The best way to find out information about immigration and citizenship is by visiting the Department of Home Affairs website at www.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Visa Services
Our office in Port Moresby manages visa services for clients in Papua New Guinea.
You can apply online for most Australian visas and citizenship through ImmiAccount. This is the preferred and most efficient way to apply.
We have a Service Delivery Partner (SDP) agreement with VFS Global to provide biometric collection services as well as additional visa services such as online visa assist, online payment assist, document printing, document scanning and email and a photocopy service in Port Moresby. This is through an Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC).
Australian Biometric Collection Centres in Papua New Guinea
The Department of Home Affairs collects biometrics from people in Papua New Guinea of any nationality who are applying for a visa to Australia. Biometrics collected are a digital photograph of your face and a 10-digit electronic fingerprint scan (the fingerprint scan does not use any ink).
Visa applicants in Papua New Guinea receive a letter advising them of the requirement to attend the Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC) located in Port Moresby and Lae (operating on Fridays only), in person. Applicants who are excluded or exempt from the Program will be advised.
Applicants must book an appointment online in advance on the VFS Global website and pay the service fee when they attend the appointment.
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Australian Biometric Collection Centre Port Moresby |
Australian Biometric Collection Centre Lae |
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Times Square Sec 451, Lot 2, Unit 3C, 3rd Floor Wardship, Gordons, NCD Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm |
Hotel Morobe Section 177 Lot 1 and 2 Coronation Dr Lae, Papua New Guinea
Hours of operation: Every Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm |
VFS Global website: http://www.vfsglobal.com/australia/
Department of Home Affairs: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
Australian High Commission Port Moresby: https://png.embassy.gov.au/
Streamlined application option for eligible citizens of Papua New Guinea applying for a Visitor visa for Australia
If you are applying for a Visitor visa (600) in the Business Visitor stream, or a Visitor visa (600) in the Tourist stream, for Australia, you may be eligible to use the new streamlined ‘Apply again’ online application.
To check if you are eligible for this visa application option, follow these steps when lodging your Visitor visa (600) application:
- Log into your ImmiAccount and go to the ‘List of Applications’.
- Click on the ‘Apply again’ button that appears on the bottom right of the last finalised Visitor visa (600) visa application. See below screen shot:
3. The Terms & Conditions page appears then you need to read the terms and conditions.
4. If you are eligible for the streamlined lodgement process, you will see the form that you need to complete;
5. If you are not eligible to use the streamlined lodgement process, you will see a message telling you to return to the menu and start a new application for a Visitor Visa (600).
If required, you can import your previous application into your ImmiAccount by following the instructions available on the Home Affairs website Apply and manage your application. This step is necessary to ensure your previously finalised Visitor application is linked to your ImmiAccount, which is required to access and apply for these new visa options.
Work Restrictions for Student Visa Holders
From 1 July 2023, work restrictions for student visa holders will be re-introduced.
Student visa work restrictions were relaxed throughout the pandemic, and completely removed in January 2022 to allow primary and secondary student visa holders to work over their normal limit of 40 hours per fortnight to address workforce shortages.
The Australian Government has announced that student visa holders already working in the aged care sector on 9 May 2023 can continue to work unrestricted hours in the aged care sector until 31 December 2023.
From 1 July 2023, work restrictions for all other student visa holders will be re-introduced and capped at the increased rate of 48 hours per fortnight. This ensures that student visa holders are able to focus on obtaining a quality Australian education and qualification, while remaining able to support themselves financially, gain valuable work experience, and contribute to Australia’s workforce needs.
Work restrictions for student visa holders (homeaffairs.gov.au)
DNA testing for Applications
You should NOT make any arrangements for DNA testing until you receive a formal request to do so.
When/if you have received a request, the steps are as follow:
- You should engage a NATA accredited lab (see https://www.nata.com.au/accredited-facility and Form 1259i - Information about DNA testing for visa and citizenship applicants);
- Once you have engaged the lab, they will then contact the Department of Home Affairs at the Australian High Commission, Port Moresby;
- An officer at the Australian High Commission, Port Moresby, will then contact you or your migration agent directly, to arrange an appointment for collection of your DNA samples, by an accredited panel doctor.