Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Customs’ small-craft guidance applies to non-commercial small craft/yachts. Vessels generally must notify Customs at least 48 hours before expected arrival and proceed directly to a designated Customs port or boarding station. Do not go ashore until Customs and quarantine release the vessel. Contact Customs under the guidance to confirm the actual receiving location.

Foreign yachts arriving in Papua New Guinea must proceed directly to a Customs-designated port and boarding station and follow Customs, quarantine and Immigration directions; do not call at another port first. The public small-craft information does not provide a fixed nationwide list guaranteed to be currently open. Confirm before sailing whether the intended port accepts private yachts.

Papua New Guinea Customs requires visiting yachts to notify authorities in advance and submit small-craft pre-arrival information. Official guidance generally specifies at least 48 hours’ notice; if passage from the previous port takes less than 48 hours, follow the form’s instructions. Before submitting, confirm the applicable deadline, receiving address and acknowledgement with Customs for this voyage.

Crew and passengers must each meet Papua New Guinea visa requirements. Immigration offers a Yachtperson eVisa category; do not assume all nationalities can obtain visas on arrival or that vessel permission automatically grants people entry. Everyone should remain aboard and follow inspection directions until Immigration and other authorities grant permission.

Submit details of vessel registration, owner/master, crew/passengers, previous port and onboard goods, and cooperate with Customs and quarantine inspections. Customs guidance says qualifying yachts may apply for temporary importation, subject to time limits and possible local-agent/security guarantees. Do not treat this as an automatic 12-month duty-free entitlement for every yacht. Confirm the official forms, security and period with Customs before sailing.

Customs small-craft guidance requires declaration of food, plants, animals and related goods aboard. Quarantine authorities may inspect, treat or destroy non-compliant goods at the vessel’s expense. Yachts carrying animals must berth at a designated anchorage/mooring and contact quarantine authorities in advance to confirm requirements.

Papua New Guinea Customs’ small-craft guidance requires declaration of firearms and medicines containing controlled substances. Customs may hold firearms until the vessel departs. This is not a complete restricted-items list; confirm permits with Customs before carrying weapons, medicines or other controlled goods.

After arrival, non-commercial small craft must proceed directly to a designated Customs port/boarding station, display the quarantine flag and remain aboard until Customs and quarantine release the vessel. Submit the Smallcraft Arrival Report and an arrival card for each person as required. Obtain Customs and Immigration clearance before departure. Use the current Customs notice for designated ports; locations outside the list require prior approval.

Arrival/departure and temporary importation may involve separate Customs, visa, quarantine, port and agent fees. No uniform total for all private yachts was verified. Before departure, confirm departure clearance, outstanding taxes and current tariffs with Customs, Immigration, quarantine and port authorities, and obtain receipts.