Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA)

With the launching of the Arawa Border Post today, locals will can now lodge passport applications, work permit applications, provides the avenue for reporting of illegal border crossers, and migration cases including visa checks and enforcement activities.

The Arawa Border Post is the third post established in AROB, with the office post launched in 2017 in Buka, and in Buin, 2022.

The team had travelled with the Minister for Immigration & Border Security, Westly Nukundj to launch Buin’s International Immigration Office. 

Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau and his team expressed concerns of the ongoing illegal activities occurring with not only the movement of people but of illegal alluvial gold mining as well with people moving gold out of Bougainville, unnoticed and undetected. There is also the issue of arms as well and drug trade.

There to witness the opening was Member for South Bougainville, Timothy Masiu, Minister for Immigration & Border Security Westly Nukundj and Australian High Commissioner, Johnathan Philp.

The opening of South Bougainville’s Buin International Immigration office now recognized as a significant event and since PNG received its independence in 1975, this is the first time in history that an immigration office has been set up in Buin.

The new case management system, called Compliance Tracking System or COMtrac is a plus for Compliance, Enforcement and Legal officers of ICA. Chief Immigration Officer, Stanis Hulahau, launched this at the PNG Immigration Office in Waigani.

When launching the system, Mr Hulahau said the ICA recognizes that data, information and reporting is critical to managing national security and immigration must have an effective data management system to keep up-to-date record of every non-compliant foreign national who enters and resides in PNG.

This follows the apprehension of an Australian citizen (name withheld) who was in possession of a fake visa when trying to leave the country.

Minister for Immigration and Border Security, Westly Nukundj, labelled the uncovering of the syndicate as a breakthrough.

According to a statement, members of the ICA Special Taskforce received a tip-off and conducted surveillance at the Jackson’s International Airport on Sunday March 08^th, and apprehended a female Australian citizen in possession of the fake visa.

In a statement the ICA says it stands ready to assist relevant law enforcement agencies.

The ICA says whilst there are numerous reports of non-citizens involved in illegal activities with some being prosecuted and fined by the Courts, details of these non-citizens convicted are not reported to Immigration.

The awarding of 62 citizenship to West Papuans in Vanimo brings the total number of former West Papuans (now PNG citizens) to 1,352 since the Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) started the process of registration and citizenship for West Papuans in 2017.

“You have waited for all this time for 30 to 40 years and I would like to thank you for your patience,” Minister Thomas said during the citizenship award ceremony.

“The time has come and I am pleased, on behalf of the PNG Government, to formally recognise you as PNG citizens.”

This was announced by Chief Migration Officer, Solomon Kantha, to all commercial airlines that travel in PNG airspace.

The ban will be in place for a month.

In a circular notice on October 12^th to Air Niugini, PNG Air, Qantas, Philippine Airlines and Virgin Australia, the Chief Migration Officer said the temporary suspension of visa on arrival applies to all passports and nationalities.

The temporary ban commences from 30^th October 2018 to 30 November 2018.