $100 fee added to your airfare when you book — it isn't something you pay or submit through the Entry Form.
Do children need their own Entry Form?
No. One form covers a family or single traveler, so children traveling with their family can be included on the same submission.
What happens if I don't submit it before I arrive?
You'll need it to check in with your airline, so submitting it in advance — within the 72-hour window before your arrival in Palau — helps avoid delays or complications at the airport.
Does Palau's Compact of Free Association with the US mean US Citizens get special treatment entering Palau?
No. The Compact of Free Association runs in the other direction — it allows Palauan citizens to live, work, and study in the United States indefinitely without a visa, not the reverse. US Citizens visiting Palau go through the standard visa-on-arrival process, generally for up to 30 days, and still need to submit the Entry Form, sign the Palau Pledge, and cover the PPEF through their airfare, just like other non-exempt nationalities.