Location: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu
Solomon Islands: U.S. citizens in Solomon Islands who wish to immediately return to the United States are advised that Solomon Airlines has confirmed a one-way repatriation flight from Honiara to Brisbane on June 19. Qatar Airways offers onward itineraries from Brisbane to the United States (Dallas and Chicago) via Doha, Qatar, the following day, June 20.
U.S. citizens who wish to take advantage of these commercial flight options—requiring an overnight stay in Brisbane—must be in possession of the following:
- A valid Australian visa or ETA. Processing of new ETAs is suspended. U.S. citizens who do not currently have a valid ETA are advised to apply online for a Subclass 771 transit visa.
- An approved Queensland Travel Pass allowing the traveler to exit the Brisbane airport to complete quarantine at a designated site (usually a hotel near the airport) for the duration of transit. When applying for the Queensland Travel Pass, U.S. citizens should select the “compassionate grounds” exemption and provide the address a nearby hotel in Brisbane, recognizing that state health officials may direct you to another designated hotel.
- An approved Australian Border Force exemption to Australia’s restrictions on transit and entry for non-Australian citizens and residents. U.S. citizens are advised to include in their request detailed information about their confirmed itinerary, their approved Queensland Travel Pass, as much information as possible to explain their individual circumstances.
U.S. citizens are advised that domestic travel from Brisbane to other parts of Australia, even to catch onward international flights, is not possible.
Vanuatu: As of June 12, the Embassy is not aware of viable flight options for exiting Vanuatu en route to the United States. U.S. citizens who wish to immediately return to the United States from Vanuatu are advised to continue monitoring the availability of commercial air or charter flights that might facilitate their travel.
If they have not done so already, U.S. citizens who wish to depart Vanuatu immediately should also complete our repatriation interest form. However, the Embassy does not anticipate additional U.S. government charter flights.
U.S. citizens may also wish to consider registering their interest with the Vanuatu Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is coordinating repatriation flights for Ni-Van citizens elsewhere in the region.
Papua New Guinea: As of June 12, U.S. citizens in Papua New Guinea who wish to immediately return to the United States may have two commercial air options available to them:
Departing Port Moresby Tuesdays and Thursdays — via Brisbane and Doha, Qatar
- Air Niugini from Port Moresby to Brisbane
- Qatar Airways from Brisbane to Doha, Qatar, with onward destinations to Dallas and Chicago
Departing Port Moresby Tuesdays — via Brisbane and Singapore
- Air Niugini from Port Moresby to Brisbane
- Singapore Airlines from Brisbane to Singapore, with an onward destination to Los Angeles
Note: U.S. citizens intending to transit Changi Airport in Singapore en route to the United States should verify eligibility before making reservations. In general, travelers must be on a single Singapore Airlines itinerary and must be checked-in from Brisbane all the way to their first port of entry in the United States. U.S. citizens may need to work directly with Singapore Airlines or travel agents to find a consolidated Singapore Airlines itinerary. End note.
Because transit times in Brisbane are greater than eight hours, U.S. citizens who wish to take advantage of the above commercial flight options must be in possession of the following:
- A valid Australian visa or ETA. Processing of new ETAs is suspended. U.S. citizens who do not currently have a valid ETA are advised to apply online for a Subclass 771 transit visa.
A Queensland Travel Pass and Australian Border Force exemption may not be required for these itineraries. However, U.S. citizens are advised to verify by reviewing the latest guidelines for transiting Australia and checking with their airlines.
General Guidance:
The Embassy has no authority to facilitate exemptions to Australia’s border and immigration policies and assumes no liability for delays or disruptions in travel. Additional international commercial air services facilitating return to the United States may continue to be limited for the foreseeable future.
U.S. citizens are advised that the above routes and transit options may be suspended at any time with little or no notice and are subject to Australian federal and/or state requirements, as applicable. Routes involving multiple air carriers may present difficulties for baggage routing and collection.
U.S. citizens may find that online forms linked to above do not take into account their specific situation, but should make an attempt to obtain approvals as required and with the best information available to you at the time.
Actions to Take:
- Consult directly with the airlines and/or a travel agent to try to find commercial options to the United States.
- If your itinerary transits Australia and you cannot complete your transfer within an eight hour window on the same day as your arrival, obtain an exemption from the Australian Border Force in advance of your travel based on a confirmed reservation.
- If your itinerary requires a transit time in Australia of more than eight hours and your do not already have and ETA or valid visa, obtain a Subclass 771 (transit of less than 72 hours) or Subclass 600 (visitor) visa.
- If your itinerary requires a transit time in Queensland of more than eight hours, obtain a Queensland Entry/Travel Pass to allow you to exit the Brisbane airport and complete requisite quarantine at a state-designated facility (usually a nearby hotel).
- 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 Vehicle Pass or Air 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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