Question Palau entry Form

[paolobl65]

Hello ,

I will arrive in Palau Dec 21 from Taipei and I'd like to ask about your experience with the Palau entry Form ( Palau Entry Form ) because is my first time in Palau .

I am concerned about two points in this Palau entry Form :

• Do you have any personal goods to declare that exceeds one thousand dollars ($1000) ?

>>> I have underwater Nauticam housing and Saecam underwater strobe that for sure exceed 1000 USD ( anyway for personal use !! ) .... what happen if I declare them ? do you have any experience ?​

• Do you have Food of any kind ? >>>> shall I really declare if I take a couple of snack bar / protein bar ??

BTW : is there any Xray scanning at custom in Palau ?

many thanks for your help
Paolo

 

[cozcharlie]

1). I have travelled through with full camera and dive gear sets twice in past couple of years and have never had a problem. I think they are asking about equipment that will stay in country . I have never heard of tourists getting taxed on camera equipment (like the BS that happens in Cabo San Lucas Mexico ). I found a more detailed list of customs rules elsewhere that noted items for personal use were generally exempt.

See 4.12.4 here

[https://pristineparadisepalau.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Customs-Regulations-.pdf]


2). I am not sure on the food what they want you to check. I Don’t think they really care about sealed processed food like protein bars as long as there aren’t any seeds , but I don’t know for sure . They may want you to check yes just so they can look at it and say it is OK. Obviously this is a remote island and they are rightly concerned about people accidentally introducing plant/animal products from elsewhere that could have unintended consequences.

3. I can’t remember whether customs had an X-ray. Usually when I get there I am in a sleep deprived state so I just walk through like a zombie.

 

[paolobl65]

1). I have travelled through with full camera and dive gear sets twice in past couple of years and have never had a problem. I think they are asking about equipment that will stay in country . I have never heard of tourists getting taxed on camera equipment (like the BS that happens in Cabo San Lucas Mexico ). I found a more detailed list of customs rules elsewhere that noted items for personal use were generally exempt.

See 4.12.4 here

[https://pristineparadisepalau.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Customs-Regulations-.pdf]


2). I am not sure on the food what they want you to check. I Don’t think they really care about sealed processed food like protein bars as long as there aren’t any seeds , but I don’t know for sure . They may want you to check yes just so they can look at it and say it is OK. Obviously this is a remote island and they are rightly concerned about people accidentally introducing plant/animal products from elsewhere that could have unintended consequences.

3. I can’t remember whether customs had an X-ray. Usually when I get there I am in a sleep deprived state so I just walk through like a zombie.

thank you very much for your reply !

 

[TostitoBandito]

Yeah when customs forms ask about "goods" they mean like new in box products that you're importing into their country to sell or whatever. Personal belongings you own and which will stay with you when you return home don't really count.

And yes declare your food, snacks, candy, etc... 99% of the time they don't care about any of it, but if you don't declare it and they find it later it could all end up in the trash even if it was technically allowed. Most places though, it's only fresh animal products and some produce which might have restrictions (not things you'd normally bring on a long flight). Definitely check the rules first so you don't accidently bring something you shouldn't.

 

[insomniac]

I just arrived last night (selected No), and went through customs with 180kg worth of scuba + camera stuff no problem... Thanks for posting this question, as I wondered the same thing and when I googled for it; you had posted the question about 18 hours before I was about too!

 

[paolobl65]

Landed today in Palau , I declared everything in Palau Entry Form ( all valued underwater equipment, mc book pro , medicin, snack bar ) , ... no problem at all at custom , they saw my QRcode and only asked me if I was bringing sigarettes.. so all was fine .