6 Mar 2014

PNG puts into force new visa rules for Australian travellers

4:50 pm on 6 March 2014

Papua New Guinea has confirmed it has removed its visa on arrival arrangement for Australian travellers, after Australia refused to grant the same arrangement for visiting Papua New Guineans.

The PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority has issued a notice that all Australian travellers need to obtain a visa from PNG overseas missions before travelling to PNG.

The new rules came into force on Saturday, March the 1st.

Tourists travelling on cruise ships, including those flying in to join a cruise ship, are exempt, as their visas are issued electronically without the need for an application.

The notice instructs all airlines not to allow Australians without visas to board, and if they arrive without visas, they will be repatriated on the next available flight, at the cost of the airline, and not necessarily to their country of origin.