Visitor stay
The 60-day Easy Visitor Permit is intended for holidays, sightseeing, social or recreational travel and visits to relatives or friends.
Current PNG entry routes for French passport holders
Papua New Guinea Visa for French Citizens | Requirements
French passport holders are currently included in Papua New Guinea's 60-day Easy Visitor Permit eligibility schedule. ICA says that this class is for eligible passports from countries on the Visa on Arrival schedule. France therefore should not be described as completely excluded from Visa on Arrival. French travellers can also arrange the visitor Entry Permit online before departure if they prefer to travel with advance approval already issued.
VOA positionFrance is on ICA's VOA-linked 60-day schedule.
60-day eVisaFrance currently eligible.
PassportAt least six months valid from entry.
Business travelUse a dedicated business class where required.
Visitor visa route
French citizens are currently eligible for the 60-day Easy Visitor Permit
One visitor entry
ICA's Easy Visitor Permit is structured as a single-entry permission, so you should not assume that unused days remain reusable after leaving PNG.
Visitor activities only
ICA expressly prohibits paid work under the Easy Visitor Permit. Corporate and employment activities may require another visa class.
France-specific eligibility
Current ICA data supports the 60-day/VOA-linked route
| Entry route | French passport status | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Visitor Permit 60 Day | Eligible | France appears directly in ICA's current 60-day list |
| Visa on Arrival | VOA-linked eligibility | ICA defines the 60-day class as being for passports on the VOA schedule |
| Advance eVisa | Available | French travellers may pre-arrange the visitor permit online before departure |
| Business visa | Purpose-specific | Use the business class if the trip is for qualifying corporate activity |
Important correction:
the supplied draft says French citizens are completely ineligible for Visa on Arrival and limited to a 30-day Easy Visitor route. Current ICA data instead lists France in the 60-day Easy Visitor eligibility table, and ICA says that class is for eligible passports on the Visa on Arrival schedule.
French passport-holding territories
ICA separately identifies several French territories in the 60-day framework
French Polynesia
Listed by ICA under French passport holders within the current 60-day visitor class.
Guadeloupe
Listed by ICA under French passport holders within the current 60-day visitor framework.
New Caledonia
Included in ICA's French-territory list for the current 60-day visitor route.
Réunion
Also listed under the French passport-holder section of the 60-day class.
Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin
Both are named by ICA under the French passport-holder territory schedule.
Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Wallis
Also included in ICA's current French passport-holder list.
Entry Permit timing
Keep the permit-use window separate from your permitted stay
ICA states that the holder of an Entry Permit must enter Papua New Guinea within six months of the permit being issued.
That period is the window for using an advance Entry Permit. It is different from the visitor stay itself, which is measured from your arrival in Papua New Guinea.
Supporting documents
Use ICA's live visitor checklist instead of a generic six-document pack
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 individual circumstances, ICA may ask for supporting evidence.
The supplied draft treats a separate applicant photo, three months of bank statements, a fixed €1,350–€1,800 financial threshold, accommodation vouchers, a CMO cover letter, a fixed 10 MB upload limit and a paid return ticket as universal requirements. Current ICA public guidance reviewed for this page does not support presenting that entire bundle as compulsory for every French visitor application.
French passport rules
At least six months of validity from intended PNG entry
Six-month validity
ICA's general FAQ says passports must remain valid for at least six months from the date you intend to enter Papua New Guinea.
Use the same passport
Apply and travel using the same French passport unless ICA formally updates or re-evidences the Entry Permit.
No universal two-facing-page rule
Current general ICA guidance reviewed confirms passport validity but does not establish a blanket two-facing-blank-pages requirement for every visitor.
Advance online application
How French travellers can pre-arrange a PNG visitor permit
1. Use ICA's live eVisa portal
Open the official visa-class page and confirm the visitor class currently displayed for a French passport.
2. Select the 60-day class
France currently appears directly on ICA's Easy Visitor Permit 60 Day eligibility schedule.
3. Enter passport details accurately
Keep your name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and expiry details consistent with the physical passport.
4. Follow the live upload fields
Provide exactly what the current application requests rather than using an outdated universal document checklist.
5. Review the fee
ICA states that Easy Visitor applications lodged online attract a US$50 online lodgement fee. The live portal shows the amount payable before payment.
6. Check the issued permit
Verify your name, passport number, visitor class, validity and stay conditions before departure.
French accents and passport names
Do not blindly replace accented characters unless the live form requires it
Use your passport as the primary reference
Enter identity information consistently with the French passport you will use to travel.
MRZ can show transliteration
Characters such as é, ç, à or ë may appear differently in the machine-readable zone, but ICA's current public guidance reviewed here does not establish a universal rule that MRZ transliteration must always override the visible passport name.
Check your approval carefully
If the issued permit does not clearly correspond to the passport, resolve the discrepancy with ICA before travel.
Return / onward travel
Keep an exit itinerary available
ICA's general FAQ states that evidence of return travel may be requested in some circumstances.
