It is important to know about customs regulations before traveling to Papua New Guinea to avoid legal issues and potential fines. As you know, customs regulations widely depend on the country. Before traveling to (or from) Papua New Guinea make sure to check the allowance and limits for the next things:
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Currency
- Medicines (especially those containing drugs)
- Animals
- Cultural artifacts
- Plants, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products
Check the information below to be sure that you are complying with Papua New Guinea customs regulations.
Import regulations in Papua New Guinea
Duty-free allowance
Tobacco limit
Restricted to travellers 18 years and over. One of the following:
- 250 cigarettes;
- or 250 grams of other tobacco products.
Bringing alcohol
- Restricted to travellers 18 years and over;
- 2 litres of alcohol.
Cash limit
- There are no restrictions on the import of local or foreign currencies.
- Funds of more than SI$50,000 or its foreign equivalent must be declared to the customs authorities.
Other Goods
- 1 litre of perfume.
- New articles up to a value of K1000 for travellers 18 years and over, and K500 for travellers under 18.
- Personal effects not intended for commercial use, such as laptops, sporting equipment, jewellery, toiletries, and cameras.
Prohibited items
The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.
- Counterfeit currency.
- Goods produced using prison labour.
- Knives that incorporate a lever or spring blade.
- Matches containing yellow or white phosphorus.
- Parrots, parakeets, or other birds of the Psittacidae family.
- High Density Polyethylene plastic bags.
- All gaming machines other than poker machines.
- Silencers for use with firearms.
- Goods that infringe on intellectual property rights.
Restricted items
These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.
- Animals of all kinds require permission from the National Quarantine and Inspection Service.
- Fish and the spawn of fish require permission from the National Quarantine and Inspection Service.
- Advertising matter relating to objectionable material requires permission from the Censorship Board.
- Controlled drugs, such as cannabis and cocaine, require permission from the Department of Health.
- Medicinal and prescription drugs may require permission from the Department of Health.
- Firearms and ammunition require permission of the Commissioner of Police.
- Fireworks require permission from the PNG Customs Service.
- Food products must be labelled in accordance with the Food Sanitation Regulation 2007, and may require permission from the Food Sanitation Council.
- Goods that, in the opinion of the Minister for Customs, are of a dangerous character and menace to the community, require permission from the Customs Service.
- Objectionable goods such as books, films, and other media, require permission from the Censorship Board.
- Literature that advocates the overthrow by violence or force of any country requires permission from the Head of State.
- Literature that incites disaffection, ill-will, or hostility against the Government or Constitution of Papua New Guinea or its people requires permission of the Minister for Customs.
- Pesticides require a permit issued by the Minister for the Environment.
- Plumage and skins of birds of paradise, crowned pigeons, and any of the several species of large crested pigeons known as Goura require permission from the Commissioner of Customs.
- Poker machines require permission from the National Gaming Control Board.
- Rice other than broken rice, glutinous rice, pre-packed meals, or brewers' rice must satisfy the control measures prescribed by the Ministers responsible for trade, health, and agricultural matters.
- Radioactive substances require a permit issued by the Minister for the Environment.
- Vaccines require permission of the Minister for Health and the Director of Agriculture.
Information has been updated: .