MSF
The Migration Service Fee is the visa-class fee levied by ICA. It can be US$0 for some classes and substantially higher for business, employment and specialist permits.
Visa fees, currency conversion, receipts and payment checks
PNG eVisa Payment | Fees, Receipts & Payment Checks
Papua New Guinea's eVisa payment is made after you complete the application details and upload the required documents. ICA states that the visa fee must be paid before the application is automatically submitted. The total can include two separate components: a Migration Service Fee (MSF) that depends on the visa class and a US$50 Online Lodgment Service Fee (OLSF) for applications lodged through the eVisa portal.
US$50 OLSFApplies to online portal applications.
MSF variesDepends on the visa class.
Online charge in AUDUsing ICA's published conversion rate.
Receipt emailSent after successful payment.
Fee structure
PNG eVisa payment can include two separate fees
OLSF
ICA states that all applications lodged through the online eVisa portal are subject to a US$50 Online Lodgment Service Fee.
System-calculated total
ICA says the conversion rates, base USD fee and total amount to be charged are displayed on the payment screen before payment details are entered.
Important:
“PNG eVisa = US$50” is only correct for classes where the Migration Service Fee is zero. For many other classes, the US$50 online fee is added on top of a separate MSF.
Current fee examples
Examples from ICA's live eVisa class information
| Visa class | Migration Service Fee | Online lodgement fee | Indicative base total before ICA conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Visitor Permit | US$0 | US$50 | US$50 |
| Business Short-Term | US$350 | US$50 | US$400 |
| Restricted Employment Visa | US$350 | US$50 | US$400 |
| Special Exemption — Aid Worker / Volunteer | US$50 | US$50 | US$100 |
| Film Maker — Non-Commercial | US$40 | US$50 | US$90 |
Check before paying:
specialist-class fees can change. Use the live visa-class page and the amount shown on ICA's payment screen as the final fee reference.
Currency and conversion
Base fees are in USD, but online payments are levied in AUD
ICA's current payment disclaimer states that the base Migration Service Fee is set in US dollars. For applications made online, the MSF and US$50 OLSF are levied in Australian dollars (AUD) using ICA's published conversion rate.
Base fee
Published by ICA in US dollars.
Online charge
Converted and levied in AUD according to ICA's payment disclaimer.
Conversion shown
The payment screen displays the applicable conversion and total amount.
Bank conversion
Your card issuer may apply its own exchange or international-card terms independently of ICA.
No need to preload USD
ICA's online flow determines the payment amount; do not assume the card must hold a dedicated USD balance.
Final authority
Use the payment-screen total, not a travel blog's old currency conversion.
Payment method
Use the payment method offered by the live ICA gateway
ICA's payment disclaimer confirms that MSF and OLSF payments are processed through a third-party provider and appear as PNG Consulate General on credit and debit card statements.
The public ICA material reviewed for this guide does not provide a complete current list of supported card brands or a universal statement that American Express, PayPal, prepaid cards, bank transfers or cryptocurrencies are either supported or prohibited.
Better rule:
use one of the payment options actually presented by the live ICA gateway and ensure the card or account is authorised for the resulting international transaction.
Payment workflow
The application is submitted after the visa fee is paid
Finish the application
Complete the required fields and upload the documents requested for the selected visa class.
Review the total
Check the MSF, OLSF, conversion rate and total displayed by ICA before entering payment details.
Complete payment
Use the live gateway and follow any card verification or authentication prompts.
Look for the receipt email
ICA states that once the visa fee is paid, a receipt email is sent.
Payment receipt
A receipt email is the clearest confirmation that payment was recorded
ICA's live eVisa application page states: once the visa fee is paid, a receipt email is sent. If the application is automatically granted, a separate email can contain the authority-to-travel document. If further consideration is required, the final decision is sent later.
Keep the receipt email with your application records. It can help you reconcile the transaction with your bank statement and show when the payment step was completed.
Do not overstate:
ICA's public pages reviewed here confirm a receipt email, but do not establish that every applicant receives an instant downloadable PDF receipt or that a payment email always contains a particular alphanumeric reference format.
Payment troubleshooting
Check the portal and your bank before paying a second time
No receipt email
Check spam/junk folders, then sign back in and confirm whether the application moved beyond the payment step.
Card declined
Confirm available funds and ask the card issuer whether the international transaction was blocked or requires additional authentication.
Gateway timeout
Do not assume failure purely because the browser did not return cleanly. Check your portal account and transaction history first.
Charge appears at bank
Remember that ICA says the statement descriptor can appear as PNG Consulate General.
Possible duplicate
Compare the portal record, receipt emails and bank authorisations before attempting another payment.
Still unresolved
Use ICA's official contact or finance/refund channels with your application and payment records.
Check available funds
Allow enough headroom for the exact AUD total shown by ICA and any separate fee your own card issuer may apply.
Check international-card settings
Some banks may block unfamiliar overseas transactions. Contact the issuer if the payment is declined despite sufficient funds.
Distinguish authorisation from settlement
A pending bank authorisation does not by itself prove that ICA successfully recorded the application payment. Check for the ICA receipt email and portal record.
