Location: Papua New Guinea
Event: The U.S. Embassy is aware of domestic and international travel restrictions and flight cancellations affecting U.S. citizens attempting to depart Papua New Guinea in order to return to the United States.
U.S. citizens are advised that transiting New Zealand via Australia en route to a final destination in the United States is no longer possible. The government of New Zealand recently declared a state of emergency and unexpectedly moved forward its window for these transit options from 11:59 pm on March 29 to 2:00 to March 26.
We continue to encourage U.S. citizens who wish to depart Papua New Guinea and who can get to Port Moresby to continue working with airlines and/or travel agents to find commercial air options to the United States via Australia. U.S. citizens have reported success receiving waivers from the Australian Department of Home Affairs to transit Australia en route to a final destination in the United States. We further recommend that U.S. citizens look for routes that minimize transit time in Australia.
The Embassy has no authority to facilitate an exemption to Australia’s border and immigration policies.
U.S. citizens presently in Papua New Guinea who wish to depart and who have not been able to do so via commercial means are asked provide the following information (using the table below) to ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov and placing “Coronavirus Emergency” in the subject line.
If you have already reported this information individually or through your organization, please do not submit it again. Each field below must be completed, or your submission cannot be accepted.
Please Note:
- We are gathering this information to develop a better understanding of the number of U.S. citizens who wish to depart immediately but are unable to do so. The Embassy cannot guarantee that it will be able to offer assistance to U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States.
- In the event that assistance can be offered, only U.S. citizens and immediate family members are eligible to receive U.S. government support to return to the United States.
- Under U.S. law, travelers on any potential charter flight organized by the Department of State are responsible for paying the cost of their ticket, which may be higher than standard commercial fares.
- Space on any potential charter flights may be limited and would be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis or based on emergency need.
- We will make every effort to acknowledge receipt of your information, but due to the high volume of inquiries and limited staffing, you may not receive an immediate response.
Actions to Take:
- Provide the above information for each U.S. citizen traveler in your party. Please read the instructions carefully and provide complete and accurate information for each data field.
- Consult with your airline or travel agent to try to find commercial options to the United States. If your itinerary transits via Australia, obtain an exemption from the Australian Border Force in advance of your travel.
- 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: +675 321 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
U.S. State Department – Consular Affairs
+1 888 407 4747 or +1 202 501 4444
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