Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required                                          

• Passport
• Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
• Work permit / residence permit
• Duty-free certificate (diplomats)
• Immigration arrival card (completed upon arrival)

Specific Information

• Expatriates must be working for a registered company and hold a valid work permit / residence permit.
• One air and one sea shipment only can be imported duty free but duty will be levied on new items or items deemed in excessive quantities for personal needs.
• Shipments should arrive within 3 months of the date of issue of the work permit / residence permit.
• The owner of the goods must be present to sign a statutory declaration in front of a Commissioner of Oaths in Papua New Guinea.
• Any new items must be declared and will be dutiable.
• All shipments are inspected by both Customs and the Quarantine Department and are subject to demurrage.
• Shipments may be subject to be off-loaded into a bonded warehouse in the port area.
• Shipments can only be released after both Customs and Quarantine have approved its release.
• All criteria the entire shipment will be subject to import duty at varying rates.
• Diplomats are required to obtain a duty-free certificate issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UN/NGO/AID employees to obtain the same certificate by their sponsoring government department.
• All shipments must be ISPM15 compliant or additional quarantine charges may apply.
• Sea shipments take up to 30 days to clear and air shipments up to 10 days.
  • High demurrage may apply.
• Household goods and personal effects should be shipped separately from commercial goods.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• Purchase invoice
• OBL

Specific Information

• There is no restriction on the import of used vehicles.
• All motor vehicles are subject to import duties and taxes as follows:
  • Smaller than 2700 cc                Duties 60%       GST 10%
  • Larger than 2700 cc                  Duties 110%     GST 10%
  • Buses, vans, passenger vans   Duties 10%       GST 10%

Pets

Documents Required

• Vaccination record
• Veterinary health record

Specific Information

• The import of pets is subject to approval by the Chief Quarantine Officer.
• Pets may enter as cargo only.
• The quarantine period for dogs and cats arriving from Australia and New Zealand is 48 hours. 
  • The quarantine period from countries from other countries is 9 months. 

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Alcohol (up to 1 L for persons 18 years and older)
• Cigarettes (260), cigars (250 g), tobacco (250 g) for persons 18 years and older

Prohibited Items

• Pornographic materials
• Firearms and ammunition
• Fireworks
• Narcotics
• Gambling instruments
• Subversive or offensive literature
• Agricultural products

Consignment Instructions

Recommended:  Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

Helpful Website(s):

http://www.pngembassy.org