Papua New Guinea Visa for Tourists in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide

Visiting Papua New Guinea can be troublesome and dangerous with most of the world’s governments advising their citizens to reconsider travel. However, navigating the Papua New Guinea visa policy is not that difficult as many nationalities are eligible for an eVisa through the official government website.

PNG Visa on Arrival (VOA) facilities are also slowly being reintroduced.

In this article, you will learn about the requirements for PNG Visa on Arrival, eVisa, tourist visa from the embassy and the procedure for obtaining them.

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Visa Policy and Visa Types

Papua New Guinea (PNG) requires all incoming foreigners to have a visa before entering the country. No visa exemption is in place.

Visa on arrival is available to all Pacific Island Nations and territories and a select few other nationalities. 

Evisas for PNG allow stays of either 30 days (for 26 countries) or 60 days (for 70 countries). The eVisa is formally called the Easy Visitor Permit.

All other nationalities must obtain a tourist visa either from a Papuan embassy or online.

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Visa Requirements

For the Easy Visitor Permit (eVisa), you are required to:

• Provide a copy of your passport bio-data page. The passport must have at least 6 months validity on the date of arrival in Papua New Guinea.
• Complete the Online Application for Visa and attach:
  • Cover Letter
  • Evidence of Funds
• Pay the US$50 fee

For the regular tourist visa (online), you must also submit:

• A copy of your return/ongoing ticket.

If applying for a tourist visa at an embassy, they may request any number of other documents. Enquire in person for the precise list.

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Visa on Arrival

Visa on Arrival (VOA) was suspended in March 2020 for all qualifying nationalities. It has since been renewed for ordinary passport holders only from these 22 countries or territories:

1. American Samoa (US Territory)
2. China*
3. Cook Islands (New Zealand Territory)
4. Fiji
5. French Polynesia (French Territory)
6. Guam (US Territory)
7. Israel
8. Kiribati
9. Marshall Islands
10. Micronesia
11. Nauru
12. New Caledonia (French Territory)
13. Niue (New Zealand Territory)
14. Northern Mariana Islands (US Territory)
15. Palau
16. Samoa
17. Solomon Islands
18. Tokelau (New Zealand Territory)
19. Tonga
20. Tuvalu
21. Vanuatu
22. Wallis and Futuna (French Territory)

*Chinese tourists must be a part of an organized tour group to be eligible for a visa on arrival valid for 30 days.

Visa on arrival allows stays of up to 60 days. Travelers must show an onward ticket.

Visa on Arrival is available only at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby and Wutung land border post (aka Vanimo) between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

For more information, read the Papua New Guinea Visa on Arrival to learn about the documents required, fees and the procedure to obtain VOA at the airport.

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eVisa (Easy Visitor Permit)

The Easy Visitor Permit is the easiest way to travel to Papua New Guinea. It’s often referred to as Papua New Guinea eVisa.

The eVisa can be applied online on the official PNG eVisa website.

The Easy Visitor Permit is valid for 6 months from the issue date and allows stays for either 30 or 60 days. Some countries are eligible for both durations but since the cost and the requirements are the same, they are only included in the 60-day tier in the lists below.

Some countries are eligible for a Visa on Arrival but may still opt to get an Easy Visitor Permit beforehand, thus they are included in the lists.

It costs 50$ to apply for either duration. Processing time can vary. Some travelers get their eVisa within 24 hours, while others have to wait a few days.

Eligibility

30 days 

1. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Australia
3. Bahamas
4. Barbados
5. Belize
6. Botswana
7. China
8. Dominica
9. Grenada
10. Guyana
11. India
12. Jamaica
13. Kenya
14. Lesotho
15. Mauritius
16. Namibia
17. Russia
18. Rwanda
19. Saint Kitts and Nevis
20. Saint Lucia
21. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
22. Seychelles
23. South Africa
24. Trinidad and Tobago
25. Vietnam
26. Zambia

