Visa on arrival for all Pacific islanders
Papua New Guinea has granted visa free entry for Pacific Island countries and territories passport holders.
Chief Migration Officer, Stanis Hulahau said “they no longer need to apply for visa before their departure and we will communicate the same to all operating airlines and relevant international bodies on this new inclusion".
Before the announcement, only Melanesian Spearhead Countries citizens of PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia have reciprocal VOA arrangement.
“PNG is further extending the Visa on Arrival [VOA] facility to passport holders from Micronesian and Polynesian States and Territories to strengthen its relations with Pacific Island States and the Pacific [Island] Forum countries,” Mr Hulahau announced this month.
“Effective immediately, VOA is accessible to nationals from American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia [FSM], Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and the French Territories Tahiti, Wallis and Futuna and New Zealand passport holding countries and territories including Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and the United States territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands,”
The Chief Migration Officer explained that Pacific islanders who travel to PNG must have an authentic passport valid fort six months, a return ticket and complete arrival card on arrival as requirements for VOA.
He said Pacific Islanders who meet the entry requirements will be issued with an Easy Visitor Visa for a stay of 60 days per visit.
Mr Hulahau is confident that the inclusion of all Pacific Island States to access this facility would encourage more movements and facilitation of trade, and tourism in the region.
PNG also issue VOA to Diplomatic, Official and service passport holders from the People’s Republic of China, Japan, State of Israel and the Republic of Indonesia based on bilateral visa exemption agreements on reciprocal basis.
Chinese tourists who hold ordinary passports and travel on organized group tours with a PNG registered tour operators are also eligible for VOA for a specific short stay only.