Palau Arrival Guide: Entry Form, Airport Pickup and Cash
A smooth Palau arrival starts before boarding: check the entry rules for your passport, complete the official entry form in its submission window, save the QR code offline, and confirm your airport pickup. Keep US dollars available for initial expenses and make the first evening easy.
On my trip, I arrived without completing the online form and had to deal with it at the airport. Our hotel driver was also away taking another group when we came out. Both situations worked out, but they are exactly the details I would settle in advance next time.
Entry and transport information checked September 30, 2026. This article contains an affiliate link; if you book through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Palau arrival checklist: what to arrange and when
| When | Action | Keep accessible |
|---|---|---|
| Before committing to travel | Check nationality-specific entry requirements and any pre-clearance obligation | Passport, return travel, accommodation confirmation and any approval |
| Before departure | Confirm the airport ride, room arrival date and late check-in arrangements | Written pickup instructions and a working contact number |
| Within the official form window | Submit the Palau Entry Form | QR code and confirmation email saved offline |
| Before leaving the airport | Locate the agreed driver or contact the booked provider | Hotel name, address and booking reference |
| At the hotel | Settle dinner and reconfirm the next morning’s plans | Pickup time, operator name and meal requests |
Check your passport’s entry rules before filling out the form
The arrival QR code is only one part of preparation. Visa waivers, tourist admission and pre-clearance depend on your circumstances; do not assume a rule written for US citizens applies to every passport.
The Palau Bureau of Customs and Border Protection’s immigration guidance lists six months of passport validity at entry, a return ticket unless exempt, and sufficient funds among its tourist-entry criteria. Keep your accommodation details accessible too. Read the section relevant to your nationality and purpose of travel before buying nonrefundable arrangements.
Check the newer pre-clearance notice as well. The bureau’s notice effective March 30, 2026 introduces pre-clearance for designated travelers, including those from a listed group of countries. It requires applications at least five days before travel and written clearance for boarding where applicable. The general tourist page alone does not cover this newer notice. If it applies to you, contact Immigration early about the required documents and submission sequence; the last-minute QR-form window is not enough time for pre-clearance.
The bureau also states that the US$100 Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee is included in international airline tickets into Palau, with specified exemptions and refund rules. Check your ticket breakdown rather than budgeting it automatically as a second airport payment.
Complete the Palau Entry Form and save the QR code
Use the official Palau Entry Form portal. Its current instruction is to submit within 72 hours before departure and present the generated QR code at check-in and on arrival. The portal says a family can use one form and that a copy is emailed after submission.
Save both the email and QR code somewhere you can open without a connection; a printed copy is another option. Check the portal again when completing it, especially if your journey includes a long connection or your departure date changes.
I had expected a paper card or something handed out on the flight. Instead, I ended up completing the information after landing. That was my historical experience, not a process to rely on today: the current instructions explicitly require the QR code at check-in as well.
Arrange your airport pickup before you fly
Palau International Airport’s access page says the drive to Koror takes about 20–30 minutes and warns that cabs do not wait at the airport. Treat that as a reason to reserve your ride, rather than planning to choose a taxi from a queue after immigration. The driving estimate excludes border processing, baggage collection and any waiting for other passengers.
Start with your accommodation
Ask whether the hotel arranges pickup, then get the total price and payment method in writing. Send your flight number, arrival date and time, passenger count, and luggage details. Confirm whether the vehicle is private or shared, where to meet, how long the driver waits, and who handles a delayed flight.
I arranged our ride through Palau Central Hotel. When we arrived, the driver was taking another group first, so we went on the next run. A booking did not mean the vehicle would be waiting the instant we emerged. My Palau Central Hotel review covers the accommodation itself; for arrival planning, the useful lesson is to ask about the pickup sequence and keep a contact ready.
A shared transfer is another option, with language checks
KKday lists a shared airport transfer serving Koror and Airai with a Mandarin-speaking driver. It involves multiple drop-offs and is not advertised as wheelchair accessible. English-speaking travelers should confirm that pickup instructions and delay support can be provided in a language they understand before booking.
The listing’s luggage wording varies between sections, so confirm your exact bags with the supplier. Check acceptance of your flight and hotel, the final quote, meeting point and cancellation terms for your date. I used a hotel-arranged ride on my trip, not this KKday product.
Check the Mandarin-speaking shared airport transfer on KKday
If you cannot find your driver
Stay near the agreed meeting point and use the number on your confirmation. Give your name, flight number and exact location; ask whether the driver is delayed, serving another group or waiting elsewhere. If you need help making contact, ask airport staff. Establishing this fallback before flying is more useful than assuming you will have mobile data immediately.
Bring dollars and confirm how the first expenses are paid
The US State Department’s Palau guidance confirms that the US dollar is the local currency, with banks and ATMs mainly in Koror. It says credit cards are widely accepted but recommends carrying some cash.
For your arrival, work backward from the actual arrangements: is the ride prepaid, charged to the room, or payable to the driver? Is dinner likely to be paid by card? Carry a practical cash reserve based on those answers, including some smaller denominations, and keep a backup payment method separate. No single cash amount suits a prepaid resort stay and a trip with several unpaid services.
Do not make the ride or first meal depend on a particular ATM working when you land. Ask providers directly about accepted cards, cash requirements and any fees instead of treating an old trip report as today’s payment policy.
Keep the first evening useful and flexible
Check which hotel night your flight requires, particularly if you land around midnight. Tell reception your expected arrival time and ask what happens if the flight is delayed. A confirmed pickup and a confirmed room are separate arrangements.
At check-in, find out where you can eat at your likely dinner time. If you plan to go farther away, arrange the return ride too. I happened to visit a night market on my arrival evening, but that does not establish an event schedule for your dates. A nearby meal is a dependable planning choice; a market can be an extra once the date is confirmed locally.
We also arranged our first boat outing after reaching the hotel in the evening. I would confirm a must-do excursion earlier now, rather than rely on late availability. Before bed, check the operator’s name, pickup time, hotel location, meal requirements and anything you need to bring. My Rock Islands snorkeling article covers the route and booking questions in detail.
Once arrival is organized, use the five-day Palau itinerary without a car to plan the days that follow. The first night only needs to get you checked in, fed and ready for the morning.
