Papua New Guinea
Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
- Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces due to the high risk of tribal fighting
- Enga Province in the Highlands, except Wabag District
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Enga Province
Following wide-spread intercommunal violence in Wapenamanda area of Enga Province, the provincial government has declared all districts except Wabag District, which remains relatively safe, as ‘fighting zones’. The authorities report deaths, destruction of property, and the closure of public services. Checkpoints, random searches, and curfews have been introduced.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
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Update history
2025-11-18 10:30
Addition of information on the risks from methanol poisoning (‘Safety and security’ page).
2025-10-15 16:35
New information about requirement for Digital Arrival Card (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-09-24 09:34
Updated information about visa requirements and new information on how to apply for a visa (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-08-25 19:11
Latest update: Addition of information following wide-spread intercommunal violence as FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Enga Province, except Wabag District (Warnings and insurance and Regional risks pages)
2025-08-01 12:40
Removal of information on tsunami alert specific to the Earthquake in the Kamchatka Peninsular Region (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-07-30 12:11
Earthquake and Tsunami warning – regional update (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-05-15 14:04
Updated information on volcanic eruptions (‘Safety and security’ page).
2025-04-04 23:32
Updated information following an earthquake in the region (‘Warnings and insurance’ & ‘Safety and Security’ page).
2024-02-22 14:03
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-01-12 10:59
Information about a state of emergency in Port Moresby (‘Summary’ page).
2024-01-10 10:45
Information about civil disorder in Port Moresby (‘Summary’ page).
2023-11-24 16:38
Information about volcanic activity (‘Natural disasters’ page) and curfew Tribal violence (‘Safety and Security’ page).
2023-08-14 15:42
Information about volcanic activity (‘Natural disasters’ page) and curfew in Enga province (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-06-22 09:17
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-06-09 09:12
Updated information on Crime (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-04-24 16:05
Updated information on entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-10-12 09:49
Updated information on Entry rules in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-09-15 09:40
Updated information on earthquakes (‘Natural disasters’ page).
2022-09-05 09:41
Updated information on entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) (‘Entry Requirements’ page). Updated information on areas experiencing civil unrest (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages).
2022-08-10 13:10
Updated information on entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-07-21 09:31
Updated information on risk of tribal fighting and national elections taking place in July 2022 (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-04-29 16:39
Updated information on mask wearing and authorised COVID-19 test centres (‘Coronavirus’ page). Updated information on changes to entry rules and visas (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-04-21 11:09
Updated information on changes to entry rules in response to COVID-19 (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-03-21 15:48
Updated information on changes to entry rules in response to COVID-19 (‘Entry requirements’ page) and recent low level volcanic activity (‘Natural disasters’ page).
2022-02-22 15:51
Updated information on changes to entry rules in response to COVID-19 (‘Entry requirements’ page)