Palau is a state in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, which consists of islands. Resting here is a real adventure, because of the depths of the ocean, excursions walking through tropical forests, etc. waiting for you. It is also a paradise for divers.

Palau consists of islands, but only eight of which are inhabited. Babeldaob Island is the largest, where the capital, Melekek, is located. Other islands are Koror, Sonsorol, Peleliu, Anguar, Rock, and others.

If you are going to Palau, you must first obtain a visa and a residence permit. A visa can be obtained upon arrival in the country and is valid for a maximum of 30 days. However, citizens of the United States and some other countries may reside in the country for a year.

It is important that your country is included in the list of countries with a visa agreement on arrival from Palau. Getting a visa to Palau is quite simple. You need to have a passport and other necessary documents.

By the way, there is no need to pay any fees upon arrival in Palau. However, every traveller leaving the country, including visa-exempt travelers, must pay:

• departure tax - USD 20.

• USD 30 environmental fee.

• validity period of visa in Palau.

If your visa expires, it can be extended. But the period of stay cannot exceed 90 continuous days. For each visa extension, the visitor must pay USD 50. Foreign nationals are advised to apply at the Bureau of Immigration at least seven days before the expiration date of their current visa.

If you are going to live on the island for more than a year, then it is better to make a permanent residence permit. But for this, you have to meet certain criteria. Yes, you must live on the island for more than three years, have a residence permit, and a specific purpose of stay - work, investments, purchased real estate, etc.

In addition to being a resident, you can live here permanently once you become a citizen. When applying for permanent residence, you must submit documents to support your application, and when applying for citizenship, you must have family ties to Palau, such as legally recognized ancestry.

• by origin: born abroad, but one of the parents is a citizen of Palau.

• by birth: born in the country, at least one of the parents is a citizen;

• by naturalization: unlike in other countries, you cannot get citizenship just by staying for a long time or marrying a citizen. A foreigner can only obtain this type of citizenship if he or she acknowledges Palau ancestry.

• by adoption: a child adopted by parents with Palau citizenship.

The Republic will also launch the Root Name System (RNS), the world's first state-backed digital residency program. The launch is a result of the Digital Residency Act. The agreement allows individuals from around the world to apply for digital residency in Palau through the RNS platform.

Thus, Palau is laying the groundwork for digital residency based on security and end-to-end encryption of the root naming system. Individuals can apply for digital residency through the RNS portal.

The RNS system is designed with user privacy and security as a top priority. The ID is issued by the government and is valid for any identification requirement such as KYC. The RNS platform also provides users with access to future services, including addresses and delivery services, as well as digital signature verification.

The application process for new digital residents is a seamless Web3 experience, allowing users worldwide to apply and be approved without leaving home, traveling abroad, or visiting an embassy. The platform, which is now available for registration, is open to citizens of most jurisdictions worldwide. ID approval can take just a few minutes after users pass ID verification and AML verification. Interested users can apply for participation in the Palau Digital Residency program.

For a better understanding of all the nuances, we advise you to contact a specialist in legal matters.