The complexation of protactinium(V) by oxalate was studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, capillary electrophoresis coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) and solvent extraction. XAS measurements showed unambiguously the presence of a short single oxo-bond, and the deduced structure agrees with theoretical calculations. CE-ICP-MS results indicated the formation of a highly charged anionic complex. The formation constants of PaO(C(2)O(4))(+), PaO(C(2)O(4))(2)(-), and PaO(C(2)O(4))(3)(3-) were determined from solvent extraction data by using protactinium at tracer scale (C(Pa) < 10(-10) M). Complexation reactions of Pa(V) with oxalate were found to be exothermic with relatively high positive entropic variation.