Is It Safe to Travel to Palau in 2026?
Palau - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island country located in the Micronesia subregion of Oceania in the western Pacific Ocean. The Republic of Palau consists of approximately 340 islands and is the western part of the Caroline Islands, while the eastern and central parts make up the Federated States of Micronesia.
Is It Safe to Travel to Palau in 2026?
Palau is currently rated Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State. Palau is generally a safe destination for travelers. U.S. citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers may encounter minor risks such as petty crime in urban areas; staying vigilant in crowded places is advisable.
Business travelers can expect a generally stable environment with reliable infrastructure, though occasional health risks like dengue may require attention.
Families with children should be aware of limited healthcare options outside urban centers, but overall safety is high with no major health threats reported.
Remote workers will find good connectivity in urban areas like Koror, with a supportive environment for digital nomad lifestyles.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Palau.
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Palau has an overall threat severity of 1.1 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 2.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Free — scored 92/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
US Dollar (USD)
Language
Palauan / English
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Palau
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Palau?
▶Is it safe to travel to Palau right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Palau?
▶What vaccines do I need for Palau?
▶Is Palau safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Palau?
More Palau Data
Free — 92/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.