Canada is on ICA's live VOA schedule
Canadian passport holders are currently listed among the nationalities that can access Visa on Arrival in Papua New Guinea.
Current PNG entry routes for Canadian passport holders
Papua New Guinea Visa for Canadian Citizens | Requirements
Canadian citizens currently have two practical short-stay visitor routes for Papua New Guinea. Canada is on ICA's live Visa on Arrival schedule, and Canadian passport holders are also listed for the 60-day Easy Visitor Permit available through the eVisa system. Travellers who prefer to have their Entry Permit arranged before departure can apply online, while eligible travellers may use the arrival route subject to the conditions in force at the port of entry.
Visa on ArrivalCanada currently eligible.
60-day eVisaCanada currently eligible.
StayUsually single entry, up to 60 days.
PassportAt least six months valid from entry.
Two visitor pathways
Canadian citizens can use Visa on Arrival or pre-arrange the 60-day visitor permit
Advance online application
Canada also appears directly on ICA's current Easy Visitor Permit 60 Day eligibility list.
Tourism, friends and family
The visitor route is intended for holidays, sightseeing, social or recreational travel and visits to relatives or friends.
Route comparison
Visa on Arrival vs. pre-arranged 60-day eVisa
| Feature | Visa on Arrival | 60-day Easy Visitor eVisa |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian passport eligibility | Yes | Yes |
| Where permission is arranged | At an eligible PNG port of entry | Before travel through ICA's eVisa system |
| Typical purpose | Holiday, sightseeing, family/social visit | Holiday, sightseeing, family/social visit |
| Expected visitor stay | Subject to the permit granted at entry | Up to 60 days from arrival |
| Entry profile | Check permit conditions issued at arrival | Single entry |
| Paid work | Not permitted under visitor status | Expressly prohibited |
| Fee | Verify the current airport/port fee before travel | US$50 online lodgement fee; no Migration Service Fee for the permit itself |
Fee caution:
this page does not label the Canadian Visa on Arrival counter route as universally “free” because the live ICA VOA page currently confirms eligibility but does not publish a universal counter fee in the text reviewed here. Check the current ICA fee information shortly before departure.
Visitor stay and validity
Most Canadian visitor permits are structured around a single-entry stay of up to 60 days
Sixty days from arrival
ICA's current Visitor Visa guidance says that, in most circumstances, a Visitor visa is issued for a single-entry stay of sixty days from arrival.
Single entry
Do not assume that leaving Papua New Guinea preserves unused visitor days for a later re-entry.
No paid employment
Visitor status is not a work permit. Local employment requires the appropriate sponsored visa and work authorization.
Entry Permit use window
An advance Entry Permit must be used within six months of issue
ICA states that the holder of an Entry Permit must enter Papua New Guinea within six months of the Entry Permit being issued.
If that use window expires before you enter PNG, the permit becomes invalid and a new application is required. This six-month period is different from the 60-day visitor stay, which begins when you arrive.
Supporting documents
Use ICA's live checklist instead of a generic document bundle
ICA's visitor guidance says applicants must be genuine visitors who intend to leave Papua New Guinea at the end of their stay. Depending on the individual case, ICA may request evidence to support the application.
The supplied draft treats a separate photo, three months of bank statements, a fixed US$1,500–2,000 financial threshold, a hotel voucher, a CMO cover letter, a sub-100 KB JPG and a fixed 10 MB file limit as universal Canadian requirements. Current ICA public guidance reviewed for this page does not support presenting that entire package as compulsory for every Canadian visitor.
Canadian passport requirements
Your passport must remain valid for at least six months from intended entry
Six-month validity
ICA's general FAQ states that passports must be valid for at least six months from the date you intend to enter Papua New Guinea.
Travel on the same passport
If you apply online, use the same Canadian passport for travel unless ICA has formally updated or re-evidenced the Entry Permit.
No blanket two-facing-page claim
Current general ICA guidance reviewed confirms the six-month validity rule but does not establish a universal two-facing-blank-pages requirement for every Canadian visitor.
Advance eVisa option
How Canadian travellers can pre-arrange their 60-day visitor permit
1. Open ICA's live eVisa classes
Confirm that Canada remains listed under the Easy Visitor Permit 60 Day class before starting the application.
2. Enter passport details accurately
Use the identity and passport information from the Canadian passport you will present at the border.
3. Follow the actual upload fields
Provide the documents requested in the live application rather than relying on a fixed third-party checklist.
4. Review the fee
ICA states that there is no Migration Service Fee for the Easy Visitor Permit itself, while applications lodged via the eVisa portal attract a US$50 online fee.
5. Submit and monitor
Keep your application reference and check the portal for requests for further information.
6. Verify the issued permit
Check the name, passport number, validity dates, visitor class and stay conditions before travel.
Return / onward travel
Keep an exit itinerary available
ICA may request evidence
ICA's general FAQ says return-travel evidence may be requested in some circumstances.
Plan departure within the granted stay
Your itinerary should show a credible plan to leave Papua New Guinea before the visitor permit expires.
Not a universal paid-ticket upload
Current general ICA guidance does not say every Canadian Easy Visitor application must automatically contain a fully paid return ticket.
Business travel from Canada
Use the appropriate PNG business visa when your activities are commercial
Meetings and negotiations
Qualifying corporate activities should be conducted under the appropriate business visa rather than a leisure visitor permit.
Often up to 30 days
ICA says a standard Business visa is, in most circumstances, issued for a single-entry stay of 30 days from arrival.
Arrange before travel
ICA's Business Short-term Multiple Entry class is a separate visa and is not the same as a visitor VOA or tourist permit.
