Moving to Palau from Japan

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Japan to Palau — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Japan to Palau, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Palauan. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Japan to Palau, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
142 ↑ 1% vs 2015

people born in Japan live in Palau · UN DESA

Who's moving to Palau?

Top countries of origin for Palau's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Japan and Palau stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
PW
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
PW
22.2

Japan performs better than Palau across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
PW
$1,857
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
PW
17.8

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Palau leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
PW
82.8t

Japan performs better than Palau across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
PW
6.9

Japan performs better than Palau across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
PW
1.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
PW
$15,800

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Palau leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
PW
74.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
PW
11.3

Japan generally does better on family life, though Palau leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Palau. To live, work, or study long-term in Palau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Palau's immigration authority.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Palau

Visa on Arrival
Japan passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Palau.
Palau passport

Palau passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Palau passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Palau?

With 6.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Palau can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Japan and Palau.

Is Palau safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Palau is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Palau compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Palau leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Palau, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Palau scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

What language do they speak in Palau?

The official languages in Palau are English and Palauan. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP PW
Population 124,214,766 21,695
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Japanese English, Palauan
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +680
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110