Travel Advice Update 16th February 2022

LATEST INFORMATION ON TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA 

Source: https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/travel-advice-update

NEW INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TRAVEL MEASURES

The Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response and Police Commissioner, David Manning, under the Papua New Guinea National Pandemic Act 2020 released new measures on Domestic and International Travel.  These measures are effective 15th February 2022. 

QUICK LINKS 

For more information on Quarantine Requirements for International Visitors, click: COVID-19 Quarantine Advisory for Incoming Travelers

For information on Flights, visit the Air Niugini Travel Advice – Coronavirus Travel Update 

For information on Papua New Guinea’s COVID-19 National Pandemic Response, visit National Control Centre for COVID-19 or call 1800200 or email: ​hotline@covid19.info.gov.pg   

Visit, COVID-19 Health and Safety Awareness materials for advice on how to keep safe when travelling around Papua New Guinea during the pandemic. 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS 

Permitted Airline Operators: 

  1. Air Niugini 
  2. PNG Air 
  3. Hevilift 
  4. Tropic Air 
  5. Pacific Direct Limited 

Inbound 

  1. Tourists may now travel to PNG;
  2.  Pandemic Approvals are no longer required to enter PNG;
  3. All persons must be fully vaccinated to travel to PNG, unless they are under 18 years of age or are a citizen of Papua New Guinea. A person is considered fully vaccinated if they have had the recommended number of doses for the vaccine as listed in Schedule 2, within the past 6 months; or they have had the recommended number of doses for the vaccine, as listed in Schedule 2 and they have had a booster vaccine;
  4. All persons traveling to PNG must have a valid COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to their original port of departure. Children aged 5 years and under are exempted from being tested;
  5. All people arriving into PNG will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival;
  6. If a person has within the last three months tested positive for COVID-19, a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner from their country of departure, certifying that the person is no longer infectious for COVID-19 shall be accepted but the individual must still be tested prior to leaving their port of departure within 72 hours and be tested on arrival;
  7. There shall be no quarantine for any person, except for persons who test positive on arrival who shall be quarantined for 7 days; and
  8. It is the responsibility of travel operators to make sure that a person has the necessary documents to board an aircraft/vessel to travel to PNG.

Outbound 

  • At the time of check-in, all departing passengers will be tested for COVID-19. 
  • Outbound passengers must also have in hand the Medical Certificate for COVID-19 PCR Test – the test must have been taken 7-days prior to travel. 
  • Passengers traveling Port Moresby to Australia do not require approval from the Controller’s Office, however, will undergo strict quarantine measures from the Government of Australia. 
  • Passengers must check the COVID-19 travel measures and documentation imposed by the countries and regions they are flying to. 
  • Visit Air Niugini’s COVID-19 Travel Advice page for the full document list

Reference Links: 

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

  • No person may fly if they are symptomatic for COVID-19;
  • All travelers must have their temperature checked by airline staff and no person may travel if their temperature registers at or over 37.5C (except for medievac and emergency flights); and
  • All passengers must complete a National Department of Health form which is to be submitted to Provincial Health Authority on arrival.
     

Changes to the social measures include:

  • Public gatherings are restricted to 100 people, however religious gatherings, schools, educational institutions, markets and shopping centers and political gatherings are exempted from the gathering restrictions but must comply with Niupla Pasin;
  • All organisations, including religious and political organisations must develop standard operating safety procedures for COVID-19;
  • No sale of alcohol on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nationwide will continue to apply; and
  • COVID-19 restrictions no longer apply to public transport.

Reference Links: