It is awarded to individuals for special service in the civil or military field.

The Honorary Order of the Palm has two divisions, civil and military, the latter denoted by crossed swords on both the badge and the star.

The Badge of the order exists of a gold gilt five-pointed star topped with a small balls, and gold gilt rays between the arms, resulting in a badge with the shape of a pentagon.

The central disk shows the green palm of the Coat of arms of Suriname on white enamel, surrounded by a red enamel and gold edged ring displaying the motto in yellow (also from the Surinamese Coat of arms): JUSTITIA - PIETAS - FIDES ("Justice - Piety - Faith").

It shows the stylized palm surrounded by a circlet with the motto of the order.