A volcano erupted on White Island, New Zealand on 9 December 2019. Follow the instructions of local authorities. Updates are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
Call 911.
Call 911.
Call 911 or contact the police at your nearest police station.
Exercise normal safety precautions in Palau.
Use common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
The crime rate is low.
Petty crime can happen.
To protect yourself from theft:
Civil unrest is rare. However, demonstrations and large public gatherings can turn violent.
More information:
Tour operators don't always follow safety and maintenance standards.
If you plan to do a tour or adventure activity:
If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider.
There is unexploded ordnance in Palau left from World War II, particularly in Peleliu and Angaur.
Be careful when diving or exploring caves.
Saltwater crocodiles live in parts of Palau. You may not be able to see them. Ask local authorities before entering the water in mangrove areas.
If you plan to visit the 'Jellyfish Lakes', you:
Palau can experience severe weather and tropical storms.
If a tropical storm or natural disaster is approaching:
If there's a tropical storm:
To stay safe during severe weather:
Check these websites for updates and alerts:
Some areas of Palau are at risk from large and destructive tsunamis.
Receive tsunami alerts by registering with:
If you're near the coast, move immediately to high ground if advised by local authorities, or if you:
Don't wait for official warnings, such as alarms or sirens. Once on high ground, check local media.
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Palau. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
Dengue outbreaks can occur.
Zika virus has been reported recently.
If you're pregnant, the Australian Department of Health recommends you:
Find out about Zika virus-affected countries on the Department of Health website.
To protect yourself from disease:
More information:
Hospital and medical facilities are limited.
A hyperbaric chamber is located in the hospital in Koror. Many popular dive sites are far away from Koror.
If you're seriously ill or injured, you'll need to be evacuated to a place with better facilities, such as Guam. Medical evacuation can be very expensive. Flights are limited.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences are strict.
A mandatory sentence of 25 years applies for possessing illegal 'hard drugs'. Hard drugs include heroin, cocaine and synthetics.
More information:
The legal drinking age is 21 years. Drinking in public places is illegal.
It's illegal to disturb or take historical items, including from sunken vessels.
Counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Buying, selling or owning these goods is illegal.
If you're travelling through Guam, counterfeits are also illegal there.
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Dress and behaviour standards are conservative.
Take care not to offend.
Same-sex relationships are legal, but cultural attitudes can be conservative. Avoid public displays of affection.
More information:
Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders.
Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. If you don't, the Australian Government can't help you.
You can get a visitor visa for up to 30 days on arrival. You'll need an onward or return ticket.
Palau doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Australia.
Entry and exit conditions can change. Contact the Palau Bureau of Immigration for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
Palau Bureau of Immigration
Phone: (+680) 488 2498
Phone: (+680) 488 2678
Email: imm@palaunet.com
Or you can contact:
Ministry of State
Phone: (+680) 767 2490
If you travel through the US, including Guam and Hawaii, you must meet US entry or transit requirements. Check visa requirements with a US embassy or consulate.
If you're travelling with a child, carry evidence of your relationship.
If you're the sole parent travelling with your child, you'll need a notarised letter. If you're travelling with a child who isn't yours, you'll also need one. This letter needs to include:
When you leave, you'll need to pay:
Pay in cash at the airport.
If you arrive by sea, you must get an entry permit.
Contact Palau Port Control before you arrive:
Email: dot@palaunet.com
Phone: (+680) 488 4224
VHF Channel: 16
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD).
ATMs are available in larger centres and at the airport.
Some local shops accept credit cards.
To drive in Palau for up to 30 days, you need both:
You must get your IDP before you arrive. After 30 days, you'll need a local licence.
After rain, sealed roads on Koror usually stay in fair condition.
Many roads on Palau's other islands are unsealed. After rain, you may only be able to access them with a 4WD vehicle.
To reduce your risks when driving, be aware:
More information:
Make sure your travel insurance covers you when riding a motorbike.
Always wear a helmet.
Use licensed taxis and hire-car services. Arrange one through your hotel.
Local taxis aren't metered. Fares between locations are fixed. Ask for the fare list.
Public transport options are limited.
A bus service operates on a limited schedule on Koror.
Inter-island ferries and water taxis are common.
Always use a life jacket, even if others don't.
More information:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Palau's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 911.
Call 911.
Call 911 or contact the police at your nearest police station.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Australia doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Palau.
The Australian Embassy in the Federated States of Micronesia provides consular help to Australians in Palau.
H & E Building
Kolonia, Pohnpei
PO Box S, Federated States Of Micronesia
Phone: +691 320 5448
Fax: +691 320 5449
Email: phpi.mail@dfat.gov.au
Website: fsm.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australia in Micronesia
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
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