Family application evidence

PNG eVisa Requirements for Children

Children are not simply added to an adult's Papua New Guinea Entry Permit. ICA states that dependent family members—including unmarried children under 18—must make a separate application for an Entry Permit. The supporting evidence then depends on whether the child is visiting temporarily, accompanying a principal visa holder or applying as the dependent of a Papua New Guinea citizen or resident.

Separate application rule Documents by family situation
  • Dependent children under 18 make a separate Entry Permit application
  • Each child needs an appropriate travel document
  • Birth and parent evidence is required for some dependent classes
  • Extra consent or custody evidence depends on the family situation and route

Separate Entry Permit application

Dependent children have their own immigration application

ICA's current Dependent Family Members guidance defines dependent family members as a spouse, unmarried children under 18 and ageing parents, and states that each dependent family member must make a separate application for an Entry Permit.

That does not necessarily mean every child must create a completely separate online user account. It means the child is a separate immigration applicant with their own Entry Permit application and supporting identity documents.

Do not confuse “separate application” with “separate portal account.” ICA explicitly confirms the former; current material reviewed for this page does not establish the latter as a universal requirement.

Documents by family situation

The child's evidence depends on the visa route

A holiday child visitor and a dependent child living with a PNG citizen do not use an identical document pack.

Child's route Core evidence Possible additional evidence
Temporary visitor Child's valid passport and class-specific visitor documents Travel, parent/guardian, accommodation or relationship evidence if requested
Dependent of principal Entry Permit holder Separate dependent application, child's passport, sponsor/undertaking evidence Principal applicant's passport and visa if lodged separately
Dependent of PNG citizen Child's passport, both parents' passport biodata pages, child's birth certificate, sponsor/undertaking letter Additional evidence depending on circumstances
Permanent-resident dependant Evidence linking the child to the permanent-resident principal applicant Class-specific permanent-residence documents
One-parent or guardian travel Child's immigration documents Consent, custody, death or guardianship evidence may be prudent or requested depending on the case

Child visitor

A child visiting PNG temporarily should use the visitor route that fits the passport and trip

ICA says dependent children who study abroad and only return to Papua New Guinea during study breaks should apply for a Visitor Entry Permit each visit rather than relying on a dependent permit.

For an ordinary family holiday, the child's visitor application should be built around the child's own passport, travel purpose and the current visitor-class requirements. Extra family evidence may be requested where ICA needs to establish the child's relationship or travel arrangements.

Own passport

The child should travel on the passport used for the visa or Entry Permit application.

Own application

Treat the child as a separate immigration applicant rather than a note inside an adult's visa record.

Shared itinerary

Family flight and accommodation evidence can be shared where relevant, but each child's application should still be identifiable.

Child passport

The six-month passport-validity rule applies to the child's travel document too

ICA's general passport rule requires a passport to be valid for at least six months from the intended date of entry into Papua New Guinea. A child application should therefore be checked against the same entry-date validity rule.

Keep the child's biodata page readable and consistent with the visa application, airline booking and any birth or parent documents used to establish the family relationship.

Passport requirements Complete application correctly

Dependent child

A dependent permit is tied to the principal applicant's status

ICA says a dependent Entry Permit ceases when the principal Entry Permit ceases.

Separate dependent application

The child requires their own Entry Permit application even though the immigration status is linked to the principal holder.

Sponsor / undertaking evidence

ICA's dependent guidance includes an undertaking or sponsor letter dealing with welfare, reason for stay and financial support.

Principal applicant evidence

If the dependent application is lodged without the principal applicant, ICA's published checklist calls for certified copies of the principal applicant's valid passport page and valid visa.

Dependent does not mean “included automatically.” The child has a separate permit application even though their status depends on the principal visa holder.

Dependent of a PNG citizen

ICA specifically requires parent and birth evidence for this class

Child identity

  • Child's valid passport biodata page
  • Separate application

Parent identity

  • Valid passport biodata page for parent one
  • Valid passport biodata page for parent two

Relationship evidence

  • Child's birth certificate
  • Sponsor/undertaking letter
This is a class-specific requirement. Do not automatically say every short-term child tourist must upload the same birth-certificate and both-parent passport package.

