VISA on arrival in PNG – Solomon Star Information

SOLOMON Islands nationals and nationals of different Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) nations can now get their visa on arrival when touring to Papua New Guinea (PNG).

This got here after the PNG authorities formally declared the re-activation of Visa on Arrival (VOA) process.

The announcement on Tuesday in Port Moresby was made by PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister & Performing Minister for Labour and Immigration, John Rosso and Chief Immigration Officer, Stanis Hulahau.

Solomon Islands Excessive Commissioner to PNG, William Soaki, who witnessed the VOA reactivation occasion confirmed this in a press release yesterday.

The re-activation of VOA means the nationals of MSG member nations, together with Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia can get a visa when touring to PNG upon arrival on the Jackson’s Worldwide Airport in Port Moresby.

MSG Affiliate member, Indonesia and Observer, Timor Leste are usually not lined by the VOA.

“As of Tuesday 22 November 2022, MSG member nationals can as soon as once more profit from the service of visa on arrival when travelling to Papua New Guinea,” Excessive Commissioner Soaki stated.

“On behalf of the Solomon Island Authorities, I acknowledge the PNG authorities for this well timed gesture.

“I take this chance to thank the PNG authorities via PNGICA for the reactivation of VOA,” Excessive Commissioner Soaki stated.

The Solomon Islands envoy in Port Moresby additionally assured the PNG authorities that Solomon Islanders will probably be suggested to stick to the legal guidelines and laws of the PNG authorities when travelling to PNG.

“I additionally assured them that via airline operators, we’ll be sure that Solomon Islands nationals adhere to PNG legal guidelines and laws and produce vaccination playing cards earlier than travelling,” Excessive Commissioner Soaki stated in a press release.

Previously Solomon Islanders wishing to journey to PNG should apply for VISA in Honiara earlier than touring.

Nevertheless, the current incident final month, involving three Solomon Islands medical docs is believed to have pressured the PNG authorities to chill out its VISA requirement for MSG member states.

The three medical docs traveled to Port Moresby to do a obligatory pre-exam intensive course and closing examinations for the coaching programme on the College of PNG.

They encountered issues on their arrival on the Jackson’s Worldwide Airport as they have been issued with hand written visas by the PNG Excessive Fee in Honiara as a consequence of printing issues on the chancery.

The issue was additional sophisticated after no information of the visas have been discovered within the PNG immigration system and the docs have been nearly to be deported when Professor Glen Mola made a fb publish concerning the matter, prompting a public name for the PNG Authorities’s granting of visa on arrival for MSG state nationals travelling to PNG.

In consequence, PNG immigration officers, together with Prime Minister, James Marape, have been conscious of the scenario and intervened to kind out the issue.

Solomon Islanders touring to Fiji and Vanuatu additionally obtain visa on arrival in these two MSG nations below the MSG settlement.

By MOFFAT MAMU