PNG ready to offer visas to Pacific Islands countries

The Government of PNG will relax its travel visas and work permits for Pacific Islanders coming to visit and work in Papua New Guinea.

In a recent announcement on the eve of the Pacific Islands Leaders’ meeting last week, PNG Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill said the people of the Federal State of Micronesia travelling to PNG will be granted visas on arrival while work permits will not be required for those who want to come and work in PNG.

Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill made the announcement during the signing of the air service agreement between the Government of PNG and the Federated State of Micronesia. The agreement was signed between Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill and FSM’s President Peter Christian at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby during the Pacific Island Leaders’ meeting.

Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill said that PNG will provide visas on arrival for the citizens of FSM and other smaller countries in the region. "It is up to you to reciprocate this gesture of friendship in allowing visas on arrival for the people of FSM when they travel to PNG.

"PNG also stands ready to offer visas-on-arrival to our brothers and sisters from Marshall Islands, Palau and other Micronesian states and for labour mobility, Pacific Islanders, who also wish to work in PNG do not require work permits," he said.

He said it was a historical agreement as it will now pave way for PNG’s airline, Air Niugini, to serve the FSM air route and extend to other Pacific islands. Currently, Air Niugini has weekly flights into the Solomon Island, Fiji and Vanuatu.