Palau ID: Palau Digital Residency Cost, Uses & How to Apply

A Palau ID is an identity card issued by the Republic of Palau. People from most countries can apply for it online through the Palau Digital Residency Program, without travelling to Palau. Applications are handled by RNS.ID, the provider authorized by Palau’s Digital Residency Office. IDA is an independent guide publisher, not RNS and not the Government of Palau, and we do not issue or process Palau IDs.

Palau ID at a glance

Topic	Facts checked: September 2026
Issued by	Republic of Palau, under its Digital Residency Act
Where you apply	RNS.ID, the provider authorized by Palau’s Digital Residency Office
What you get	A physical ID card sent to you by mail
Price	5 years: $1,199 ($239.80 a year, the plan RNS pre-selects). 10 years: $2,339 ($233.90 a year). 1 year: $288 (trial). USD, shipping included
Coupon	$15 off 5 years, $20 off 10 years or $10 off 1 year, for new applications made through a partner link such as ours
Time	Approval usually in 7 to 10 days, then 7 to 14 business days for printing, plus shipping
Who can apply	People from most countries. RNS’s FAQ excludes North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Crimea and Sudan
Documents	Passport, national ID card, driving licence or residence permit, plus a square photo
Not included	Citizenship, a passport, the right to live in Palau, land ownership, proof of address, tax residency

Start your Palau ID application on RNS.ID. Sign up through our link and RNS gives you a coupon: $15 off 5 years, $20 off 10 years or $10 off 1 year.

Are you signing up on another device, or is the Invite Code field on the RNS sign-up form empty? Enter the invite code RqKgAFtF when you create your RNS account. This code is also what gives you the coupon.

What is a Palau ID?

The Palau ID is the photo identity card of Palau’s digital residents. You can present it as a second government-issued ID where a business or platform accepts foreign ID documents.

Two sample Palau ID cards showing the layout of the card

Sample Palau ID cards in an earlier card design. Image: RNS.ID

Who issues it: Palau’s Digital Residency Office and RNS.ID

Palau’s Congress passed the Digital Residency Act (RPPL 11-14) in December 2021. The Act authorized a Digital Residency Office inside Palau’s Ministry of Finance.

The program launched in early 2022. Its technology provider is RNS.ID, a platform run by Cryptic Labs. The Digital Residency Office names RNS.ID as its authorized service provider for accepting, reviewing and processing applications and for issuing the cards.

What you receive

A hand holding a Palau ID card in front of the welcome letter and a red envelope

A Palau ID card as it arrives, with the welcome letter. Personal details are hidden.

You receive a physical Palau ID card by mail. RNS says only the physical card can be used for identity (KYC) checks, not a photo or a downloaded image of it. RNS also says a blockchain version of the ID (Palau DID) is being prepared, and holders will be able to create it in their RNS account.

Digital residents can also order an optional Palau mailing address in their RNS account. The service is run by Pacific Mail Hub, and RNS says it is not proof of address.

Is Palau ID legit?

Yes, it is a real government program. The Digital Residency Office inside Palau’s Ministry of Finance lists RNS.ID as its authorized service provider on the Palau government website.

According to the Office’s 2026 annual report, as reported by Island Times in August 2026, Palau had received 70,946 applications and approved 68,867 of them. Palau also had more than 47,000 active digital residents. In July 2026, Palau’s President spoke about the program in his State of the Republic Address:

“Our digital residency and shipping registry programs have grown from almost nothing a few years ago to millions of dollars in new revenue today.”
President Surangel S. Whipps Jr., State of the Republic Address, July 22, 2026

What can you use it for?

Identity checks and hotel check-in

RNS reports members using the card for identity checks such as hotel check-in. Each business or platform decides whether it accepts a foreign government-issued ID.

KYC on crypto exchanges and payment apps: what to expect

Acceptance is set by each platform and changes over time. We found no public list of exchanges that accept the Palau ID. RNS says members report using it for KYC. Estonia’s e-Residency program, however, notes that some exchanges have publicly said they do not accept it. For example, in July 2023 the crypto news sites Blocktempo and Blockmedia reported that Binance told users verified with a Palau ID that their verification would expire, and that it would accept only passports for Palau.

Keep these points in mind before you use the card for KYC:

Only the physical card works. RNS says uploading a downloaded image can get your account blacklisted.
Use only a genuine card issued to you. In October 2025, RNS said it would give KYC providers and partner platforms a way to check cards and detect forged Palau IDs.
A Palau ID proves who you are. It is not proof of where you live.
Using the card to reach services that are restricted where you live can break the platform’s terms and local law.
Look at the accepted-documents list of the platform you plan to use before you apply.

Longer stays in Palau

Under a May 2023 immigration regulation, digital residents who visit Palau can apply for up to two consecutive 90-day tourist-visa extensions per calendar year by showing their card. In November 2025, Palau’s Senate Floor Leader said this rule conflicts with Palau’s digital residency law. Confirm the current position with Palau immigration before you plan a long stay. You still need your passport to travel.

