Papua New Guinea: Officials ease COVID-19 travel restrictions as of Feb. 16; some domestic measures continuing /update 46

Event

Papua New Guinea authorities have reopened borders to tourists as of Feb. 16. Officials have also lifted requirements for arrivals to have written permission from the National Pandemic Controller's Office to enter. All arrivals must be fully vaccinated, though Papua New Guinea citizens and travelers under 18 years old are exempted. Entrants must also provide a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 72 hours before departure and undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival. Individuals who tested positive in the last three months must provide a medical certificate indicating the person is no longer infectious. Authorities are not enforcing mandatory quarantine for most arrivals; people who test positive when tested on arrival must quarantine for seven days.

Regarding domestic travel restrictions, officials prohibit symptomatic people from boarding flights; authorities are checking the temperatures of passengers before flights and ban travel for people whose temperatures are 37.5C (99.5F) or higher. Travelers must complete and submit a National Department of Health form to the Provincial Health Authority upon arrival. Officials are also eased other domestic measures, allowing religious, school, and political gatherings, as well as crowds at markets and shopping malls, to exceed 100 people, though the limitation remains for public gatherings. Authorities have also lifted restrictions applying to public transport.

Domestic Measures
Attendance at public gatherings is limited to 100 people through Feb. 28. People 12 years old or above must wear facemasks in public places, except childcare centers and banks. Social distancing rules and hygiene protocols remain in effect. Officials allow restaurants and gambling establishments to operate under strict health requirements.

The government could classify some provinces as high risk at short notice, though local officials can adjust measures based on COVID-19 activity. Typical restrictions in high-risk regions include a ban on gatherings, a 14:00-06:00 curfew, and the closure of recreational venues and some nonessential and large retail businesses. Most travel to and from high-risk areas is prohibited, except for essential reasons. Officials require any traveler departing high-risk areas to be fully vaccinated, and testing is mandatory for all arrivals and departures from affected areas. Inbound travelers must obtain entry permission from provincial administrators. Authorities have increased security on main roads linking high-risk provinces.

Authorities allow interprovincial flights and other domestic travel but may restrict travel for nonessential personnel if disease activity increases. Transport may continue between Central Province and the National Capital District (NCD) and Kerema Open Electorate, Gulf Province.

International Travel Restrictions
Fully vaccinated citizens, permanent residents, foreign nationals, and tourists, may enter the country; officials no longer require arrivals to obtain official approval. Inbound air passengers over the age of five must obtain a negative result from a PCR test taken within 72 hours before travel.

Passengers must undergo on-arrival testing and wait for the result before departing entry points. Any traveler that returns a positive test result must quarantine for seven days. Authorities allow couples or families who have been on the same flight and caregivers and their patients to quarantine together. Hotel management is authorized to hold passengers' passports during the quarantine period. Violations of quarantine orders are punishable by fines of up to PGK 50,000 and/or up to seven years in prison.

Entry remains limited to Port Moresby's Jacksons International Airport (POM) and Motueka Port and maritime ports in Lae, Kimbe, Madang, and Rabaul. The land border with Indonesia and traditional maritime border crossings remain closed. International flights from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines are available on specific carriers, though Air Niugini (PX) conducts most international flights. Some repatriation flights have occurred from other countries. PX requires outbound passengers to be fully vaccinated. Outbound international passengers must take a COVID-19 test before departure while at the airport. Passengers that test positive must remain in-country.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements and medical appointments. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Prepare to discuss and provide evidence for recent travel history. Maintain contact with your diplomatic mission. Plan for possible ground shipping and travel delays; seek alternative routes and shipping methods for time-sensitive cargo.

Resources

National Control Centre For COVID-19
Ministry of Health
Air Niugini