This article is part of our series exploring what exactly the Palau digital residency ID can be used for.
After becoming a Palau digital resident in August, 2023, it’s time for some field research. I’ve written before about the pernicious attack on freedom of movement caused by vital document dependence on state governments.
Inability to get birth certificates, ID cards, passports, and other records regularly stops people from getting badly needed visas, residencies and second citizenships.
Finding solutions for this problem is what got me interested in investigating Palau’s new digital residency program and ID (“the ID”).
I plan to find out over the coming months what the Palau digital residency ID can be used for in the United States. I’ll start with the following attempts (lawfully, of course):
Open a bank account in California or Nevada
Complete crypto exchange KYC
Buy alcohol in California & Nevada
Enter a bar in California & Nevada
Get a notarization in California & Nevada
Verify with AirBnb
Try to open stripe or paypal account
Pass through TSA for U.S. domestic flights
Order a California birth certificate
Verify my identity on social media platforms (like twitter)
Enter a courthouse or U.S. federal building (where ID is requested)
Get an FBI IdHS from USPS
The goal is to find out which companies, local, state and federal government agencies accept the ID for verification purposes. The only way to get the data is to roll up the sleeves and jump in the field.
I’ll make a short 200 word field report for each time I attempt to use the ID, reporting the task I attempted with the ID. Both successful and unsuccessful attempts will be reported.
All field reports will be posted as an article right here on Malakouti Law.
Stay tuned.