Is It Safe to Travel to Papua New Guinea in 2026?
Papua New Guinea - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⚠ Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to Papua New Guinea due to elevated risks. Key factors: crime, civil_unrest, kidnapping, natural_disaster, other.
Papua New Guinea (PNG), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is an island country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia. It has a land border with Indonesia to the west and maritime borders with Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the east.
Is It Safe to Travel to Papua New Guinea in 2026?
Papua New Guinea is currently rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Reconsider travel to Papua New Guinea due to crime, civil unrest, and piracy. Exercise increased caution due to kidnapping, unexploded ordnance, inconsistent availability of healthcare services, and potential for natural disasters. Violent crime, including sexual assault and armed robberies, is common, particularly in tourist areas. Piracy is active in the waters surrounding Papua New Guinea, and travelers by boat should reconsider travel to certain seas. Travelers should exercise increased caution in remote areas due to unexploded ordnance from World War II.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
- kidnapping
- natural_disaster
- other
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Reconsider travel to Papua New Guinea due to crime, civil unrest, and piracy., Violent crime, including sexual assault and armed robberies, is common, particularly in tourist areas., There is a heightened risk of civil unrest from tribal violence throughout the Highlands region..
Active restrictions in Papua New Guinea:
- Security escort may be required
Must obtain authorization before traveling to certain areas, including Central Bougainville and the provinces of Southern Highlands, Western Highlands (excluding Mt. Hagen), Eastern Highlands (excluding Goroka), Hela, Enga, Jiwaka, and other areas where one is unable to fly directly.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a significant risk of violent crime, including armed robberies and sexual assault, particularly in tourist areas like Port Moresby.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and a weak rule of law, especially outside major urban centers.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access and the risk of violent crime in urban areas, making travel with kids particularly challenging.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas but should avoid rural regions where infrastructure is poor and safety is a concern.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Papua New Guinea.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Central Bougainville
- Highlands Region (excluding Mt. Hagen and Goroka)
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel2 regions
▶Central Bougainville
Do not travel due to civil unrest.
▶Highlands Region (excluding Mt. Hagen and Goroka)
Do not travel due to heightened risk of civil unrest.
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution2 regions
▶Goroka
Generally has a more stable police presence.
▶Mt. Hagen
Generally has a more stable police presence.
Papua New Guinea has 4 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Papua New Guinea has an overall threat severity of 7.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 8.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 5.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 61/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Kina (PGK)
Language
English / Tok Pisin / Hiri Motu
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Papua New Guinea
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Papua New Guinea?
▶Is it safe to travel to Papua New Guinea right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Papua New Guinea?
▶What vaccines do I need for Papua New Guinea?
▶Is Papua New Guinea safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Papua New Guinea?
More Papua New Guinea Data
Partly Free — 61/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.