Papua New Guinea’s PNG Digital Arrival Card (PNGDAC) must now be treated as a pre-departure travel requirement.
In a notice issued on August 6, 2026, the Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority (ICSA) reminded international airlines, ground handling agents and check-in staff that the PNG Digital Arrival Card is a mandatory pre-arrival requirement for travelers heading to Papua New Guinea.
The instruction directly affects procedures at the airport of departure. Airlines and their agents must verify that the digital declaration has been completed before issuing a boarding pass.
The PNGDAC, introduced on October 1, 2025, is therefore no longer simply a formality designed to streamline checks after arrival. Completion of the form is now part of the checks carried out before travelers depart.
The declaration can be completed within 72 hours of arrival
The PNG Digital Arrival Card replaces the former paper arrival card and allows Papua New Guinean authorities to collect travelers’ personal information, trip details and the various declarations required for entry in advance.
The process is free and can be completed through the official PNGDAC portal.
The form can be submitted starting 72 hours before arrival in Papua New Guinea. A separate declaration is required for each traveler, including children and infants. Travelers can also submit a group declaration for several people.
Passengers are asked to provide personal and travel information and answer questions relating to goods they are carrying, customs, quarantine and health requirements.
Once the form has been submitted, a confirmation is generated. The ICA recommends keeping it on a phone or another device so it can be presented with the traveler’s passport during checks. A printed copy can also be kept.
Information can be updated after submission and up until the declaration is presented to immigration authorities. If more than one declaration is submitted for the same traveler, the most recently submitted version will be used.
PNGDAC is now checked at check-in
Since the system was launched, authorities had already encouraged travelers to complete the PNGDAC online before arrival in order to speed up entry procedures.
ICSA is now instructing international airlines, ground handling agents and check-in staff to make sure passengers have completed their digital arrival card before their boarding pass is issued.
The new instruction means travelers should prepare the PNGDAC in advance, just like other travel documents that may be checked before departure.
National carrier Air Niugini is also reminding passengers that the declaration is mandatory and encouraging them to complete it online within 72 hours before arrival to avoid additional delays.
Who needs to complete the PNGDAC?
All travelers entering Papua New Guinea who fall within the scope of the system must have a PNGDAC, regardless of nationality. This includes visa holders, travelers eligible for a visa on arrival and Papua New Guinean citizens.
The PNGDAC is currently used for passengers arriving by air at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby (POM). According to the ICA, travelers entering the country by land or sea are not currently covered by the system. Crew members are also subject to a separate procedure.
Digital kiosks are available on arrival in Port Moresby for travelers who need to complete the declaration on site. However, the new instruction issued to airlines means passengers should now make completing the PNGDAC before departure a priority.
The PNG Digital Arrival Card is not a visa or an authorization to enter Papua New Guinea. Travelers who require a visa must complete that process separately. Papua New Guinea Immigration operates an e-Visa portal through which several categories of applications can be submitted online, including for visits and tourism. Depending on their nationality, some travelers may also be eligible for a visa on arrival.
VisasNews Take
For travelers, the main change is when the PNG Digital Arrival Card needs to be ready. Introduced in 2025 to replace the paper arrival declaration, it should now be treated as a formality to complete before heading to the airport. Filling it out within the 72 hours before arrival can help prevent a check-in verification from delaying departure.
