Well, let me tell you, getting one of them Papua New Guinea driving license things, it ain’t as easy as pie. But you can order it online now, that’s what they say. I heard some folks talking ’bout it down at the market. Seems like everything’s moving to that internet thing these days.
First, you gotta have all your papers in a row. They want all sorts of things. Like your birth certificate, I reckon. And some proof that you live where you say you live. Gotta fill out a whole bunch of forms, too. It’s a real headache, if you ask me. They call them “required documents” or something like that.
Then there’s that driving license application form. Oh boy, that thing is longer than a Sunday sermon. You gotta write down everything but your shoe size. And make sure you write real neat, too. They don’t like messy handwriting, those folks in the office. And don’t forget to pay those fines, they keep nagging.

I heard from Agnes, you know, the one who married that fella from the coast, that you gotta get your eyes checked, too, for new learners. Make sure you can see straight. Can’t be running into folks on the road. You gotta pass some kind of test before they give you that license. It’s all about safety, they say. And you gotta get a learner’s permit, she said. Fill it out at MVIL. Whatever that is.
- Get your eyes checked, they said it is important.
- Fill out that learner’s permit thing.
- Don’t run into folks, that’s bad.
Now, if you already got a license, but it’s one of them old ones, you gotta get a new one. They changed them all. Said the old ones ain’t no good anymore. They call them “existing driver’s licenses,” and they cancelled all of ’em. For all kinds of vehicles, even those big machines. They want you to get that new RTA Drivers License. That what they said. RTA, I do not know what that mean. Sound important.
- Old licenses? No good!
- Get a new one, they say.
- All kinds of vehicles need new licenses.
I heard there’s a couple of places in Port Moresby where you can get this done. One’s called the MVIL Office, down on Waigani Drive. Sounds fancy, don’t it? That’s for foreigners, I heard. If you are new to this place, that’s where you gotta go. And another one I can’t remember the name, but it’s somewhere in that area. I do not know that place, I always stay in my village.
And then, if you want to drive in other countries, you need an international driver’s license, too. More paperwork, I bet. It’s like they want to make it as hard as possible. They call it a “foreign driver’s license” sometimes, just to confuse you. Means the same thing, though.
- MVIL Office on Waigani Drive for foreigners, they say.
- Another place I don’t know.
- International driver’s license if you wanna drive far away.
So, you see, getting a driving license in Papua New Guinea ain’t a walk in the park. Lots of steps, lots of papers, lots of waiting. But if you need to drive, you gotta do what you gotta do. This is how you apply for a driving license. Or renew driving license, if you have one but expired.
Now you can do it online, some people say it is easy, but I don’t trust that computer thing. I will just go to their office if I need one, but now I am too old to drive. These young people, they like to do everything online, order food, buy clothes, now even order driving license online. They said you can order Papua New Guinea driving license online. I don’t know, maybe they are right, maybe it is easy now.
Remember what old Martha always says: “Better safe than sorry.” So, make sure you do everything right, or you’ll be in a heap of trouble. They have many rules for driving, you need to be careful. Also, you need to make sure you are doing the right thing for that driving license in Papua New Guinea, you need to follow their steps, you need to pay if you break the rules.
Oh, and one more thing, don’t forget to bring your money, they always want your money.
Papua New Guinea driving license, you need to be very careful.