60 days

1. Andorra
2. Argentina
3. Austria
4. Belgium
5. Brazil
6. Brunei
7. Bulgaria
8. Canada
9. Chile
10. Croatia
11. Cyprus
12. Czechia
13. Denmark
14. Ecuador
15. Estonia
16. Fiji
17. Finland
18. France
19. Germany
20. Greece
21. Hong Kong
22. Hungary
23. Iceland
24. Indonesia
25. Ireland
26. Israel
27. Italy
28. Japan
29. Kiribati
30. Latvia
31. Liechtenstein
32. Lithuania
33. Luxembourg
34. Macao
35. Malaysia
36. Maldives
37. Malta
38. Marshall Islands
39. Mexico
40. Micronesia
41. Monaco
42. Nauru
43. Netherlands
44. New Zealand
45. Norway
46. Palau
47. Peru
48. Philippines
49. Poland
50. Portugal
51. Romania
52. Samoa
53. San Marino
54. Singapore
55. Slovakia
56. Slovenia
57. Solomon Islands
58. South Korea
59. Spain
60. Sweden
61. Switzerland
62. Taiwan
63. Thailand
64. Tonga
65. Tuvalu
66. United Kingdom
67. United States
68. Uruguay
69. Vanuatu
70. Vatican City

Required Documents

These are the required documents when applying for PNG eVisa:

1. Cover Letter (must include purpose of visit, places to visit, accommodation contact details)
2. Copy of Passport Bio page
3. Evidence of sufficient funds

For the cover letter, just a general idea of the plan is necessary: you do not need specific dates or a flight plan. Don’t book flights until you have the eVisa.

Allowed Ports of Entry

With an eVisa, you are allowed to enter Papua New Guinea only through the following border checkpoints:

1. Jackson’s International Airport, Port Moresby
2. Daru Island
3. Wutung (Vanimo)
4. Kagamuga Airport, Mt Hagen

For more information, read the Papua New Guinea e-Visa article for details on eligibility, photo requirements, visa fees and the application procedure.

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eVisa (Tourist Visa Online)

Those not eligible for the Easy Visitor Permit can apply for a regular tourist visa online. The procedure and requirements of the Tourist Visa are quite similar to the Easy Visitor Permit. The only difference is that you must attach a return or onward ticket to your application for the tourist visa.

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Tourist Visa from the Embassy

An alternative to the online visa application is to apply at a Papuan embassy or High Commission.

The ICA website allows you to see the closest Papuan missions to your location by clicking “Find Nearest Office”.

Papua New Guinea missions may allow you to apply for a visa over the counter or via email.

The basic requirements are the same as for the eVisa, however, the embassy may request any number of additional documents. It’s best to ask your nearest embassy for details.

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Visa Extension

Visa extensions are only given in limited situations. If allowed, a visa extension costs 150$ and requires a completed application form for entry permit extension.

For eligibility for visa extension, consult with Papuan Immigration.

Visa extensions are not permitted at all for the 30-day eVisa (Easy Visitor Permit).

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Transit Visa

You don’t need a visa if you are staying within the airport’s transit zone for less than 8 hours.

Anything longer than that and you’ll need a regular visa as PNG does not issue transit visas.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can US citizens travel to Papua New Guinea?

Yes, US citizens can travel to Papua New Guinea by obtaining an eVisa allowing stays of up to 60 days.

Do Canadians need visa for Papua New Guinea?

Yes, Canadians can travel to Papua New Guinea by obtaining an eVisa allowing stays of up to 60 days.

Is Papua New Guinea visa-free for Indians?

Indians must obtain a visa for Papua New Guinea before traveling. They are eligible for the 30-day eVisa. 

Does Papua New Guinea have a Visa on Arrival?

The Visa on Arrival was suspended in March 2020 but is being slowly reintroduced. As of early 2024, ordinary passport holders of 22 countries and territories can get a Visa on Arrival at Jacksons Airport in Port Moresby or Wutung Land Border Post.

How long does it take to get a tourist visa for Papua New Guinea?

Most online applications are processed within 4 days but could take longer in some cases. Some visas are granted automatically.

Processing time for applications in person depends on the embassy. For example, the High Commissioner in the UK processes visas within 4 working days whereas the embassy in Japan promises visa issuance within 1 week.