Overview
Third-country nationals in Palau who need a U.S. visa — tourist/business (B-1/B-2), student (F-1), or other category — apply at the U.S. Embassy in Koror (physically located in Airai). The embassy serves a small but internationally connected expatriate and tourist population. Palauan citizens are exempt: under the Compact of Free Association (COFA), Palauans can live, work, and study in the United States without a visa. Americans in Palau receive consular services through the embassy's ACS unit.
Visa Services
The embassy processes U.S. visa applications from non-Palauan nationals resident in or visiting Palau. Palauan citizens travel visa-free to the United States under the COFA agreement. Specific visa classes — such as diplomatic, official, or certain student categories — may require processing at the embassy even for COFA-covered individuals. Appointments are required and should be arranged well in advance given the small consular team.
Consular Services
The American Citizen Services (ACS) unit provides U.S. citizens in Palau with passport services, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, notarial acts, and emergency assistance. The unit serves the American community including divers, resort staff, researchers, and longer-term residents.
Trade & Export Support
The embassy's commercial role is limited. The economy of Palau is centred on tourism — primarily scuba diving and liveaboard expeditions — and on U.S. assistance programmes under the COFA. Businesses in the tourism and marine sectors are the primary beneficiaries of U.S. economic engagement.
Investment Opportunities
Palau's investment landscape is dominated by the tourism sector. Jellyfish Lake, the Rock Islands, and Peleliu Island draw divers and eco-tourists from around the world, creating demand for high-end accommodation, liveaboard dive vessels, and marine conservation enterprises.
Business Support
The embassy can advise on operating in Palau's unique economic framework under the COFA. Foreign businesses — including dive operators, resorts, and eco-tourism ventures — will find the embassy useful for guidance on the local regulatory environment and U.S. business connections.
Cultural & Educational Programs
The COFA relationship between the United States and Palau has deep roots in the post-WWII Trust Territory era. The embassy supports educational exchange opportunities for Palauan students applying to U.S. institutions. Marine conservation cooperation is a prominent area of shared programme work, given Palau's globally significant reef ecosystems.
Appointment Information
Appointments for all consular services must be arranged in advance. The embassy is physically located in Airai, outside central Koror. Visitors should confirm directions and access requirements directly with the embassy. Walk-in services are not available.
Special Notes
The U.S. Embassy in Koror is one of the smallest U.S. diplomatic missions in the world. The consular team is small; lead times for appointments can be longer than at larger missions. Palauan nationals do not require U.S. visas under the COFA. The embassy address is technically in Airai, not Koror proper — confirm location before visiting.