Birth certificates

Use a birth certificate when the visa class or family circumstances require parentage evidence

ICA expressly lists the child's birth certificate for the Dependent of Papua New Guinea Citizen class. A birth certificate can also be useful when ICA needs to understand the relationship between a child and accompanying or sponsoring adults.

Use the official civil record

The document should be an official birth record issued by the relevant civil authority.

Keep names readable

Parent and child names should remain legible so the relationship can be understood.

Do not invent “unabridged” universally

ICA's current material reviewed here says “birth certificate”; it does not universally require a document formally titled “unabridged birth certificate” for every child visa.

One parent or guardian travel

Carry evidence that explains the child's authority to travel when the family situation is not straightforward

A child travelling with one parent, a guardian or another adult can attract additional checks from airlines, transit authorities or border officers. Evidence such as parental consent, custody orders, guardianship documents or a death certificate can help explain why the child is travelling without both parents.

Current ICA visa sources reviewed for this page do not establish a universal rule that every one-parent child application must include a notarized consent affidavit and the non-travelling parent's passport copy.

Use consent or custody evidence where the family circumstances or travel authorities require it. Do not label one particular affidavit format as mandatory for every PNG child eVisa.

Consent letters

A useful parental consent letter identifies the child, the accompanying adult, the non-travelling parent or guardian, the destination and the travel dates. It should be signed by the person giving consent and contain reliable contact details.

Whether notarisation is required can depend on the airline, departure country, transit country, destination authority or the particular immigration case. Current ICA material reviewed here does not establish one universal notarisation rule for all child visitors.

Custody, adoption and sole responsibility

Use legal records when ordinary parental consent is not the right evidence

Sole custody

A court order or other legally recognised custody document can explain why one parent alone has authority to travel with the child.

Adoption

An adoption order or certificate can establish the legal relationship where names or parent details differ from the original birth record.

Deceased parent

A death certificate can explain why consent from the other parent cannot be provided.

These are situational documents. They should be used where relevant, not automatically demanded from every family.

Child photographs

Use a child photo only when the selected visa class requires one

ICA does not publish one universal foreign-eVisa photo requirement for every child. Where the class asks for a passport-sized photograph, use a recent, clear image that identifies the child and follow the current upload instructions shown by the portal.

Infants

Use a clear image of the infant alone where practical. Keep hands, toys and other people out of the final frame.

Young children

Prioritise a recognisable face, even lighting and a simple background rather than forcing an unnatural adult pose.

Portal rule first

Use the actual file type, size and photo wording displayed for the selected visa class.

Photograph guide

Health and character

Age matters for long-stay police and medical requirements

ICA says police clearance is required for applicants aged 16 and over—including dependants—who intend to stay in Papua New Guinea for six months or more.

When medical documentation is required, ICA's HIV and chest X-ray requirements apply to applicants over 16 years of age. Younger children should not be assigned those adult tests automatically.

Health requirements

Permanent-residence dependants

Permanent-residence family rules are different from ordinary visitor rules

ICA has separate rules for dependants of Resident (Long Term) and Permanent Resident visa holders.

Resident (Long Term)

Dependants included in the initial application

ICA says dependants of Resident (Long Term) Entry Permit applicants must be included in the initial application, while the dependent child still has immigration status linked to the principal applicant.

Over 18

Some dependent children remain eligible

ICA may consider over-18 dependants case by case, including severe disability or continuing education. Permanent-residence guidance also provides limited eligibility for financially dependent students in higher education.

Family consistency

Keep each child's file separate but make the shared family trip consistent

1

Check each passport

Verify the child's own name, date of birth, nationality and expiry date.

2

Check the relationship evidence

Make sure parent names and child identity agree across birth and passport records.

3

Check travel dates

Family itineraries should make sense together when the group is travelling on the same trip.

4

Check the visa route

Visitor, dependent and PNG-citizen dependent applications use different evidence.

