Palau at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | None |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | The U.S. Embassy in Koror handles nonimmigrant visas; immigrant visas are processed at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Palau right now
- Under the Compact of Free Association, citizens of Palau can enter, live, work and study in the United States without a visa, but this is not a green card and does not lead to citizenship on its own. Becoming a permanent resident still requires a normal path such as a family or employment petition. No travel-ban, immigrant-visa-pause or visa-bond restrictions applied as of October 2026.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Palau
Family petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsMarriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseU.S. citizenship (N-400)Become a U.S. citizen through naturalizationF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolEB-3 green cardEmployer-sponsored green card through PERM labor certificationGreen card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countries
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Palau visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Palau is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Palau get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Palau nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Palau and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Palau enter the green card lottery?
Palau was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from Palau have their visa interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Koror handles nonimmigrant visas; immigrant visas are processed at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Palau?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Oceania
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.