VISA on Arrival

Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau, made the official announcement today, emphasizing the aim to strengthen relations with Pacific Island States and the Pacific Forum countries.

Effective immediately, this expansion encompasses passport holders from Micronesian and Polynesian States and Territories, making all Pacific Island States in Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia eligible for VOA at authorized ports of entry, including Jacksons International Airport and Wutung land border post.

Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau, made the announcement today, welcoming passport holders from specific nations to access the VoA service at designated ports of entry in PNG.

Mr. Hulahau emphasized that the PNG government is reciprocating the same treatment to passport holders from countries offering similar privileges to PNG passport holders, whether Diplomatic, Official, or Standard.

The VoA facility had been temporarily suspended in 2019 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which necessitated strict entry requirements.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko, said this meant that all officials, members and hierarchy of China and Indonesia can come into PNG through Visa on arrival.

He stated that this is what China is doing for PNG and what Indonesia is already doing in Indonesia.

Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru revealed this in a media conference in Port Moresby.

He said visa on arrival for tourists and business visas for Papua New Guineans and New Zealanders were discussed with New Zealand Trade Minister in a Bilateral Trade Meeting at the side of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru.

Minister Maru also said a PNG Trade Investment Road show and educational tour will be organised early next year for PNG businesses and government departments to learn from their counterparts.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato, said this when announcing the removal of the ban on visa-on-arrival for Australian passport holders.

“We are working through those issues on visa’s for Papua New Guinea citizens, and the Prime Minister has discussed this, I’ve also discussed this with the Australian Foreign Minister as well as the New Zealand foreign minister, so ill be following on those discussions in the meetings in early October as well,” Pato said.