5

Check the accompanying adult

Carry relevant consent or guardianship evidence where the child is not travelling with both parents.

6

Keep applications identifiable

Do not mix one child's passport or birth certificate into another child's application file.

7

Use final documents

Upload current signed or official versions rather than drafts or screenshots of incomplete records.

8

Carry key family evidence

Keep relevant relationship and authority-to-travel documents accessible during the journey.

Submitting family applications

Submitting on the same day can be convenient, but it is not a published guarantee of joint processing

Families often prefer to prepare and lodge applications together so shared itinerary information stays consistent. However, current ICA material reviewed for this page does not state that family applications submitted on the same day will be assigned to the same officer or processed as one package.

Use consistent dates

Shared flights and accommodation should use the same dates where the family is travelling together.

Keep each application complete

Do not rely on one parent's application to contain documents that the child's separate application actually needs.

Save every reference

Keep each applicant's own application or transaction reference with that person's document set.

File preparation

Do not impose a universal merged-PDF-under-10-MB rule on child applications

Current ICA sources reviewed for this page do not establish one universal requirement to merge a child's birth certificate, consent evidence and parent IDs into a single PDF under 10 MB.

Use the live upload fields for the visa class. If the portal provides separate fields for passport, birth certificate, sponsor letter or other evidence, upload the documents in the structure ICA requests.

Keep documents readable. Parent names, child names, dates, signatures and passport details should remain clear after scanning or compression.

Common child-application mistakes

Avoid turning sensible child-travel precautions into unsupported universal ICA rules

Incorrect claim Better current wording
Every child needs a separate online portal account. ICA confirms a separate Entry Permit application for dependent family members; it does not universally state a separate user account is required.
Every child visitor must upload an unabridged birth certificate. ICA expressly requires a birth certificate for some dependent classes; ordinary visitor evidence remains class- and circumstance-specific.
Every one-parent trip requires a notarized consent affidavit. Consent or custody evidence can be important, but current ICA visa material reviewed here does not impose one universal notarized format.
Every guardian trip needs both parents' notarized affidavits. Provide authority-to-travel evidence appropriate to the family circumstances and any current airline or border requirement.
The child's PNR must exactly match the adult's PNR. The itinerary should be consistent, but families can legitimately hold separate bookings or references.
All family visas must be submitted on the same day. Same-day submission can help organisation but is not a published ICA requirement or processing guarantee.
All child documents must be merged into one PDF under 10 MB. Use the live upload fields and technical limits for the selected class.

Related family and document guides

Passport Check the child's passport validity and biodata page. Photograph Prepare a child photo where the selected class requires one. Supporting Documents Build a class-specific family application file. Return Ticket Keep family travel dates consistent. Health Requirements Understand age-sensitive medical and police rules. Travelling With Children Prepare for airline, border and family-travel checks.

Preparing a child's application?

Start with the child's passport, visa route and family relationship

Once those are clear, add the birth, parent, sponsor, consent, custody or guardian evidence that the specific visa class and family circumstances actually require.

Check visa route Supporting document guide

Official references

Use current ICA family and dependent guidance

Child and dependent requirements vary by visa class, parent status, residence arrangements and individual circumstances. VisaPNG is an independent planning resource and is not the Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority.

ICA Dependent Family Members: https://ica.gov.pg/visa-information/dependent-family-members ICA Dependent of PNG Citizen: https://ica.gov.pg/visa/specialise/dependent-of-papua-new-guinea-citizen-non-working ICA Medical & Character Requirements: https://ica.gov.pg/visa-information/medical-character-requirements ICA Dependants of Permanent Residents: https://ica.gov.pg/permanent-residence/dependents-of-permanent-residents ICA Visa Information Booklet 2025: https://ica.gov.pg/uploads/media/post_file_3195072-visa-information-booklet-2025.pdf ICA Visa Information Guide: https://ica.gov.pg/uploads/media/post_file_5227574-visa-information-guide-online.pdf VisaPNG Information Sources