Short leisure or family visit
Korea (South) appears on ICA's current 30-day Easy Visitor list and is marked as eligible to also apply for the 60-day class.
Current PNG entry routes for South Korean passport holders
Papua New Guinea Visa for South Korean Citizens | Requirements
South Korean passport holders can currently apply online for either the 30-day Easy Visitor Permit or the 60-day Easy Visitor Permit for tourism, sightseeing, social visits and visiting family or friends. However, South Korea is not currently listed on ICA's Visa on Arrival schedule, so travellers should arrange the appropriate Entry Permit before departure rather than relying on airport visa processing.
VOASouth Korea not currently listed.
30-day eVisaCurrently eligible.
60-day eVisaCurrently eligible.
Passport6+ months from intended entry.
Visitor eligibility
South Korean citizens currently have two advance Easy Visitor options
Longer single-entry visit
Korea (South) is also expressly included on ICA's current 60-day Easy Visitor Permit list.
Do not rely on airport issuance
South Korea does not appear on ICA's current Visa on Arrival list, so secure the appropriate visitor Entry Permit before travel.
Route comparison
30-day vs. 60-day Easy Visitor Permit for South Koreans
| Feature | Easy Visitor Permit 30 Day | Easy Visitor Permit 60 Day |
|---|---|---|
| South Korean eligibility | Yes | Yes |
| Application route | Online only | Online |
| Stay period | 30 days from arrival | 60 days from arrival |
| Entry profile | Single entry | Single entry |
| Visitor purpose | Holiday, sightseeing, social/recreational reasons, family/friends | Holiday, sightseeing, social/recreational reasons, family/friends |
| Paid work | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Migration Service Fee | No MSF | No MSF |
| Online lodgement fee | US$50 | US$50 |
| Extension | Not permitted | Check current ICA extension eligibility |
Entry Permit timing
The permit-use window and your stay period are different
Six-month use window
ICA states that the holder of an Entry Permit must enter PNG within six months of the Entry Permit being issued.
If you miss that window
The permit becomes invalid and another application is required.
Stay starts from arrival
The 30-day or 60-day visitor period is measured from your arrival in Papua New Guinea.
Supporting documents
Do not treat a generic six-document bundle as mandatory for every South Korean tourist
ICA's current Easy Visitor Permit instructions list the passport biodata page as the stated supporting document for the visitor class. The final application checklist should always be taken from the live portal and the exact visa class selected.
The supplied draft treats a separate applicant photo, three months of bank statements, accommodation vouchers, a CMO cover letter, fixed file-size rules and a paid return ticket as universal mandatory uploads. Current ICA public guidance reviewed for this page does not support presenting that entire package as compulsory for every South Korean Easy Visitor applicant.
South Korean passport rules
At least six months of validity from your intended PNG entry date
Six-month validity
ICA's general FAQ states that passports must remain valid for at least six months from intended entry.
Use the same passport
Apply and travel using the same South Korean passport unless ICA has formally updated or re-evidenced the permit.
No universal two-facing-page rule
The current general ICA guidance reviewed confirms passport validity but does not establish a blanket two-facing-blank-pages requirement for every visitor applicant.
Online application
A practical step-by-step route for South Korean travellers
1. Choose 30 or 60 days
Select the visitor class that matches the length of your planned stay.
2. Use the official ICA portal
Create or access your application profile and choose the applicable visitor class.
3. Enter passport data accurately
Keep name, passport number, nationality, birth date and expiry information consistent with the passport used for travel.
4. Upload what the class asks for
Follow the actual live upload fields instead of applying a generic third-party file checklist.
5. Review the fee
ICA currently states that the Easy Visitor route has no MSF but attracts a US$50 online lodgement fee.
6. Check the approval
Verify your name, passport number, visa class, entry profile and stay period before travel.
Name and MRZ consistency
Do not treat MRZ transliteration as a universal override rule
Use the passport as the authority
Enter applicant details accurately and consistently with the travel document used for the application.
MRZ can help diagnose differences
The machine-readable zone may show transliteration, but ICA's current public guidance reviewed here does not say it must always override the visible passport name.
Fix material discrepancies
If the issued approval does not correspond correctly with the passport, contact ICA before travelling.
Return / onward travel
Keep an exit plan accessible, but do not call it a universal upload requirement
ICA's general FAQ says that evidence of return travel may be requested in some circumstances.
It is sensible for a South Korean visitor to keep a confirmed return or onward itinerary available and ensure departure falls within the permitted stay, but the current general ICA guidance does not support saying every Easy Visitor application is automatically refused without a paid ticket upload.
Business travel for South Koreans
Use a business class when the purpose goes beyond tourism
Corporate meetings and approved business activity
Korea (South) appears on ICA's current business passport eligibility schedules for applicable short-term business routes.
Business documents differ from visitor documents
A genuine PNG business invitation and other class-specific corporate evidence can be required.
Separate work authorisation is required
Visitor and standard business permissions do not automatically authorize paid local employment in PNG.
South Korean traveller pre-flight checklist
Complete the mandatory PNG border steps before check-in
Approved Entry Permit
Because South Korea is not currently on the VOA schedule, secure the appropriate permit before travel.
Six-month passport validity
Count six months forward from your intended arrival date in Papua New Guinea.
PNGDAC
ICA's 6 August 2026 directive requires all travellers to complete the PNG Digital Arrival Card before boarding-pass issuance.
PNGDAC timing
ICA's homepage says the Digital Arrival Card can be submitted online up to 72 hours before arrival.
Travel evidence
Keep return/onward travel and accommodation information available in case it is requested.
Health documents
Carry any vaccination certificate required by your origin or transit itinerary.
Printed eVisa approval
Carry a printed backup, but do not overstate a hard-copy-only rule
Keeping a printed copy of your approved Entry Permit is sensible in case your phone is unavailable or airline staff want to inspect the document.
The current public ICA material reviewed for this page does not establish a universal rule that a traveller with only an accessible digital copy must automatically be refused.
Yellow fever
The certificate depends on your travel route, not South Korean nationality alone
PNG itself has no yellow fever transmission risk
The certificate requirement is designed to prevent imported infection.
Risk-country origin or airport transit
If your itinerary triggers the rule, carry a valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis.
Review every stopover
Check all transit airports between South Korea and PNG, not only the departure airport in Korea.
Stay compliance
Plan your departure around the exact visitor class granted
30-day permit
ICA expressly states that extension of stay is not permitted.
60-day permit
Check ICA's current extension guidance if circumstances change; do not assume an extension is automatic.
Single entry
Leaving PNG normally ends the use of the visitor permit, even if unused stay days remain.
South Korean passport misinformation to avoid
Claims that do not match the current ICA position
“South Koreans can use Visa on Arrival”
Not under ICA's current VOA schedule. South Korea is not listed.
“South Koreans are 60-day-only visitors”
Incorrect. Korea (South) currently appears on both the 30-day and 60-day Easy Visitor lists.
“Every traveller needs three months of bank statements”
Not a universal Easy Visitor requirement 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 class text reviewed.
“Every upload must be under 10 MB in PDF or JPG”
Follow the live portal field's actual accepted file type and size.
“MRZ spelling always overrides the passport name”
Use accurate passport data and treat the MRZ as a diagnostic aid, not a universal override rule.
“A printed permit is legally the only acceptable format”
Carry a paper backup, but a universal hard-copy-only ICA rule is not established in the current public guidance reviewed.
“PNGDAC must be done within 72 hours before departure”
ICA requires completion before boarding-pass issuance and says submission can occur up to 72 hours before arrival.
“A one-day overstay always means permanent blacklist”
Overstaying can have serious consequences, but avoid stating a fixed universal penalty without direct ICA authority.
Papua New Guinea visa FAQ for South Korean citizens
Common South Korean passport questions
Can South Korean citizens get Visa on Arrival in Papua New Guinea?
No. South Korea is not currently listed on ICA's Visa on Arrival schedule.
Can South Korean citizens apply for the 60-day Easy Visitor Permit?
Yes. Korea (South) currently appears on ICA's 60-day Easy Visitor Permit eligibility list.
Can South Koreans also use the 30-day Easy Visitor Permit?
Yes. Korea (South) also appears on the current 30-day list and is marked as eligible for the 60-day route.
How long must a South Korean passport be valid?
ICA says at least six months from the date you intend to enter Papua New Guinea.
Do South Korean tourists need three months of bank statements?
Not as a universal current Easy Visitor requirement. Follow the live ICA class checklist for the application you select.
Do I need a return ticket?
ICA says return-travel evidence may be requested in some circumstances. Keep a coherent exit itinerary available.
Do I still need PNGDAC after eVisa approval?
Yes. PNGDAC is a separate mandatory pre-arrival border requirement for all travellers.
Can I work in PNG using an Easy Visitor Permit?
No. ICA expressly prohibits paid work under the Easy Visitor Permit classes.
Related South Korean traveller guides
Check your route, documents and final entry rules
South Korean passport holder
Choose the 30-day or 60-day visitor eVisa before you travel
South Korean travellers should not rely on Visa on Arrival under the current ICA schedule. Select the appropriate Easy Visitor route, 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 South Korean passport eligibility 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 and entry 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 — Entry & Re-entry Requirements: https://ica.gov.pg/visa-information/entry-and-re-entry-requirements
PNG ICA — Mandatory PNGDAC Notice: https://ica.gov.pg/public-notices/2026/mandatory-completion-of-png-digital-arrival-card
PNG ICA — Official Website: https://ica.gov.pg/