Travel visa for PNG?

I'm going to PNG in August and was wondering if someone could give me advice on the best way to get a visa. The website(s) say that a visa can easily be obtained upon arrival. Doing it before involves mailing my passport, and $25 USD in charges, I think.

any advice?

I have some advice....stop making us jealous with all the travelling you get to do!!!!!!!!!

On the other hand, haven't been to PNG so can't help you there but sounds like you get a stamp upon arrival. Most countries out this way give 3-4 weeks of visa on arrival and unless you are staying longer you don't need to send away your passport. Is there not a PNG embassy in the US somewhere?

Hi Eric,

Here is the latest information that I could get:

Citizens of the following countries intending to travel to PNG for tourism purposes may be issued with a maximum of 60 days visa on arrival. You will have to pay about $10 to get in.

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, United States, United Kingdom.

PNG embassy in the United States

If you are a citizen of one of the above countries I wouldn't worry about getting a visa in advance.

I hope this helps!

I agree, don't bother in advance. I went through the hassle of getting one through a "Visa" company here in Vancouver. Turn over the passport, $38 and figured I was done. I had to pay for one when I arrived anyway in Port Moresby, "jewel" of PNG.

Cheers,

Marli

Rand is there right now. PM him. He is back within a week and can give you his insights. He is on his NCUPS trip from SEA.

Hi

You get the visa at the airport upon arrival.... And it is a very "colorful" visa, very big

I'll be in Milne Bay in October.....

Hope it helps

Matetes

Eric - Make sure on that prior to arriving in PNG (I assume you're going through Australia?) that you convert some of your USD or AUD into PNG kina. From what I remember, kina is the only currency they accept for the visas. Aside from that, it wasn't an issue whatsoever.

~Matt Segal

Eric,

We booked thru OZ Travel going with Mike Ball in Dec. They said just get it done now since you need a visa for Australia anyways. One less thing to deal with on arrival.

The Australia visa can be done electronically. Passport doesn't need to be sent.

Hi Eric,

The Visa was no big deal to pick up in the Airport at Port Moresby, they charge $100 kina which I believe is around $40 U.S. But you need to have the Kina so change some before arriving. Their currency exchange is on the other side of customs so you can't get to it until you're through. It seemed most of the people on the Plane were residents or not in need of one as only 4 or 5 people lined up at the booth to buy one at customs/immigration.

Depending on where you are going, I might have some additional tips for you. Talked with a lot of people there about the different types of diving etc.

Also, I got nicked $100 AU for the Air Niugini flight from Cairns to Hoskins. They weighed my carry on and said it couldn't go on the plane in the main cabin, it was too heavy. I was too tired to argue at the time. But I'd come prepared for that and had bought a hard sided carryon on the off chance I'd have to check it.

Now, on the trip back, from Hoskins to Port Moresby, they weighed all my luggage at once. Said I was over and charged me $70 kina. Maybe $30 U.S. (Strangely, or maybe not, the payment was quickly put in his pants pocket). Again, only Kina accepted so I was glad I'd converted in Australia. Another odd thing, I understood there was supposed to be a $30 Kina departure tax. But no one ever mentioned it so not sure what the deal is there.

Once in Port Moresby for the return to Cairns, I was told my carry on was too heavy again and they wanted $100 AU. I told the agent that I was a diver and the suitcase was full of Underwater Camera gear and it was very sensitive. She had me wait and talked to a supervisor, came back and said no charge for the extra bag. So, again, it helped to bring up being a diver/photographer.

Finally, when returned to Australia, I had $150 in Kina to exchange. The currency desk said they were out of US dollars but to try exchanging it when I transferred planes in Sydney. My plane out was delayed to the point that I had just enough time to make connections and no time to exchange the Kina. When I got to L.A. the currency exchange said they had no conversion rates for Kina and couldn't take it. So, I've got a reason to go back. LOL!

If you're going to Walindi, I have some very specific info for you that might be of help as well.

Rand

A correction about the exchange office at POM. You have to pay in KINA but they WILL let you go exchange money and get back in line for the visa at immigration. Did that a few times when I forgot my kina from previous trips.

As for airline weight charges, Air niugini from Oz usually gives you 40kg if you ask ahead of them. A certain german photographer (whose name I shan't mention) brought 110kg worth of gear and wasn't charged a dime because he asked at the office in Cairns way ahead of time.

Have fun on the trip.

Drew is correct about the procedure at the airport. It was easy to get Kina there and go back into line.

Overweight luggage seems to be a matter of chance. If you can get something in writing 1st they will not charge. Otherwise getting into the counrty was much easier then leaving. A note about Hoskins-when they tried to charge extra I told them all I had was a credit card or about 50 Kina. Since they have no facilities for credit cards they accepted the Kina.

I've never (in 4 visits) gotten a visa in advance. You won't be able to get kina at most foreign airports, but should be able to at the connecting airport (probably Cairns). I've heard that if you don't have kina, they'll "let" you pay in US dollars (same number of dollars as kina, so far more expensive), but I can't swear to that because I always exchanged some kina in Cairns.

Just get the visa when you arrive at the airport in Port Moresby. It is big - uses a full page of your passport! But diving PNG is worth it! ;-)

I've been on the phone with Air Niugini, and they claim that:

1) there is no way anyone is travelling from Port Moresby to Kavieng with more than 70 lbs of luggage

(clearly FALSE)

and 2) there is no way to get anything in writing stating that you are going to have overweight luggage.

Can someone who has gotten something in writing tell me who they talked to?

Eric,

It may be changed now due to security issues, but when we went to PNG in 2000 we got our VISA at the PNG consulate in San Francisco prior to leaving.

http://www.traveldocs.com/pg/embassy.htm

The address and phone number are at the bottom of the page.

BTW...our group was about to get fleeced at the airport in Alatou when going home and the wife of our liveaboard's captain/owner intervened and we had noooo problems with baggage weight or exit taxes. It helps to know someone. :-)

Have a great time!

Kathy

Eric-

I was not smart enough to get something in writing but was shown a copy of a letter at the airport in Port Moresby. I was told that you can get something either from Air Nuiguni(i doubt it) or from the tourist office.

Hope this is helpful.

Terry

This is a really old post -- does anyone have updated information on visa-on-arrival in POM?

Do they only accept Kina? Will they let you go to the money exchange in Arrivals, and how big of a pain-in-the-ass is it?

And please tell me it's not true what I've heard about the money exchange being closed on Sundays?

Wishing now I got my visa ahead of time, but I think I'm too late.

PNG entry Visa can be bought on arrival. They only take 100 kina. If you don't have kina immigration will let you through to change money. But it would make things a lot easier if you had the kina on you, it is easy to get kina if you are passing through Australia.

Cant't help with the sunday question sorry.

I just got back a couple of days ago.

I ended up coughing up the 50 bucks and getting my visa ahead of time, and I was so glad I did.

Not only was the visa-on-arrival line really long, so was the line for the money exchange. I would have never made my connection.

I went via Manila so no chance at Kina. (btw, going via Manila from the states was about half the price of going thru Cairns)

and a bit of advice -- if you are changing planes, re-check your bags in the international terminal, and hang out there. There are no food options in the domestic terminal -- I couldn't even buy water. And bring mosquito repellent in your carry-on!