RNS partner offers

RNS runs partner offers for card holders, such as up to 20% off hotel rates. Conditions apply. These offers come from RNS, not from the Government of Palau, and RNS can change them at any time.

If these uses fit your plans, apply for a Palau ID on RNS.ID. New applicants who sign up through our link get $15 off the 5-year plan.

What it does not do

It is not citizenship, a passport or a travel document. Palau’s Constitution gives citizenship only to people with a Palauan parent or Palauan ancestry.
It gives no right to live or work in Palau. According to Island Times’ report on the Act, digital residency has no relevance to applications for a Palau bank account, a foreign-worker permit or foreign investment.
You cannot buy land in Palau with it. The Constitution reserves land ownership to Palauan citizens and to companies that Palauan citizens wholly own.
You cannot register a Palau company with it. RNS lists this as “coming soon”.
It is not proof of address. This includes the optional Palau mailing address from Pacific Mail Hub.
It is not a driving licence. According to the same Island Times report, the Act does not entitle holders to a Palau driver’s licence.
It does not change your tax obligations in the country where you live.

Taxes and digital residency

According to RNS, Palau does not tax digital residents on income earned outside Palau. A Palau ID does not make you a tax resident of Palau.

Your tax obligations depend on where you are tax resident, not on which ID you hold. US citizens, for example, are taxed on their worldwide income wherever they live. If tax is part of your reason for applying, speak to a tax adviser in your country of residence first.

How much does a Palau ID cost?

RNS sells the Palau ID in three plans. Prices are in US dollars, and each price includes $49 for shipping and handling. We checked these prices on RNS.ID in September 2026.

Plan	Price	Cost per year	With partner-link coupon (new applications)
5 years (recommended)	$1,199	$239.80	$1,184
10 years (lowest cost per year)	$2,339	$233.90	$2,319
1 year (trial)	$288	$288	$278

Which plan to choose

We recommend the 5-year plan if you plan to keep your Palau ID for five years. It costs $239.80 per year, compared with $288 for the 1-year plan, and it is the plan RNS pre-selects on its order page. Renewals cost the same as new applications. If you buy the 1-year plan and renew it four times at today’s prices, five years cost $1,440. That is $241 more than the 5-year plan.

The 10-year plan has the lowest cost per year: $233.90. That is $5.90 per year less than the 5-year plan, but you pay $1,140 more at the start. The 1-year plan is the trial option, and RNS calls it the “Trial Version”.

RNS sells the plans as subscriptions. Its Terms of Service say a 1-year plan is charged for renewal about two months before it ends. RNS’s account pages also warn that if you cancel a 1-year plan, let it expire, or a renewal payment fails, you can later buy only the 5-year or 10-year plan.

Coupons, payment and other fees

RNS gives coupons to people who sign up through a partner link, such as ours: $15 off 5 years, $20 off 10 years and $10 off 1 year. They apply to new applications, not renewals. There are coupons for card and for crypto payment, and each coupon works with one payment method.
At checkout you can pay by card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express), with Apple Pay, or with cryptocurrencies such as ETH, USDT and USDC. The price is the same for card and crypto, and RNS’s FAQ says there are no card or crypto payment fees. Crypto network fees are paid by the buyer.
RNS’s order page offers optional expedited processing for $49 when it is available. A replacement card costs $49.
Prices rose on February 1, 2026. Older guides may still show the old prices of $248, $1,039 and $2,039.

Before you pay: RNS orders are final and non-refundable, and each bank, exchange or service decides for itself whether it accepts a Palau ID. Check the service you plan to use first.

Choose the 5-year Palau ID on RNS.ID. A new application costs $1,184 after the $15 coupon, and RNS’s order page selects the 5-year plan by default.

Who can apply?

RNS’s FAQ says people from all countries can apply, except North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Crimea and Sudan. RNS does not ship cards to those places. The list can change, so check the application form before you pay.

You need a passport, national ID card, driving licence or residence permit that is valid for at least one more month. Take clear photos of the document. Do not upload a scan.

Who a Palau ID is for, and who it is not for

A good fit: remote workers, frequent travellers and crypto users who want a second government-issued photo ID and have checked that the services they plan to use accept it.

Not a good fit: anyone who wants a passport, the right to live or work in Palau, proof of address or lower taxes where they live. Banks do not have to accept it.

How to apply, step by step

You apply online on RNS.ID, the platform authorized by Palau’s Digital Residency Office.

Before you start

Have your ID document and a square photo ready (see the photo rules below). You will need a phone or laptop camera for a live face scan. RNS says applicant documents are protected with end-to-end encryption.

