Papua New Guinea: visa and entry rules

Papua New Guinea's borders: every crossing point

Papua New Guinea's land border crossings, listed by the neighbours it borders:

There is only one land neighbour, Indonesia, and the border splits the island of New Guinea in half.

The Vanimo to Skouw crossing is on the north coast, near Jayapura. It is the only working road crossing, and its opening hours change.

The maritime border with Australia runs through the Torres Strait; residents of the border islands are covered by a special arrangement that has nothing to do with tourists.

The maritime border with the Solomon Islands is near Bougainville, and there is no regular service across it.

The main way in is Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby; international flights are also handled by Nadzab near Lae and by Wewak.

Domestic flights are the norm rather than a luxury: there is almost no road network between the provinces, and getting from one part of the country to another overland is often impossible.

Driving to Papua New Guinea

Overland entry is possible only from Indonesia via the Vanimo to Skouw crossing, and its opening hours change.

Traffic drives on the left — the same as on the Indonesian side, so there is nothing to relearn.

There is almost no road network between the provinces, and a driving route around the country cannot be put together: people fly between the major cities.

What is needed for temporary import into Papua New Guinea is decided by the local customs service. General figures for the region are no guide.

An International Driving Permit is required.

Travelling to Papua New Guinea with a pet

The rules are strict: island states protect their own ecosystems, and biosecurity here is tougher than immigration control.

The import permit is arranged in advance, and the requirements depend on the country the animal is coming from.

The rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry.

Quarantine is applied.

Check the import requirements for Papua New Guinea in advance: vaccinations and certificates have their own timescales, and there is no way to fit them into the last week.

Overstaying your visa in Papua New Guinea

A fine is charged for exceeding your permitted stay and is paid on departure.

Exactly how much will be determined as you leave. The sum cannot be confirmed in Papua New Guinea in advance, as the rates change. Keep cash on you and do not book a tight connection.

An extension is arranged in advance, before your permitted stay expires.

Infrequent flights are a risk in themselves. Overstays here happen not through bad intent but because the next plane is in four days: plan your departure with a margin.