PNGDAC · Customs · biosecurity · currency · restricted goods

PNGDAC Customs Declaration Guide

The Papua New Guinea Digital Arrival Card (PNGDAC) includes a dedicated Goods and Prohibited Items Declarations stage. Travellers should answer every question accurately before arrival—and ICA's own user guide says that if you are unsure whether something should be declared, choose “YES”.

See what to declare Check duty-free allowances
PNGDAC windowUp to 72h before arrival
Currency reportK20,000+
Adult new goodsK1,000 concession
If unsureDeclare YES

How PNGDAC works

The customs declaration is part of a broader digital passenger declaration

ICA's current website-submission guide says travellers enter personal details, trip and accommodation information, then complete the Goods and Prohibited Items Declarations before moving to the health section.

After submission, the traveller receives the PNGDAC by email and can download or print it. The current PNGDAC FAQ says the form can be submitted within 72 hours before arrival, including the arrival date.

A later ICSA notice dated 6 August 2026 instructs airlines and check-in personnel that the PNGDAC must be completed before a boarding pass is issued. In practice, complete it before airport check-in rather than relying on the older arrival-kiosk fallback.

Biosecurity

Declare food, plants and animal products

Food

Food and edible products

PNG Customs' border guidance states that travellers must declare food items subject to quarantine controls. If the PNGDAC asks about food you are carrying, answer accurately rather than assuming commercially packaged food is automatically exempt.

  • Fresh or dried food
  • Meat and meat products
  • Seeds and nuts
  • Herbs and spices
  • Homemade food
Plants

Plants and plant material

Declare plant material and items that may carry soil or biological contamination. Quarantine officers can inspect, treat or destroy goods of concern.

  • Seeds
  • Leaves and bark
  • Live plants
  • Wood or untreated plant products
  • Soil-contaminated outdoor equipment
Animals

Animal products

Customs also requires declaration of animal items subject to quarantine controls. Some items may need permits or biosecurity assessment.

  • Meat and animal-derived foods
  • Feathers
  • Bone, horn or shell items
  • Animal skins or untreated products
  • Live animals

Declaring an item does not automatically mean it is prohibited. Declaration allows Customs or quarantine officers to decide whether it may enter, needs treatment, requires a permit or must be surrendered.

Outdoor equipment

Clean hiking, camping and sporting gear before packing

Hiking boots

Remove visible soil, mud, seeds and plant material from soles and tread before travel.

Camping equipment

Clean tent pegs, ground sheets, trekking poles and other gear that has been in contact with soil.

Do not invent automatic confiscation

Biosecurity officers may inspect or treat contaminated goods, but it is not accurate to state that every dirty boot is automatically confiscated for chemical sterilisation.

Currency and valuables

K20,000 or more triggers a separate Customs report

PNG Customs requires the Cross-Border Movement of Currency and Valuables (CMCV) Report when you import or export covered currency or valuables with a combined value equivalent to K20,000 or more.

The official CMCV form covers:

  • PNG or foreign banknotes and coins
  • Cheques and traveller's cheques
  • Bank drafts and money orders
  • Stocks, bonds and similar monetary instruments
  • Precious metals
  • Precious stones
  • Covered personal jewellery included in the declared total

If carried personally, Customs says the report must be submitted at or before the time you are processed into or out of PNG.

Traveller concessions

Current duty-free allowances

CategoryCurrent concessionNotes
New goods — adultK1,000For travellers aged 18 or over; alcohol and tobacco are separate
New goods — childK500For travellers under 18
Alcohol2.25 litresCurrent dedicated Customs concessions page
Tobacco200 cigarettes OR 250 g tobacco OR 50 cigarsSeparate from the monetary goods concession
PerfumeUp to 1 litreSpecific personal concession

Customs-page inconsistency: another PNG Customs airport-arrivals page currently displays different allowance figures. The dedicated Traveller Concessions page and the published Personal Effects Regulations support the figures above. If you are close to an allowance limit, recheck the dedicated Customs concessions page before travel.

Personal effects

Used travel belongings are treated differently from new goods

Clothing and toiletries

Ordinary personal clothing, grooming items and similar used travel effects generally fall within personal-use concessions, subject to quarantine and other restrictions.

Camera and computer

The Personal Effects Regulations provide concessions for specified personal cameras and personal computers, while new or commercial quantities can be treated differently.

Commercial goods

Business samples, goods for sale or commercial quantities should not be treated as ordinary personal baggage. Declare them and check import requirements in advance.

