All Papua New Guinea tourist visas can be applied for online. That means all PNG tourist visas are e-Visas. In this article, when I use the term e-Visa, I’m referring to the tourist visa that can be obtained online.
There are two main types of Papua New Guinea e-Visas: the Easy Visitor Permit which is only available to some nationalities and the ordinary Visitor Visa for all other tourists. They are very similar in their requirements, cost, and application procedure.
The Easy Visitor Permit allows stays for either 30 or 60 days depending on nationality. The Visitor Visa also comes in 2 subtypes: for own itinerary tourists and visitors on packaged tours.
Quick summary:
| Easy Visitor Permit | Visitor Visa | |
| Eligibility | 52 nationalities eligible for 30 days, 71 nationalities eligible for 60 days (Note: some overlap) | All other nationalities |
| Validity | 6 months | 6 months |
| Permitted stay | 30 or 60 days | 60 days |
| Extensions | Not allowed for the 30-day type. May be permitted for the 60-day type in limited situations. | May be permitted |
| Entries | Single-entry | Single-entry |
| Visa Fee | 50$ | 50$ |
| Processing time | Up to 10 working days | Up to 10 working days |
If you haven’t already, read the Papua New Guinea Visa Guide for details on all PNG visa types for tourists, eligibility and requirements.
Table of Contents
***
Understanding Papua New Guinea e-Visa
e-Visa validity
All Papua New Guinea tourist visas are valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
Duration of stay
The Easy Visitor Permit is for either a 30 or 60-day duration of stay.
The ordinary Visitor Visa allows 60 days of stay.
Allowed number of entries
All e-visas are single-entry.
Allowed ports of entry
- Jackson’s International Airport, Port Moresby
- Daru Island
- Wutung (Vanimo)
- Kagamuga Airport, Mt Hagen
When to apply
Most e-visas are processed quickly. Often the visa is issued immediately and automatically after payment.
In general, all e-visas are processed within 10 working days if all requirements are met.
- Earliest: 6 months before traveling
- Latest: 10 working days before traveling
e-Visa extension
Unlike the initial visa application, extensions are not online. Extensions are not guaranteed and are subject to the authorization of Papua’s Immigration Authority.
The 30-day Easy Visitor Permit is not eligible for an extension. The 60-day may be eligible but only in limited circumstances.
The Visitor Visa may be extended subject to approval and depending on circumstances.
***
Papua New Guinea e-Visa Requirements
e-Visa eligibility
Countries eligible for the 30-day Easy Visitor Permit:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brunei Darussalam*
- Canada*
- Chile*
- Cyprus*
- Dominica
- Fiji*
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Hong Kong (SAR)*
- India
- Indonesia*
- Jamaica
- Japan*
- Kenya
- Kiribati*
- South Korea*
- Lesotho
- Macao (SAR)*
- Malaysia*
- Malta*
- Mauritius
- Mexico*
- Namibia
- Nauru*
- New Zealand*
- Peru*
- Philippines*
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Samoa*
- Seychelles
- Singapore*
- Solomon Islands*
- South Africa
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent & Grenadines
- Thailand*
- Tonga*
- Trinidad and Tobago*
- Tuvalu*
- United Kingdom (British Citizen Passport)*
- United States*
- Vanuatu*
- Vietnam
- Zambia
* Also eligible for 60-day Easy Visitor Permit
Countries eligible for the 60-day Easy Visitor Permit:
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Also French Territories (as French Passport Holders) of French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna
- Germany
- Greece
- Holy See (Vatican City State)
- Hong Kong (SAR)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kiribati
- South Korea
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao (SAR)
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- Also Dutch Territories (Dutch passport holders) of Aruba, Curacao, the Dutch part of Sint Maarten, Bonaire, and Sint Eustatius and Saba
- New Zealand
- Also New Zealand Passport holding countries/territories of Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
- Norway
- Palau
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- United Kingdom (British Citizen Passport)
- United States
- Also US Territories (US passport holders) of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
Countries eligible for 60-day regular Visitor Visa
All countries are eligible for the regular Visitor Visa.
IMPORTANT NOTE
If your country is eligible for both the 30 and 60-day Easy Visitor Permit, it’s better to apply for the 60-day one since the requirements, cost, and processing time are the same.
Documents required
For all online visa applications, you will need:
- Cover Letter (A short explanation of your trip, including your plans, places you will visit, and accommodation contact details)
- Copy of Passport Bio page. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months on the date of arrival in Papua New Guinea.
- Evidence of Funds
Additionally, if you’re applying for the ordinary Visitor Visa, you must submit:
- A copy of your return/ongoing ticket.
e-Visa fee
All eVisa applications cost 50$. The fee is payable online upon submission in the equivalent amount of Papua New Guinean Kina.
Processing time
Many of the applications are processed automatically and the visas are issued immediately. This only happens in some situations and if the application was completed in full.
The average processing time for the Easy Visitor Permits is 1 day with most completed within 2 days.
Most Visitor Visa applications are processed within 1 week.
***
e-Visa Application Process
How to apply for e-Visa
You can apply for Papua New Guinea online on the Papua Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) website.
- Create an account and confirm your email
- Start a new application and choose the appropriate visa
- Fill in your biographical, passport, and address information
- Upload the necessary documents – the application will list them
- Confirm and pay
How to track e-Visa status
You can track the status of your e-visa application on the same ICA website under “Applications”.
How to download approved eVisa
Download the e-visa directly from the website after it’s issued.
e-Visa customer service
For any questions, contact ICA directly using this contact form.
***
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I get a visa on arrival in Papua New Guinea?
Visa-on-arrival facilities were suspended during the Pandemic. Papua New Guinea is slowly restarting them and currently only certain nationalities are eligible, namely all Pacific Island Nations and territories as well as Israel.
What’s the difference between the Easy Visitor Permit and the Visitor Visa?
Only certain countries are eligible for the Easy Visitor Permit whereas anybody can apply for a regular Visitor Visa.
Apart from that, you are required to submit a return or onward ticket when you apply for a Visitor Visa.
How long does it take to get an e-visa for Papua New Guinea?
All e-visas are processed within 10 business days. If you meet all requirements and your application is full, there is a high chance you will be granted a visa almost instantaneously.
What are the COVID requirements to travel to Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea has removed all COVID-19 requirements to enter the country as well as all test or medical certificate requirements for all visas. There are no COVID-related requirements.