The six steps and how long each takes

Profile. Enter your details exactly as they appear on your ID, and add the address where the card should be mailed.
Verification. Scan your ID and complete a live face match with your phone or laptop camera. This takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Screening. RNS runs KYC and anti-money-laundering checks, a criminal background check and a sanctions check. This takes 24 to 72 hours.
Government review. The Government of Palau reviews your application and gives final approval in up to 7 days, and you get a confirmation email. RNS says approval normally takes 7 to 10 days in total.
Printing. Approved cards are printed in batches in 7 to 14 business days. You can still change your shipping address while you wait.
Shipping. You receive a tracking number. Delivery time depends on your country.

Allow about one to two months from the day you apply to the day you receive the card. This is our estimate, based on the step times RNS gives plus international shipping.

Ready to begin? Create your RNS account and start step 1. Complete the sign-up in the same browser where you opened our link.

See RNS’s application process guide for more detail.

Photo requirements

Sample ID photo with the required head size and margins marked in pixels

Sample photo that meets the rules: square, 600 x 600 pixels, plain light background. Image: RNS.ID photo requirements

Your card photo must meet these rules:

A colour photo taken within the last 6 months.
Square, at least 600 x 600 pixels. A photo that is not square is not accepted.
A plain white or off-white background.
Face the camera directly, with your whole face visible and both eyes open.
A neutral expression or a natural smile. No eyeglasses.
Sharp and clear, not blurry or pixelated. No filters and no digital changes.

See the full photo rules on RNS.

Avoiding scams

Digital residency never leads to a Palau passport. RNS warns about phishing emails that pretend to come from RNS.ID and sell “Palau passports”, land, eSIMs or addresses for payment in ETH. Apply only on rns.id. Do not trust emails that do not come from an @rns.id address, and never pay anyone for a Palau passport.

Palau ID vs Estonia e-Residency

Feature	Palau ID	Estonia e-Residency
Main purpose	Government-issued photo ID for identity checks	Running an EU company online
Photo ID card	Yes	No
Company registration	No (RNS says “coming soon”)	Yes
Qualified e-signature	No	Yes
Cost	From $288 for 1 year (RNS.ID)	€150 state fee (e-Residency website, April 2026)

Choose Estonia to run an EU company. Choose Palau for a government-issued photo ID for identity checks.

Palau ID FAQ

Is the Palau ID legal?

Yes. Palau’s Digital Residency Act (RPPL 11-14) authorized a Digital Residency Office, and the Office names RNS.ID as its authorized service provider. Being legal does not mean every bank or exchange must accept it.

Is there a Palau ID discount or referral code?

Yes, for new applications. RNS gives coupons to people who sign up through a partner link: $15 off 5 years, $20 off 10 years or $10 off 1 year. Sign up on RNS.ID through our link. The coupons do not apply to renewals.

What does a Palau ID cost with the coupon?

The list prices are $1,199 for 5 years, $2,339 for 10 years or $288 for 1 year, including shipping (checked September 2026). With the coupon RNS gives to people who sign up through a partner link, a new application costs $1,184, $2,319 or $278.

Is the 5-year or the 10-year plan better?

The 5-year plan is the best value if you plan to keep the ID for five years. It costs $239.80 per year. The 10-year plan has the lowest cost per year, $233.90, but costs $1,140 more at the start. The 1-year plan costs $288 and works as a trial.

How long does it take to get a Palau ID?

RNS says approval normally takes 7 to 10 days. Printing takes 7 to 14 business days, and shipping time depends on your country. We estimate one to two months in total.

Do crypto exchanges or banks accept a Palau ID?

It depends on the platform. RNS says members report successful KYC checks, but some exchanges have publicly said they do not accept the card. RNS also says it has received reports of members opening bank accounts but has not confirmed them. Check the platform’s accepted-documents list first.

Does a Palau ID mean I pay no tax?

No. The ID does not make you a tax resident of Palau or change what you owe in the country where you are tax resident.

Is it a passport or a right to live in Palau?

No. It is not citizenship or a passport, and it gives no right to live in Palau. Digital residents who visit can apply for tourist-visa extensions, but confirm the current rules with Palau immigration.

Can I drive in Palau with a Palau ID?

No. It is an identity card, not a driving licence. According to IDA’s Palau country guide, a home-country licence is valid for up to 30 days after arrival. After that, a Palauan licence is required. Some governments, such as Australia, also tell their drivers to carry an International Driving Permit in Palau.

Bottom line: is it worth it?

The Palau ID is a real, government-issued ID card that you can get fully online. It makes sense if you want a second photo ID and you have confirmed that the service you plan to use accepts it. It is not a passport, it does not lower the taxes you owe where you live, and banks and exchanges do not have to accept it.

If you plan to keep it for five years, the 5-year plan gives the best value. Apply only on rns.id.

Get your Palau ID on RNS.ID. Sign up through our link and a new application gets $15 off 5 years or $20 off 10 years.

Sources

Country guides

International Driving Permit in Palau

By Ben Wilder

Published September 16, 2026 • 14m to read

Palau ID: The Palau Digital Residency Program Explained