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Papua New Guinea

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
631
Top destination, 2023
Australia
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
1,164
UK visas issued, 2025
22
NationalityPGISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<PGPAPUA<NEW<GUINEA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
PG3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Papua New Guinea need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Papua New Guinea move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Australia223
  2. Japan187
  3. New Zealand186
  4. United States20
  5. Italy6
  6. Netherlands2
  7. Iceland2
  8. South Korea2
  9. Finland1
  10. Switzerland1
  11. Sweden1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

472944200020032006200920122015201820212023
4729442000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000170
2001346
2002340
2003411
2004313
2005379
2006614
2007547
2008625
2009825
2010935
2011944
2012858
2013709
2014561
2015754
2016665
2017689
2018660
2019669
2020331
2021379
2022516
2023631
Share going to the top destination
35.3%
Destinations recording arrivals
11
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Papua New Guinea who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Australia34,316
  2. Solomon Islands538
  3. Vanuatu69
  4. Samoa34
  5. Cook Islands19
  6. Guinea14
  7. Denmark14
  8. Finland13
  9. Norway13
  10. Hungary5
  11. Luxembourg5
  12. Slovakia2

Living abroad by year

18k35k19901995200020052010201520202024
18k35k19902000201020202024
Data table
199026,144
199527,421
200026,811
200527,858
201030,830
201534,339
202034,471
202435,050
Living abroad, 2024
35,050
Change since 2000
+30.7%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
97.9%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Papua New Guinea by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2653
  2. A2114
  3. F190
  4. G276
  5. J146
  6. C137
  7. L226
  8. B122
  9. A122
  10. G418

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

6841,368201720182019202020212022202320242025
6841,36820172019202120232025
Data table
2017558
2018812
20191,287
2020345
2021186
2022679
20231,013
20241,368
20251,164
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV5
  2. IR12
  3. CR11
  4. E21
Immigrant visas, FY2025
9
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Papua New Guinea who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Papua New Guinea with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

20402015201620172018201920202021202220232024
2040201520172019202120232024
Data table
201510
201620
201720
201830
201920
202020
202120
202230
202340
202440
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens30
  2. Employment-based preferences10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Papua New Guinea)
40
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Papua New Guinea)
30
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
1,680
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Papua New Guinea (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Papua New Guinea (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study12
  2. Work5
  3. Visitor2
  4. Other2
  5. Family1

Visas issued by year

2345201020122014201620182020202220242025
2345201020132016201920222025
Data table
201021
201121
201218
201316
201445
201523
201628
201713
201823
201935
20209
20219
202221
202328
202418
202522
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Papua New Guinea, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

1292572005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
1292572005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–06176
2006–07202
2007–08247
2008–09166
2009–1063
2010–1197
2011–12257
2012–1397
2013–1442
2014–1567
2015–1642
2016–1745
2017–1836
2018–1955
2019–2048
2020–2125
2021–2287
2022–23192
2023–24208
2024–25184
2025–26157
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills111
  2. Specialist Skills24
  3. Labour Agreement19
  4. Medium-term3
Granted, 2025–26
157
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.2%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Papua New Guinea living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

581162012201420162018202220242025
581162012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201248
201355
201448
201543
201655
201759
201869
201966
202282
202386
202491
2025116
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student66
  2. Permanent Resident14
  3. Dependent13
  4. Trainee5
  5. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services5
  6. Designated Activities4
  7. Spouse or Child of Japanese National4
  8. Instructor2
  9. Researcher1
  10. Religious Activities1
Residents, December 2025
116
In work-related statuses
10
Share in work-related statuses
8.6%
Students
66
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Papua New Guinea in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education11
  2. Family9
  3. Other reasons9
  4. Work7
First permits by country
  1. Poland9
  2. Italy6
  3. Sweden6
  4. Ireland3
  5. Germany2
  6. Iceland2
  7. Netherlands2
  8. Denmark2
  9. France1
  10. Portugal1
  11. Czechia1
  12. Croatia1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)2
  2. Researchers1
  3. Other paid activities4
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
0
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
3
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
27
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
173
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
6
Changed status into work, 2025
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Papua New Guinea in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025312000
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Papua New Guinea

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Papua New Guinea, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
France1——
Indonesia1—1
Japan1——
Malaysia1——
South Korea1——
Türkiye1——
Countries
6
Missions
7
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Papua New Guinea, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

1529200020032006200920122015201820212024
1529200020052010201520202024
Data table
20007
20016
20026
20037
200410
20057
20064
20078
20087
20095
20104
201112
201214
201314
201410
20154
20163
20174
20184
201929
20202
20213
202215
202314
20244
Remittances received, 2024
US$4 million
Share of GDP, 2024
0.01%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more