Location: Papua New Guinea
Event: U.S. citizens who still wish to depart Papua New Guinea are urged to do so as soon as possible by taking advantage of the following limited commercial air options:
- Air Niugini from Port Moresby to Brisbane – Qantas or Virgin Australia from Brisbane to Los Angeles
- Air Niugini from Port Moresby to Brisbane – Air New Zealand or Qantas from Brisbane to Auckland – Air New Zealand from Auckland to San Francisco
Virgin Australia and Qantas recently resumed limited services between Brisbane and Los Angeles on Wednesdays and Thursdays, respectively. U.S. citizens who wish to take advantage of these commercial routes are advised to work directly with the respective carriers and/or a travel agent to secure one-way reservations. In order to transit Australia, all non-Australian citizens or permanent residents must obtain an exemption from the Australian Border Force based on an existing reservation that includes a transit time of no more than eight hours. Travelers must remain airside (in the secure area) and cannot enter Australia.
Additionally, the government of New Zealand is again allowing transit of U.S. citizens whose immediate destination after departing New Zealand is the United States. This transit option may allow U.S. citizens in Papua New Guinea to transit Auckland via Brisbane en route to San Francisco on certain days of the week depending on airline schedules. In addition to securing an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions, U.S. citizens who wish to take advantage of this option will also need to obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authorization. Travelers must remain airside (in the secure area) and cannot enter New Zealand.
The Embassy has no authority to facilitate an exemption to Australia’s or New Zealand’s border and immigration policies.
U.S. citizens are advised that the above routing options may require multiple itineraries with different airlines that may or may not have inter-airline agreements. U.S. citizens are also advised that the above commercial air options and transit arrangements may be suspended at any time with little or no notice.
U.S. citizens who need to undertake domestic air or ground transportation otherwise restricted under PNG’s State of Emergency (SOE) may apply for an exemption from the SOE Controller by accessing the “Travel Pass” link at the Department of Communication and Information Technology’s website: https://covid19.info.gov.pg/.
Approval of travel passes are being decided based on strict criteria, which include emergency transport, essential services, and travel for the purpose of returning to one’s habitual place of residence.
Actions to Take:
- Consult directly with the respective airlines and/or a travel agent to try to find commercial options to the United States.
- If your itinerary transits Australia, obtain an exemption from the Australian Border Force in advance of your travel. If your itinerary transits New Zealand, obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authorization. If your travel requires domestic air or ground transportation otherwise restricted under PNG’s State of Emergency, obtain a Travel Pass online.
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s websiteon the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Phone number: +675 308 2100
Email address: ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usembassyportmoresby/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/usembassypom?lang=en
U.S. Consular Agency in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Phone number: + 677 27429 or + 677 74 94731
Email address: us_consular@usconsular.com.sb and keithieusa@usconsular.com.sb
U.S. State Department – Consular Affairs
+1 888 407 4747 or +1 202 501 4444
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