Applications for Dual Citizenship will be ready by March this year.
In a statement today, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, said the arrangement will be ready once all administrative arrangements are finalized.
He said the delay in the legislative amendments certified at the end of 2016 has been completed and will now enable administrative steps to move forward.
“Dual Citizenship is a new concept for Papua New Guineans and creates great opportunities for our people at home and around the world.
“Through dual citizenship our best and brightest can retain their connection with their homeland and not be hampered by bureaucracy.
“With dual citizenship we are better able to attract skilled workers who will be able to stay and build a home in Papua New Guinea, but still be able to return with ease to their place of birth to see family,” he said.
Pato also stated dual citizenship was not an automatic process and that an applicant must demonstrate the eligibility to be considered.
Currently there are two categories of people who can seek citizenship: PNG citizens who want to hold citizenship of a prescribed country and to retain their PNG Citizenship; and people who hold citizenship of a prescribed country and wish to gain dual citizenship with PNG. The prescribed countries are Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, United Kingdom, and United States of America.
Pato says single citizenship by naturalizations is still available should one wish to renounce their foreign citizenship and retain only PNG citizenship.
The Government has approved new application fees for those applying for dual citizenship and sand at:
- K5, 000 - Current PNG citizen or former citizen seeking dual citizenship with a prescribed country;
- K2, 000 – Children of mix parentage turning 18 years old and intend to retain their PNG citizenship; and
- K15, 000 – Citizen of a prescribed country seeking dual citizenship.