Refund rules
Not every fee has the same refund status
| Fee | ICA refund position | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Online Lodgment Service Fee (OLSF) | Non-refundable | The US$50 charge is for the convenience of lodging through the online portal. |
| Migration Service Fee (MSF) | Refundable only in very limited circumstances | A refused application does not automatically create a right to an MSF refund. |
| Card issuer / FX charges | Not controlled by ICA | Any separate bank or card charges are governed by the issuer's terms. |
Correction to the supplied draft:
it is inaccurate to say “all fees are non-refundable.” ICA specifically says the OLSF is non-refundable, while the MSF may be refundable in very limited circumstances.
Refund requests
Refund requests go to ICA, not the payment processor
ICA's payment disclaimer says the third-party payment provider is not responsible for managing refunds. Applicants seeking an eligible MSF refund must contact ICA.
The official disclaimer currently identifies refunds@immigration.gov.pg for refund requests and also provides ICA's postal address in Boroko, National Capital District.
Keep evidence:
include enough transaction and application information for ICA to identify the payment you are asking it to review.
Other payment / lodgement channels
ICA also publishes non-eVisa-portal payment routes for some applications
The live visa-class pages reference the PNGICA Online Payment Portal MICA and the Immigration Finance Office for certain visa classes, while ICA's payment disclaimer notes that applicants who do not wish to pay the online lodgement service fee can lodge at an ICA office or Overseas Mission.
eVisa portal
Online application route with the US$50 OLSF.
MICA payment portal
Referenced by ICA for payment in selected visa-class instructions.
ICA office
Some applications can be lodged directly through ICA rather than through the online eVisa portal.
Overseas Mission
ICA's disclaimer says applicants may lodge at an Overseas Mission where applicable.
Different process
Non-portal lodgement does not necessarily follow the same fee and submission workflow as eVisa.
Check the class
Use the “Where to Apply” section for the visa type before choosing another route.
Payment misinformation to avoid
Claims that should not be presented as universal ICA rules
| Weak claim | Better current wording |
|---|---|
| All PNG eVisas cost US$50. | US$50 is the online lodgement fee; a separate MSF may apply depending on the visa class. |
| Business eVisa costs about US$190. | The current ICA Business Short-Term class shows US$350 MSF plus US$50 OLSF. |
| Online fees are charged only in USD. | ICA says base fees are in USD, while online MSF and OLSF payments are levied in AUD using its published conversion rate. |
| Visa and Mastercard are the only cards accepted. | Use the payment options shown by the live gateway; the public material reviewed here does not publish a complete universal brand list. |
| Amex, PayPal, prepaid cards and bank transfers are officially prohibited. | Do not claim exclusions that ICA does not publish in the current payment guidance. |
| All fees are non-refundable. | The OLSF is non-refundable. MSF refunds are possible only in very limited circumstances. |
| Every payment instantly generates a downloadable PDF receipt. | ICA confirms a receipt email after payment; do not invent an additional universal receipt format. |
| Every receipt contains a mandatory tracking reference code. | Keep all receipt and application information, but ICA's public payment guidance does not establish one universal receipt-code format. |
| Card issuers always add 2%–5%. | Any issuer surcharge or FX fee depends on the card provider and account terms. |
| Clicking twice always creates a duplicate charge. | Avoid repeated payment attempts, but verify the portal and bank record rather than presenting a guaranteed technical outcome. |
PNG eVisa payment FAQ
Common payment questions
How much is the online lodgement fee?
ICA currently applies a US$50 Online Lodgment Service Fee to applications lodged through the eVisa portal.
Is US$50 the total visa fee?
Not always. Some visa classes have a zero MSF, while others have a separate Migration Service Fee that is added to the US$50 OLSF.
What currency will the online payment use?
ICA states that base rates are in US dollars but online MSF and OLSF payments are levied in Australian dollars using ICA's published conversion rate.
Will I get a receipt?
Yes. ICA's eVisa application page states that a receipt email is sent once the visa fee has been paid.
What if I see “PNG Consulate General” on my statement?
ICA's payment disclaimer says MSF and OLSF payments can appear under that descriptor on credit and debit card statements.
Can I get a refund if my visa is refused?
The US$50 OLSF is non-refundable. ICA says the MSF may be refundable only in very limited circumstances, so refusal alone should not be assumed to create a refund right.
Related eVisa guides
Check payment together with application status and requirements
Trust the payment screen
Use ICA's live total as the final fee before you pay
Visa fees can differ sharply between visitor, business, restricted, entertainer and special-exemption classes. Check the exact MSF, online fee and converted total before authorising the transaction.
Official-reference policy
Fees and gateway terms can change
VisaPNG is an independent information and visa-support website and is not the Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority. Always use the live ICA visa class and payment screen as the final payment reference.
PNG ICA — Payment Gateway & Refund Disclaimer: https://evisa.ica.gov.pg/evisa/global/disclaimer
PNG ICA — Live eVisa Classes: https://evisa.ica.gov.pg/evisa/evisa/visaclass
PNG ICA — Apply Online: https://evisa.ica.gov.pg/evisa/account/Apply
PNG ICA — MICA Payment Portal: https://ica.gov.pg/register
PNG ICA — Contact & Offices: https://ica.gov.pg/contact-us