Any foreigner planning a trip to Papua New Guinea will need a visa to enter the country, but visa applications take time to process. This page contains information about the Papua New Guinea visa application time and other important information you should keep near in mind before you commence the application process. Keep reading to learn more.
Traveling To Papua New Guinea
PNG, as Papua New Guinea is popularly called, is an island country on the far end of the Pacific Ocean just North of Australia and New Zealand. It has a rich history and unique flora and fauna not found anywhere else. The island is also a tourist haven attracting thousands of tourists every month who come to enjoy the culture and the side attractions.
To enter PNG, you must apply for a visa online through the nearest PNG diplomatic mission in your country.
PNG Embassy: The PNG embassy is the place to go if you wish to visit the island and stay for a considerable time. You can obtain a visa valid for a visitor entry permit for one year and above at the embassy. If there isn’t a PNG embassy in your country, search for the nearest one in a neighboring country and send an email enquiring about their visa application process and the documents required.
Online: The online application process is the route for tourists coming into the country. Online applications are for electronic visas; they are much easier, and the processing time is shorter. If you plan to work during your stay, this is not the ideal Guinean visa, as the Guinea e visa do not confer work permits on foreign nationals.
Papua New Guinea Visa Processing Time
So what is the tourist visa processing time for Papua New Guinea? For normal visas issued by the embassy, the application may take up to 15 working days to obtain but for online electronic visas, expect to get it within 24 hours. The visa may take a few days, but this rarely happens in special cases. To avoid unnecessary delays, ensure that you only provide valid documents and information so your application will not be rejected.
Once you submit your application form, the officials will review the documents and may invite you to come with your original documents and passport. If satisfied with your submissions, they will approve your application and attach the visa to your passport which will grant you a current entry permit.
For e visas applications, the visa will be forwarded to the email address you provide. You are expected to print and bring it along on your trip to PNG.
So what is the visa processing time for Papua New Guinea? For normal visas issued by the embassy, the application may take up to 15 working days to obtain but for online electronic visas, expect to get it within 24 hours. The visa may take a few days, but this rarely happens in special cases. To avoid unnecessary delays, ensure that you only provide valid documents and information so your application will not be rejected.
Documents Required For Visa Application
These are the documents you must submit for your visa application. Ensure that you only provide valid documents; otherwise, your application will be rejected.
Passport: You must scan and upload the bio page of your valid passport. Only passports with at least 6 months of validity will be accepted. The passport must have at least one blanket page to affix a stamp at the arrival section.
Vaccination Certificate: Applicants that have taken the COVID-19 vaccine must show a COVID-19 vaccination certificate at the arrival section. The vaccine ought to be taken at least 14 days before their arrival.
Medical Certificate: Visitors that have not received the covid vaccine must show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result as proof that they are covid free. The test must have been taken at least 7 days before boarding the flight.
Validity
The PNG has different visas with different validity. For e-visas, the document is valid for 180 days, and the holder can stay in the country for up to 60 days per visit. E visas may be single, double, or multiple entry visas. As for visas issued by the embassy, they may carry 1-4 years of validity.
Essential items
Here are a few items you must have to apply for and obtain an e-visa for the government of Papua New Guinea.
Bank Card: A bank issued card is required to pay the visa fee. The card may be a credit or debit card and must contain sufficient balance to cover the migration service fee and transaction charge.
Email Address: An email address is required to receive the approved electronic visa
Now that you know the Papua New Guinea visa processing time, you can apply for an e-visa via VisaHQ; visit the platform to fill out and submit the application form.