Want to buy Papua New Guinea passport? Read this first!

Okay, so, I’ve been meaning to share this for a while, and today’s the day. I finally got my hands on a Papua New Guinea passport. It wasn’t as straightforward as I thought it would be, but hey, nothing worthwhile ever is, right? Let me walk you through what I did.

First off, I had to figure out where to even start. Turns out, the Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) is the place. They’re the ones who issue these passports. I learned there are three types – Standard, Official, and Diplomatic. I just needed the Standard one, thank goodness, because I’m no diplomat!

Gathering the Paperwork

The first real step was getting all my documents in order. They have a checklist, and you gotta follow it to the letter. I’m over 19, so I used the “Ordinary PNG Passport (First Time)” checklist. Here’s what I needed:

• My original birth certificate. Took me a while to dig that one up!
• Two recent passport photos. They’re super specific about these – head to shoulders, full face, no tinted glasses. I went to a local photo shop and told them what I needed and they got them done.
• A completed application form. You can probably find this on their website or get it from their office. I filled it out carefully, double-checking everything.

Paying the Fee

Next up was the fee. It’s K100 for the standard passport. Not too bad, but you have to pay it at a specific cash office. I found the nearest one to me, paid the fee, and got a receipt. Make sure you keep that receipt! You need to attach it to your application. They also mentioned something about extra fees for faster processing or replacing lost passports, but luckily, I didn’t have to worry about that.

Submitting the Application

With all my documents and the receipt, I went to the ICA office. I handed everything in, and they checked it all over. They won’t accept incomplete applications, so make sure you have everything. I also provided a copy of my old passport, although they didn’t specifically ask for it it just made sense to have on hand.

Waiting Game

After submitting, it was just a waiting game. They didn’t give me a specific timeframe, but I was prepared to wait a few weeks. I kept myself busy with other stuff, trying not to think about it too much.

Passport in Hand!

Finally, the day came when I got the call to pick up my passport! It was such a relief. Holding it in my hands, it felt like a real accomplishment. It might seem like a simple document, but it represents a lot, and it’s a key to exploring the world.

So, that’s my story of getting a Papua New Guinea passport. It wasn’t a walk in the park, but it was definitely doable. If you’re planning to get one, just be prepared, follow the instructions, and be patient. Good luck!