Papua New Guinea schedules immigration website move for 30 October

Prepare for Friday’s announced website transition

Papua New Guinea’s Immigration and Citizenship Services Authority has posted a notice that its official website will move from ica.gov.pg to icsa.gov.pg at 10pm Port Moresby time on Friday, 30 October 2026. The notice warns that myICSA services, formerly MICA, may be unavailable for up to two hours and thirty minutes during the transition.

The change is relevant to applicants arranging online payments and other account services close to a travel or permit deadline. Ten o’clock in Port Moresby corresponds to 5pm in Pakistan on 30 October. Prepare account access and save existing receipts before the announced window rather than leave an urgent transaction until the migration begins.

The notice does not say that every visa or arrival-card service will be unavailable, nor does it extend any immigration deadline. Its stated interruption concerns myICSA services. Follow links from the authority’s official pages and check the address carefully when the transition occurs; a new domain should not be confused with an offer from a commercial intermediary.

A payment receipt is only one part of the application

The authority’s separate Online Payment System FAQ explains that online payment does not itself constitute acceptance or approval of an application, renewal or late-fee matter. It describes payment processing through Kina Bank and a return to the authority’s website to download the receipt.

That resource also explains how to use the account dashboard for payment history and support tickets, and directs customers with unlisted fees or technical problems to the enquiry service. Save the receipt and application reference together. For illustration, a successful card debit during the transition should not be treated as evidence that the immigration application has been submitted or granted.

If the outcome of a transaction is unclear, check the account history and raise a support request with the existing reference. Avoid assuming that another payment is necessary merely because a browser page did not finish loading.

Complete the digital arrival declaration within its own window

The official Digital Arrival Card FAQ requires submission within 72 hours before arrival, including the arrival date. It applies to children and infants as well as adults. Each arrival needs a new declaration; a previous trip’s confirmation is not reusable.

Prepare passport details, flight number and arrival date, the address in Papua New Guinea, travel purpose and declaration information before beginning. The FAQ says progress cannot be saved for later completion. It permits updates before presentation to Immigration and treats the most recent submission as valid, so review changed flight or accommodation details before travelling.

Use the official arrival-card guidance and application link rather than a paid form-completion website. This declaration has its own timetable and should not be confused with the earlier visa application.

Keep the confirmation available and distinguish the card from a visa

The authority’s Digital Arrival Card guide states that the system took effect on 1 October 2025 and is free. It explicitly says the declaration is not a visa. Submit the passenger information, review it and retain the confirmation email for presentation with the passport on arrival.

The guide describes self-service kiosks at Jacksons International Airport for travellers who have not completed the online form. Its reference to a temporary paper transition should not be used as a reason to ignore current pre-arrival instructions. Completing the form beforehand also avoids depending on a kiosk or an internet connection at the airport.

Check passport and visa permission before the journey

The UK government’s Papua New Guinea entry requirements tell British visitors to hold a passport valid for at least six months after arrival and obtain the appropriate visa. They describe advance online applications and the reintroduction of arrival visas for certain traveller categories, with possible evidence of onward travel.

That category qualification matters: the website migration does not make every nationality eligible for a visa on arrival. Check the actual passport and purpose against the authority’s visa guidance before departure. Keep the granted visa, passport, onward booking, arrival-card confirmation and any payment receipt identifiable as separate documents; none substitutes automatically for the others.