Koror, Palau – On March 5, 2025, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of Palau, with approximately USD 4.5 million funding from the Government of Japan, have launched an Electronic Passport (e-passport) project, a first for the North Pacific nation. This three-year project aims to contribute to strengthening Palau’s border management capacity by augmenting the security of Palauan passports while extending passport accessibility for citizens of Palau. 

In collaboration with the Ministry of State and the Ministry of Finance, this initiative will introduce new technologies to transition Palauan passports to electronic, machine-readable passports (e-MRP) with embedded chips that contain biometric data that is difficult to forge. To this end, the passport application and issuance system in Palau will be completely upgraded and digitalized and will be tested during a pilot phase in which a quantity of e-MRPs will be issued. 

The Ambassador of Japan to Palau, His Excellency ORIKASA Hiroyuki said: “This signing embodies our joint commitment and mutual understanding that effective and improved border security and identity management must be achieved in Palau. In order to ensure that the outlines of this three-year project are properly followed and that the most appropriate e-MRP for the Republic of Palau is implemented, we must work closely together and overcome any challenges along the way.” 

Mr. Salvatore Sortino, IOM Micronesia Chief of Mission, thanked the Government of Japan for the shared commitment to ensure this innovative project is a success. “The new e-MRP system will help Palau counter transnational crime, prevent identity fraud, improve access to ID services for Palauan citizens, and make their travel easier. I applaud Palau’s commitment to strengthening border governance,” he added. 

The intervention will focus on three key areas: 

• Legislation: Helping update, approve, and enforce laws to improve electronic data collection and management, enshrined on data privacy and responsible and ethical use of biometrics. 

• Assessment: Evaluating the business model required to implement the e-MRP system in the Palauan context, including a roadmap, government requirements, and tender agreements. 

• Procurement: Develop IT solutions, and procuring related equipment, to digitize identity documents and digitalize the passport application and issuance system.  

With the reopening of borders post COVID 19 and a growing number of Palauans travelling abroad for work, business, leisure and personal reasons, the introduction of an e-MRP system is crucial for Palau. This system will significantly improve the integrity and security of Palauan travel documents, making them more resistant to document and identity frauds, improving travel convenience, and enabling Palauan population to seamlessly obtain travel documents. 

This project represents a huge step forward for Palau in enhancing border security and facilitating access to legal identity for all Palauan citizens. 

***

For more information, please contact at IOM Micronesia: Haimanot Abebe, Email:  haabebe@iom.int, +691 320 8735