For the latest information on Australia's immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 outbreak please visit https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
There is a traveller checklist at Preparing to travel to Australia from overseas | COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au), which may assist preparations to travel.
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
The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea has no visa function. Our office in Suva, Fiji manages visa services for clients in Papua New Guinea. Please visit: Visas and migration (highcommission.gov.au)
You can apply online for most Australian visas and citizenship through ImmiAccount. This is the preferred and most efficient way to apply.
Changes to Australian visa processing in Papua New Guinea
From 1 February 2022, the Department of Home Affairs will start collecting biometrics from people in Papua New Guinea who are applying for a visa to Australia. Biometrics are collected through a quick and easy process that captures a photograph of your face and a 10-digit electronic fingerprint scan (the fingerprint scan does not use any ink).
The Offshore Biometric Collection Program is an Australian Government initiative that is progressively introducing biometric collection for most applicants for an Australian visa applying outside of Australia. Starting in 2010, the Australian Government has now introduced biometric collection in 48 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific and the Americas.
Biometrics will be collected from visa applicants of any nationality who are in Papua New Guinea at the time of making a visa application to enter Australia, unless they are excluded or exempt from the Program.
Visa applicants in Papua New Guinea who lodge their applications from 1 February 2022 may receive a letter requiring them to attend the Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC) located in Port Moresby, in person.
Applicants will need to book an appointment on the VFS Global website.
Australian Biometric Collection Centre – Port Moresby |
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Level 1 Grand Papua Hotel Mary Street Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. |
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/
Refunds of Visa Application Charge for Students
Student visa holders who travel to Australia and arrive between 19 January 2022 and 19 March 2022 will be refunded the visa application charge they paid when they applied for their Student visa. The current visa application charge for a Student visa is $630. Dependent visa applicants will also have their visa application charges refunded if they travel to Australia during this period.
Eligible travellers will be able to apply for a refund of their visa application charge until 31 December 2022. Further information on how to apply for a visa refund is available on the Department’s website at: Getting a refund (homeaffairs.gov.au).
Relaxation of Work Restrictions for Student Visa Holders
Student visa holders are now able to work over their normal limit of 40 hours per fortnight during term time. They are also able to work immediately upon arrival in Australia, and do not need to wait until their course of study or training commences.
These changes take effect from 19 January 2022 and will be reviewed in April 2022.
DNA testing for Citizenship by Descent 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.
Contact Us
If you have read this information and still need more information or help, you can contact the Visa Office at the Australian High Commission in Suva here: Contact us