Arrival in Papua New Guinea

Arrival in Papua New Guinea starts before departure with the correct immigration permission. A visa or entry permit is required, and its class must match the purpose of travel. The Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority, commonly referred to as ICA in current immigration materials, handles immigration entry permissions. Depending on the case, travellers may use the ICA eVisa or MICA process, submit a paper form through a Papua New Guinea mission or post, or use visa on arrival where the current ICA list permits it. Visa on arrival is limited to listed nationalities, travel purposes and ports, so it should not be assumed for every passport. Mainland New Zealand, France and the United States are excluded from the current visa-on-arrival list recorded in the research material. Check the current ICA requirements for the passport, purpose and intended port before booking travel. A visitor visa is commonly single-entry for 60 days from arrival, but the permitted stay, validity and fee depend on the visa class and the individual approval. Work, study and longer stays require the correct permit before travel rather than relying on visitor permission. The authority may also require proof of return or onward travel. Keep the passport valid for at least six months after the intended entry date. Carry the passport, visa or entry permit, PNGDAC confirmation, accommodation address, local contact details, sponsor or employer information, insurance documents and emergency contacts in an offline form as well as on a phone. The PNGDAC is free and must be completed online no earlier than 72 hours before arrival. The current ICA notice applies it to all travellers covered by the notice, including Papua New Guinea citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals. The form collects personal, travel, accommodation, goods and prohibited-item information and health data. It uses an email one-time password, and one group submission can cover up to 10 people. The confirmation and passport are checked on arrival. If the form was not submitted in advance, self-registration is available at a kiosk at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby. Air procedures at other ports can differ, so follow the current instruction for the actual airport or port. Immigration checks the travel documents first. Customs, biosecurity and health controls then assess the traveller, baggage and declared goods. An Incoming Passenger Card, or IPC, is still referenced in current Customs arrival information. The relationship between the IPC and the PNGDAC may change during the transition, so follow the current instruction from the airline, airport or customs officer rather than relying on an older form. The Papua New Guinea Customs Service can inspect baggage. The Papua New Guinea Biosecurity Authority, formerly known as NAQIA, controls biosecurity risks. Declare food, plants, animals, animal or plant products and restricted goods truthfully. False or misleading declarations can be an offence, and quarantine instructions apply to every traveller. Current Customs information lists personal allowances that include up to 2 litres of spirits, 1 litre of perfume, 200 to 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars. New goods may have a value allowance of K3,000 for travellers under 18 and K6,000 for travellers aged 18 or over. Product type, traveller age and the current Customs rules can affect the applicable limit. Keep receipts for goods where their value may be questioned, and check the current Customs page before departure because allowances can change. The health declaration in the PNGDAC can trigger additional questions or a referral based on recent travel, boarding details, nationality or flight information. The National Department of Health manages health-related requirements. Follow any health or quarantine instruction at the airport. Depending on the immigration permit, the authority may request an approved medical examination, HIV test or chest X-ray. Medical access and insurance coverage vary by province, so carry essential medication, medical contacts and insurance evidence in accessible luggage. Arrange accommodation and airport transport in advance where possible. Keep the exact address, a nearby landmark and trusted local contacts offline because transport, mobile coverage and access to services differ between provinces, islands and ports. Pre-arranged lodging, airport pickup and trusted local guidance are mainly informal but can reduce the risk of being unable to reach the accommodation. Papua New Guinea does not have an evidenced nationwide settlement desk, public transport system or emergency response guarantee that applies uniformly across the country. Police emergency assistance can be reached at 112. A SIM card requires identity registration under the framework of the National Information and Communications Technology Authority, or NICTA, together with the practice of the available mobile provider. Vodafone, Digicel and bmobile registration points accept a passport and capture identification details and a photograph. SevisPass, SevisWallet and SevisDEx form part of a 2025–2026 digital identity framework whose final legal and practical status should be checked before relying on it. Mobile coverage and provider availability depend on the province and locality. The legal currency is the Papua New Guinean kina, abbreviated PGK, and one kina contains 100 toea. Use banks or money changers licensed by the Bank of Papua New Guinea, known as BPNG. Carry contingency cash because card payments, ATMs and cash services are not available uniformly. Keep exchange receipts and enough money for transport, accommodation, communication and an unexpected delay. After entry, retain the passport, entry permit, accommodation address and sponsor or employer contact. If the address, sponsor, employer, study arrangement or other material circumstance changes, notify ICA promptly. No nationwide municipal registration number or office equivalent to German-style resident registration is evidenced in the reviewed official sources. That absence does not remove the need to maintain lawful immigration status, accurate contact details, supporting documents and any permit-specific reporting duties.