Papua New Guinea student visa

The formal education class applies to individuals or institutions wishing to study in PNG on exchange programmes or by self-invitation. The occupational trainee class applies only to institutions sponsoring students to train with government bodies, companies or other organisations; ICA indicates it should be valid for six months to one year. A dependent class covers family members accompanying the student.

ICA requires a student visa for anyone who intends to study full time at a recognised educational institution in Papua New Guinea. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances, including the length of the enrolled course and the applicant's capacity to support themselves while studying, and the validity of the visa is also set case by case; ICA asks applicants to contact it for details. The occupational trainee class is described as non-extendable and valid for six months to one year.

All applicants must be of good health and character. A police certificate from the local police is needed for everyone aged 16 or over, dependants included, who will stay six months or more, and ICA may ask for a medical report from an approved doctor, an HIV test and a chest X-ray for applicants over 16, on its prescribed forms. Convictions or pending prosecutions must be disclosed.

Formal education applicants provide an undertaking or sponsor letter signed at managerial level covering the student's welfare, reason for stay and financial support, an acceptance letter from the school registrar, the completed and signed application form, a copy of the passport bio page and the migration fee. Police certificates apply to those aged 16 or over staying six months or more.

Formal education, occupational trainee and student dependant visas each cost USD 40. Extensions cost USD 75 and late extensions USD 380.

Student visas are submitted manually on the Application for Entry Permit form, with the fee paid through ICA's online gateway and the receipt attached. Dependants lodged separately must include certified copies of the principal's passport and visa.

The paper form, one per person, is sent with the applicant's passport to the Chief Migration Officer, Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority, PO Box 1790, Boroko, NCD; for a child under 16 both parents sign. ICA's 2025 handbook lists 17 PNG missions abroad, in Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the UN in New York; applicants in countries without a mission use the ICA website or the head office in Port Moresby.

Extensions are granted only to people inside PNG and must be lodged well before the permit expires, as there is no grace period; a late extension of a student visa costs USD 380. The visa must be used within six months of issue. Students must tell ICA about any change in their circumstances during or after the application, since it may affect eligibility and may attract a migration service fee.

Family members apply separately. A dependant over 18 can be considered case by case, for example where the child is continuing education in PNG. De facto partners provide statutory declarations from both parties on the length of the relationship and an undertaking not to seek employment; a relationship shorter than 12 months leads to a dependent permit of at most 12 months.