APEC Business Travel Card
Canadian passport holders should not assume a standard Canadian ABTC route
Canada participates in APEC, but Canadian citizens should not assume that this automatically means they hold the same ABTC privileges as cardholders from fully participating economies. If you intend to use an APEC-related business travel facility, verify your exact card status and PNG pre-clearance before travel.
Canadian traveller pre-flight checklist
Complete the PNG border steps before check-in
Choose your route
Use Visa on Arrival or pre-arrange the current 60-day Easy Visitor Permit.
Six-month passport validity
Count at least six months forward from your intended PNG entry date.
PNGDAC
ICA's 6 August 2026 directive requires all travellers to complete PNGDAC before boarding-pass issuance.
Return / onward evidence
Keep an exit itinerary available in case airline or immigration staff request it.
Accommodation details
Keep the hotel, lodge or host address and contact information readily accessible.
Correct business documents
If your purpose is commercial, use the correct visa and carry relevant corporate evidence.
PNG Digital Arrival Card
PNGDAC is mandatory and separate from your visa
ICA's public notice dated 6 August 2026 makes PNGDAC a mandatory pre-arrival requirement for all persons travelling to Papua New Guinea, including foreign nationals.
ICA's current Digital Arrival Card guidance says travellers can submit the declaration online before arrival. The card is free and does not replace a visa or Entry Permit.
Printed Entry Permit
Carry a paper backup without overstating a hard-copy-only rule
If you apply online, carrying a printed copy of the issued Entry Permit is sensible in case your phone fails, connectivity is unavailable or airline or border staff want to inspect the document.
Current public ICA material reviewed for this page does not establish a universal rule that an accessible digital approval must automatically be refused.
Canada-specific misinformation to avoid
Claims that should not be published as universal current rules
“VOA is definitely free for every Canadian visitor”
ICA confirms Canadian eligibility, but verify the current arrival fee rather than publishing an unsupported universal zero-cost claim.
“Every Canadian tourist needs three months of bank statements”
Not a universal requirement in the current ICA visitor guidance reviewed.
“Every visitor must show US$1,500–2,000 or CAD equivalent”
No universal ICA visitor funds threshold of that amount is published in the current guidance reviewed.
“Every applicant needs a CMO cover letter and hotel voucher”
Not listed as universal requirements for every Canadian visitor application.
“Every photo must be under 100 KB”
Use the live application specifications instead of presenting a generic file limit as a legal rule.
“Two facing blank passport pages are mandatory for everyone”
ICA confirms six-month passport validity, but current general guidance reviewed does not establish that blanket requirement.
“You must always print the eVisa because phones are rejected”
A paper backup is sensible, but current public ICA guidance reviewed does not establish a universal hard-copy-only rule.
“Every overstay produces a permanent lifetime blacklist”
Overstaying is serious, but penalties depend on enforcement action and individual circumstances. Do not publish an automatic lifetime-ban claim without specific legal authority.
“PNGDAC must always be completed exactly 72 hours before departure”
ICA requires completion before boarding-pass issuance. Follow the live PNGDAC timing instructions rather than a rigid interpretation.
Papua New Guinea visa FAQ for Canadian citizens
Common Canadian passport questions
Can Canadian citizens get Visa on Arrival in Papua New Guinea?
Yes. Canada is currently listed on ICA's live Visa on Arrival schedule.
Can Canadian citizens apply online for the 60-day Easy Visitor Permit?
Yes. Canada currently appears directly on ICA's Easy Visitor Permit 60 Day eligibility list.
How long can Canadian tourists usually stay?
ICA says that, in most circumstances, a Visitor visa is issued for a single-entry stay of sixty days from arrival.
How long must my Canadian passport be valid?
ICA says at least six months from the date you intend to enter Papua New Guinea.
Do Canadian tourists need three months of bank statements?
Not as a universal current visitor requirement. ICA may request evidence depending on individual circumstances.
Do I always need a fully paid return ticket?
ICA says return-travel evidence may be requested in some circumstances. Keep a credible return or onward itinerary accessible.
Can I work in PNG on a visitor permit?
No. The Easy Visitor Permit expressly prohibits paid work. Use the proper employment or business category for other activities.
Is PNGDAC the same as a visa?
No. PNGDAC is a separate digital arrival declaration and does not replace your visa or Visa on Arrival eligibility.
Related Canadian traveller guides
Check your route, documents and final entry rules
Canadian passport holder
Choose between the live VOA route and an advance 60-day visitor permit
Canada is currently eligible for Visa on Arrival and for ICA's 60-day Easy Visitor Permit. Keep your passport valid for at least six months from entry, complete PNGDAC before boarding-pass issuance, and use a business or employment visa if your activities go beyond tourism and social visits.
Official-reference policy
Use ICA's live Canadian passport rules as the final authority
VisaPNG is an independent information and visa-support website and is not the Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority. Visa on Arrival access, visitor eligibility, fees, PNGDAC requirements and business visa rules can change.
PNG ICA — Visa on Arrival: https://ica.gov.pg/visa-information/visa-on-arrival
PNG ICA — Live eVisa Classes: https://evisa.ica.gov.pg/evisa/evisa/visaclass
PNG ICA — Visitor Visa: https://ica.gov.pg/visa/visit/visitor
PNG ICA — Entry and Re-entry Requirements: https://ica.gov.pg/visa-information/entry-and-re-entry-requirements
PNG ICA — General FAQ: https://ica.gov.pg/faq
PNG ICA — PNG Digital Arrival Card: https://ica.gov.pg/dac/png-digital-arrival-card
PNG ICA — Mandatory PNGDAC Notice: https://ica.gov.pg/public-notices/2026/mandatory-completion-of-png-digital-arrival-card