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.