Quick summary
Papua New Guinea now requires every international traveler—including transit passengers and PNG citizens—to complete the free PNG Digital Arrival Card (PNGDAC) online at pngdac.ica.gov.pg within 72 hours of arrival. Enforced since October 1, 2025, failure to present the confirmation QR code at check-in or immigration risks boarding denial or processing delays of 30 minutes or more at Jacksons International Airport kiosks.
The PNGDAC is separate from any e-Visa or entry permit—holding a valid visa alone does not satisfy the requirement. Submission methods, timing risks, and edge cases for group and transit travelers vary significantly.
Missing a free 10-minute online form can now get you denied boarding to Papua New Guinea. Since October 1, 2025, the PNG Digital Arrival Card (PNGDAC) is mandatory for every international arrival—tourists, business travelers, returning citizens, and even transit passengers who never leave the airport. No QR code confirmation, no boarding pass.
The requirement is straightforward: submit personal, travel, and customs declaration details at pngdac.ica.gov.pg within 72 hours before arrival, receive a confirmation email with a QR code, and present it alongside your passport at check-in and immigration. The form is free, takes 5–10 minutes, and replaces the paper arrival cards PNG phased out entirely in late 2025. Air Traveler Club’s entry requirement tracker flagged this policy change on September 30, 2025, when the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority published its transition announcement.
For travelers routing through Port Moresby on Asia-Pacific itineraries—particularly those on Australian corridors from Brisbane, Sydney, and Cairns—the enforcement has been strict and immediate. Air Niugini cabin crew now remind passengers during boarding, and check-in agents verify completion before issuing boarding passes.
What the PNGDAC requires and how to submit it
The submission process mirrors digital arrival cards adopted by countries like Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Navigate to pngdac.ica.gov.pg, enter passport details, flight information, accommodation address in PNG, and a standard customs declaration. The system generates a confirmation email with a reference number and QR code within minutes.
Print the confirmation or save a screenshot—airport Wi-Fi in PNG is unreliable, and pulling up email at immigration creates unnecessary risk. The official PNGDAC submission page maintained by PNG’s Immigration and Citizenship Authority provides step-by-step guides and contact details for troubleshooting at pngdac@immigration.gov.pg.
One critical distinction: the PNGDAC is not a visa. Travelers who require an e-Visa or entry permit must still obtain one separately. Arriving with a valid visa but no PNGDAC confirmation risks delays or denial at immigration—the two systems do not communicate automatically.
| Method | Time Required | Risk Level | Best For | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online (pngdac.ica.gov.pg) | 5–10 min | Low | All travelers | Up to 72 hrs pre-arrival |
| Kiosk (Jacksons International, POM) | 15–30+ min | High (queues) | Last-minute only | On arrival |
| Group submission (online) | 10–15 min | Low | Families, tour groups | Online only |
The kiosk option at Jacksons International Airport exists as a fallback, not a convenience. Air Niugini reports significant congestion at POM kiosks during peak arrival windows from Australian routes, with processing times doubling or tripling compared to pre-submitted travelers. Online submission eliminates this bottleneck entirely.
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Why PNG adopted digital arrival cards now
PNG’s shift follows a broader Asia-Pacific trend toward digitizing border processes that accelerated after 2022. Malaysia launched its Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) in 2024, and Australia’s incoming passenger card has been partially digital for years. For PNG, the motivation combines faster immigration throughput at chronically congested Port Moresby with improved data collection for security and public health screening.
PNG’s paper-to-digital timeline
The PNG government announced the PNGDAC on September 30, 2025, with a brief transition period allowing paper cards alongside digital submissions. By mid-October, Air Niugini confirmed paper cards were no longer accepted on international routes. The transition took less than three weeks—one of the fastest mandatory digital switchovers in the Pacific region.
For travelers connecting through PNG en route to other Pacific destinations, the requirement applies even during airside transit. Unlike some countries that exempt passengers remaining in the international terminal, PNG requires all arriving international flights to process through PNGDAC regardless of final destination. This catches travelers off guard on itineraries routing through Port Moresby to destinations like the Solomon Islands or Fiji.
Three scenarios that create compliance risk
Transit passengers who assume exemption. Air Niugini has confirmed PNGDAC applies to transit passengers, not just those clearing immigration. If your itinerary touches PNG soil on an international routing, submit the form. There is no transit exemption as of early 2026.
Travel detail changes after submission. If your flight number, arrival date, or accommodation changes after completing the PNGDAC, you must update the form online before arrival. The system does not sync with airline reservation changes—mismatched data at immigration creates processing delays.
Group travelers submitting individually at kiosks. Families or tour groups arriving without pre-submission face compounded kiosk wait times. Each person requires a separate form. A group of four at the kiosk during a peak Australian arrival window could face 60–90 minutes of processing before reaching immigration. Online group submission takes 10–15 minutes total from a hotel lobby the night before departure.
Travelers planning broader Asia-Pacific itineraries that include PNG should treat the PNGDAC as non-negotiable pre-departure preparation. For those exploring strategies to reduce overall flight costs across the region, the operational risk of missing a free digital form far outweighs any time saved by skipping it.
Practical compliance checklist
Complete these steps 24–72 hours before your PNG arrival to eliminate all boarding and immigration risk:
- Submit at pngdac.ica.gov.pg. Have your passport, flight details, and PNG accommodation address ready. The form takes 5–10 minutes.
- Save the confirmation email and QR code. Screenshot or print—do not rely on retrieving email at POM airport.
- Verify details match your booking. Flight number, arrival date, and passport number must align with your ticket. Any post-submission changes require an update through the portal.
- Confirm visa status separately. The PNGDAC does not replace or interact with e-Visa requirements. Check both before departure.
For Australian travelers on the high-volume Brisbane–Port Moresby and Sydney–Port Moresby corridors—the routes where enforcement has been most visible—the Australasia Superdeal feed monitors fare movements on these exact routes, often surfacing pricing anomalies on Air Niugini and connecting carriers weeks before departure.
Questions? Answers.
Does the PNGDAC replace my e-Visa or entry permit?
No. The PNGDAC is a customs and immigration declaration form, entirely separate from visa requirements. You need both a valid visa (if your nationality requires one) and a completed PNGDAC to enter PNG. Missing either one creates problems at check-in or immigration.
What happens if I miss the 72-hour submission window?
You can still submit online after the 72-hour mark as long as you complete it before arrival. However, Air Niugini check-in agents verify completion at the gate, so submitting at the airport before boarding is risky. If you arrive without any submission, kiosks at Jacksons International handle walk-ins but expect 15–30 minute delays during peak periods.
Is PNGDAC required for domestic flights within PNG?
No. The requirement applies only to international arrivals. Once you clear immigration at your initial PNG entry point, subsequent domestic connections within the country do not require a separate PNGDAC submission.
Do transit passengers need to complete the form?
Yes. Air Niugini has confirmed that all international arrivals, including transit passengers who do not leave the terminal, must have a completed PNGDAC. There is no airside transit exemption as of early 2026.
Are there fees for the PNGDAC or the airport kiosks?
The PNGDAC is completely free through both the online portal and airport kiosks. No third-party site should charge for submission—if you encounter a paid service, you are likely on an unofficial site. Use only pngdac.ica.gov.pg.
Does this apply at all PNG international airports or only Port Moresby?
The requirement applies at all international entry points across Papua New Guinea. Kiosk availability has been confirmed at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, but other gateways may have limited or no kiosk infrastructure—making online pre-submission even more critical for arrivals at secondary airports.