Restricted and prohibited goods

Declaration is not the same as permission to import

1

Medicines

Customs guidance specifically tells travellers to report drugs and medical-kit items containing narcotics or tranquillisers in applicable border contexts. Carry controlled prescription medicines in original packaging with supporting medical documentation.

2

Weapons and firearms

Weapons and firearms are controlled goods. Declaration alone does not substitute for any prior licence, permit or authorization required under PNG law.

3

Illicit drugs

Illegal narcotics are prohibited. Customs warns that PNG drug offences can lead to imprisonment.

4

Wildlife products

Native and endangered wildlife and wildlife products can be strictly regulated, particularly for export. Do not buy or transport wildlife-derived souvenirs without checking legality.

5

Fireworks and other controlled goods

Some hazardous or regulated products require prior permission and may be prohibited. Check the current PNG Customs prohibited-import rules before packing unusual goods.

6

Commercial samples

Samples and professional equipment can trigger temporary-import, duty or documentation requirements depending on ownership, use and value.

How to answer the PNGDAC

Use the declaration questions literally

ICA's current user manual does not tell travellers to guess whether Customs will ultimately allow an item. It tells you to complete the Goods and Prohibited Items Declarations and, if unsure, choose YES.

That distinction matters. You are declaring possession of the item; you are not admitting wrongdoing.

Example: If you have packaged snacks containing meat, seeds or plant material and are unsure whether the question applies, declare them. Let the border officer decide whether inspection or further action is needed.

After submission

What happens to your declaration on arrival

Receive confirmation

The PNGDAC is sent to the email address entered during submission and can also be downloaded.

Present with your passport

ICA instructs travellers to keep the PNGDAC confirmation ready for presentation to border officers.

Inspection remains possible

A digital declaration does not remove Customs or quarantine inspection powers. Goods may still be examined, assessed, treated or detained.

Corrections

You can update many PNGDAC details before entry

ICA provides an Update PNGDAC function for corrections such as flight details, travel dates, accommodation and other information before entry.

The current FAQ says some identity fields—such as full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth—cannot be edited through the update function. If one of those is wrong, ICA recommends submitting a new form; the most recent valid submission is used.

PNGDAC customs declaration FAQ

Common traveller questions

Does PNGDAC include Customs declarations?

Yes. ICA's current online manual explicitly includes a Goods and Prohibited Items Declarations step before the health declaration.

What if I am unsure whether to declare something?

ICA explicitly says to declare “YES” if you are unsure.

Do I need to declare packaged food?

Do not assume commercial packaging means no declaration is required. Answer the live PNGDAC question literally; food, plants and animal products are subject to biosecurity controls.

How much cash triggers a declaration?

The current Customs threshold is K20,000 or more in covered currency and valuables, using the separate CMCV reporting process.

Is K20,000 the maximum amount I may bring?

No. K20,000 is the reporting threshold for covered currency and valuables. Other foreign-exchange or legal controls may apply depending on the transaction.

What is the adult duty-free allowance for new goods?

The dedicated current PNG Customs concessions page lists K1,000 for adults aged 18 and over, excluding separate alcohol and tobacco allowances.

How much alcohol can an adult bring duty free?

The current dedicated Customs traveller-concessions page lists 2.25 litres. Because another Customs page displays older conflicting figures, recheck the dedicated concessions page if travelling near the limit.

Can I correct a PNGDAC after submitting?

Yes. ICA provides an update function for many fields. Certain identity fields cannot be changed, in which case a new submission may be required.

Related VisaPNG guides

Complete your arrival preparation

APNG Arrival CardPNGDAC overview and submission. EEntry RequirementsBorder, Customs and health rules. IImmigration ClearanceWhat happens after landing. BBefore You TravelFinal departure checks. KMoney in PNGCash, cards and currency planning. NVisa & Entry NewsCurrent policy changes.

Before you submit

When uncertain, declare the item

PNGDAC is designed to make your passenger declaration available before border processing. Answer the goods questions accurately, use “YES” when you are unsure, and let Customs or biosecurity officers determine whether the item needs inspection, treatment, duty or a permit.

Review PNGDAC Review entry rules

Primary sources

Official pages used for this declaration guide

ICA — PNG Digital Arrival Card ICA — PNGDAC Website Submission Manual ICA — PNGDAC FAQ ICSA — Mandatory PNGDAC Notice PNG Customs — Traveller Concessions PNG Customs — Currency & Valuables Reporting PNG Customs — Prohibited & Restricted Items Guidance

VisaPNG is an independent visa and travel-support website. It is not the Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority, PNG Customs Service or a biosecurity authority. The live PNGDAC questions and official Customs instructions always take precedence.