French visitors should therefore keep a credible return or onward itinerary accessible and ensure it fits within the stay granted. Current general ICA guidance does not say every Easy Visitor application must automatically include a fully paid return-ticket upload.
Business travel from France
Use a PNG business visa for genuine corporate activity
Use the right purpose category
ICA requires a Business visa for qualifying short-term commercial activity rather than using 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.
Must be arranged in advance
ICA states that the Business Short-term Multiple Entry class is not available on arrival.
French traveller pre-flight checklist
Complete the PNG border steps before check-in
Correct visitor route
Use the current 60-day visitor route or verify the live arrival process applicable to French passports.
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 the PNG Digital Arrival Card before boarding-pass issuance.
Return / onward evidence
Keep your exit itinerary readily available in case airline or immigration staff ask to see it.
Accommodation details
Keep your hotel, lodge or private-host address and contact information available.
Business documents if relevant
Use the correct business visa and carry supporting corporate evidence when your purpose is commercial rather than recreational.
PNG Digital Arrival Card
PNGDAC is mandatory before boarding-pass issuance
ICA's public notice of 6 August 2026 makes PNGDAC a mandatory pre-arrival requirement for all persons travelling to Papua New Guinea, including foreign nationals.
Complete the current PNGDAC process before your airline issues the boarding pass and keep the resulting confirmation accessible during travel.
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 approval.
Current public ICA material reviewed for this page does not establish a universal rule that an accessible digital approval must automatically be rejected.
France-specific misinformation to avoid
Claims that do not match current ICA guidance
“French citizens are completely ineligible for VOA”
Current ICA data does not support that claim. France appears in the VOA-linked 60-day Easy Visitor schedule.
“French citizens are limited to 30 days”
Incorrect. France currently appears in ICA's 60-day Easy Visitor eligibility list.
“Every French visitor needs three months of bank statements”
Not a universal current visitor requirement in ICA's guidance reviewed for this page.
“Every tourist must show €1,350–€1,800”
No universal visitor funds threshold of that amount is published in the current ICA guidance reviewed.
“Every applicant needs a CMO cover letter and hotel voucher”
Not listed as universal Easy Visitor requirements in the current ICA material reviewed.
“Accented French names must always be replaced by MRZ spellings”
Do not publish that as a blanket rule. Follow the passport and live ICA form instructions.
“Every upload must be under 10 MB in PDF/JPG”
Use the live portal's actual file-size and format rules instead of a generic limitation.
“Two facing blank pages are mandatory for every French visitor”
ICA confirms six-month passport validity, but current general guidance reviewed does not establish that blanket rule.
“A printed eVisa is the only legally acceptable format”
Carry a paper backup, but current public ICA material reviewed does not establish a universal hard-copy-only rule.
Papua New Guinea visa FAQ for French citizens
Common French passport questions
Can French citizens get Visa on Arrival in Papua New Guinea?
France currently appears in ICA's Easy Visitor Permit 60 Day list, and ICA states that this class is for eligible passports from countries on the Visa on Arrival schedule. Verify the live ICA VOA page shortly before departure because operational arrangements can change.
Can French citizens apply online for the 60-day Easy Visitor Permit?
Yes. France is directly included in ICA's current Easy Visitor Permit 60 Day eligibility table.
Are French territories covered by the 60-day framework?
ICA separately lists French passport holders from French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Wallis.
How long must my French passport be valid?
ICA says at least six months from the date you intend to enter Papua New Guinea.
Do French tourists need three months of bank statements?
Not as a universal current visitor requirement. ICA may request supporting evidence depending on individual circumstances.
Do I always need a paid return ticket?
ICA says return-travel evidence may be requested in some circumstances. Keep a credible return or onward itinerary accessible.
Can I conduct business on a visitor permit?
Use the appropriate Business visa for qualifying corporate activities. Visitor status is intended for holidays, sightseeing and social or recreational travel.
Can I work in PNG on the Easy Visitor Permit?
No. ICA expressly prohibits paid work under the Easy Visitor Permit.
Related French traveller guides
Check your route, documents and final entry rules
French passport holder
Use the current 60-day visitor route or verify the live VOA process
France is currently included in ICA's 60-day Easy Visitor schedule. Confirm the live arrival route before departure, keep your passport valid for at least six months from entry, and complete PNGDAC before boarding-pass issuance.
Official-reference policy
Use ICA's live French 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. Visitor eligibility, Visa on Arrival access, fees, PNGDAC requirements and business visa rules can change.
PNG ICA — Live eVisa Classes: https://evisa.ica.gov.pg/evisa/evisa/visaclass
PNG ICA — Visa on Arrival: https://ica.gov.pg/visa-information/visa-on-arrival
PNG ICA — General FAQ: https://ica.gov.pg/faq
PNG ICA — Business Visa: https://ica.gov.pg/visa/conduct-business/business
PNG ICA — Business Short-term Multiple Entry: https://ica.gov.pg/visa/conduct-business/business-short-term-multiple-entry
PNG ICA — Mandatory PNGDAC Notice: https://ica.gov.pg/public-notices/2026/mandatory-completion-of-png-digital-arrival-card