Palau visa photos and the Bureau of Immigration
The Bureau of Immigration, under Palau’s Ministry of Justice, sets the photo standard used across every paper visa application filed with the Republic. Application forms call for a 2×2 inch colour photograph on a plain white background, with two identical copies submitted per application. The same format is used for pre-arranged Entry Visas, Provisional Employment Permits, Student Permits, and Visa Extensions.
Palau operates no e-visa portal and no visa application centre. Pre-arranged visas are filed at a Palauan embassy in Washington D.C., Tokyo, Taipei, or Manila, while work, student, and extension applications are handled in person at the Bureau of Immigration in Koror by a local sponsor. Every channel is paper-based, and the printed photos are physically attached to the application, so the prints must arrive clean, recent, and free of creases or marks on the face.
Photos that do not meet the Bureau’s format are returned with the application, which delays processing and can force a fresh appointment at the embassy or sponsor visit in Koror. Applicants should also note that most visitors do not need a visa photo at all: nationals of every country except Bangladesh and Myanmar receive a 30-day visa on arrival, and the mandatory Palau Entry Form at palautravel.pw does not request a photograph.
What the Palau Bureau of Immigration expects in your visa photo
The Bureau of Immigration publishes a short, strict brief for visa photos. Keep the subject rules below in mind before printing your two copies.
Expression & pose
- Face the cameraSit squared to the camera with your full face visible and your head upright. The Bureau of Immigration expects a front-view portrait on every paper application.
- Neutral expressionHold a neutral expression with your mouth closed. A relaxed natural look is accepted; exaggerated smiles, frowns, or raised eyebrows are not.
- Eyes open and visibleKeep both eyes open and looking at the lens. Eyes that are closed, squinting, or hidden by hair will cause the application to be returned.
Eyewear & lenses
- No eyeglassesEyeglasses must be removed for the photo. This applies to prescription frames, reading glasses, sunglasses, and tinted lenses.
- Decorative contact lensesColoured or cosmetic contact lenses that change the natural appearance of the eye should not be worn. Clear corrective contacts are acceptable.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair should not fall across the eyes or obscure the outline of the face. Natural facial hair is permitted as long as the features remain clearly visible.
Headwear
- No hats or capsHeadwear is not permitted on Palau visa photos. Religious or medical head coverings are allowed only if worn daily, and the full face from the forehead to the chin must remain unobstructed.
Jewelry & accessories
- Minimal accessoriesAvoid items that obscure the face or cast shadows on it. Small, flat earrings and a wedding band are acceptable; bulky pieces and face jewellery should be removed.
Cosmetics
- Light, natural makeupEveryday makeup is allowed. Heavy makeup, cosmetic filters, or anything that alters your natural appearance can lead the Director of Immigration to reject the photo.
Clothing
- Everyday clothingWear normal street clothing. Uniforms, camouflage, and clothing that resembles official dress are not accepted. White tops blend into the background and should be avoided.
Photo quality
- Recent photographThe photo must have been taken within the last six months and must reflect your current appearance.
- Colour photographPalau requires a clear colour photograph. Black-and-white prints are not accepted on any visa application form.
- Clean printsEach of the two printed copies must be free of creases, staples, pen marks, and pinholes through the face.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 25 mm and 35 mm (roughly 49–69% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 28 mm and 35 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa photo must have been taken within the last six months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Other things to know.
A few Palau-specific points worth knowing before you apply.
Most travellers need no visa photo
Citizens of every country except Bangladesh and Myanmar receive a 30-day visa-on-arrival in Palau. The mandatory Palau Entry Form at palautravel.pw collects traveller data but does not request a photo, so tourists do not need to prepare one.
Paper applications only
Palau has no e-visa portal and does not use VFS Global, BLS, or TLScontact. Visa photos are submitted on paper at a Palauan embassy abroad or in person at the Bureau of Immigration in Koror.
Two identical printed copies
Every Palau visa application requires two identical 2x2 inch printed photographs stapled or clipped to the form. A single copy is not accepted.
Not the same as RNS.id residency
Palau’s Digital Residency program (RNS.id) issues an ID card with its own photo rules and does not grant entry to Palau. Photos prepared for RNS.id are separate from any visa submission to the Bureau of Immigration.
Take your Palau visa photo at home in three steps.
Free to check. You only pay when you keep it.
Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.