Working in Papua New Guinea is a challenge as well as adventure. It is a new chapter of your life as you come to work in Papua New Guinea. 

Papua New Guinea or PNG is a Pacific Island country north of Australia. It has a population of 7 million people. For more details  go to PNG Background information. 

Guides for Working in Papua New Guinea
As a general rule, all none citizens who seek employment in the private sector in Papua New Guinea must possess a valid work permit before they can commence employment. The work permit must be granted bu the Secretary, Department of Labour and Industrial Relations in accordance with the Employment of Non Citizens Act 2007. A non citizen who works in Papua New Guinea without a valid work permit commits an offence.


Remember If you are unsure whether you need a

work permit

, please approach the Foreign Employment Division for assistance o

Qualifications, skills and experience

A work permit application must contain sufficient evidence of a non citizens qualifications, skills and experience. This evidence must demonstrate that the non – citizen has the credentials to do the job for which they have applied for work permit.

As a general rule,non-citizen should possess a degree or other tertiary qualification relevant to their field of employment. Applicants should also demonstrate appropriate work experience [at least 3-5 years] in order to qualify for a work permit.

Work permits must be granted to highly-skilled non-citizens workers who do not hold any tertiary qualifications. However, detailed proof of the employee’s skills and job experience must be provided in an updated curriculum vitae [CV] as part of the work permit application.

Age requirements

No work permit will be granted to a non-citizen under the age of 22. This is because it is assumed that non-citizens of this age are not suitably qualified, skilled or experience enough to provide training or learning opportunities to their PNG counterparts. There is no upper age limit to the granting of work permit. However, a non-citizen who is above the age of 65 years may have to provide a suitable medical clearance before they can be granted a work permit.

Sharing knowledge and community participation

Non-citizens are required to share their knowledge and experience with their Papua New Guinea counterparts. It is also important that non-citizens who come to work in PNG are able to communicate with Papua New Guinean citizens within the community.

Applying for a work permit

All applications for a work permit, regardless of the type of work permit, must be submitted using the prescribed application forms contained in the Employment of Non-Citizens Regulation 2008.

Processing time frame

It is a statutory requirement under the Act that all new work permit applications and all renewal applications be dealt with within 42 days [6 weeks]. If all of the documentation is correct, the Department will usually process a work permit application within 3 weeks.

An important rule

You may NOT work in Papua New Guinea if you do not possess a valid work permit! Significant penalties apply if you are caught working without a work permit.

Fees

Application for General Work Permit- K1000.00 for each year of the work permit[At the time of publication, this fee was correct. Seek confirmation with Department of Labour and Industrial Relations]

Responsibility of DLIR (Foreign Employment Division)

In the first instance, all non-citizens must be granted a work permit by DLIR. The application for the work permit will be processed by the Foreign Employment Division (FED) of DLIR. Any decision with respect to the application for a work permit will be decided by the Secretary, DLIR. The Secretary will consider the application in accordance with the Employment of Non-Citizens Regulation 2008.

Once a non-citizen has been issued with a work permit, he or she apply to the Immigration for the appropriate Entry Permit [Visa]. A visa allows a non-citizen to enter PNG and remain for specific period. Any decision with respect to a Visa application will made in accordance with the Migration Act 1978 and Regulation. Non-citizen employees who ahve been issued with a work permit are granted a specific Visa called’Work Resident Entry Permit’. Immigration also issues many other types of Visas such as: Visitor Visa, Business Visa and Student Visa. Immigration also issues Permanent Resident Visas and Papua New Guinean Passports.

Immigration is responsible for processing and issuing entry permits (Visas) and Passports. It is not responsible for processing and issuing work permits.

The detailed guidelines can be downloaded here. 

Download all general guidelines to work in Papua New Guinea here. 

• General Guide 
• Application for New Work Permit 
• Application for renewal of existing work permit 
• Application for bridging work permit 
• Statement of Arrangement for
     Repartriation & Cancellation of Work Permit
  
• Employers Register of Work Permits
  

 or visit their website http://www.workpermits.gov.pg

NDB MICROFINANCE
NDB offers microfinance loans to help realize your dream of increasing your income sources and support your family needs. You can borrow small loans to finance your income-generating activities (IGA) whether it be a small trade store, buying and selling, market vending, dress-making, poultry raising or any other small-scale economic activities with quick cash turnover.

You can borrow small amounts to finance your stocks and inventories or buy small equipment such as fridges, coolers, sewing machines or any small machines used to run your business.

Loan repayments can be made conveniently in the village where you reside or conduct your business.

At a very low interest rate and easy repayment terms you can start running your own business and be your own boss! Don’t miss this opportunity.

How To Access NDB’s Microfinance Services
All you have to do is to contact the nearest NDB branch in your location and get in touch with a Microfinance Field Assistant. Apply for any of the loans described below:

Kisim-na-Bekim Bisnis Loan
No savings required. You can get a loan from as low as K300—5,000 to finance your small business. Pay every fortnight right in your village over a period of 6-12 months.

Tutu Bisnis Loan
No savings required. You can get a loan from as low as K300—5,000 to finance your poultry business. Pay in lump sum amount after selling the chicken.

All-purpose Loan
No savings required. If you are employed, you can get a loan from as low as K300—2,000 to finance your household needs. Pay in a maximum of 12 months.

NATIONAL FISHERIES CREDIT FACILITY
The National Development Bank (formerly Rural Development Bank Ltd) and The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the 12th January 2007 paving way for the establishment of the Fisheries Credit Facility. The facility was established to assist coastal fisherman, inland fish farmers and fish exporters with access to credit on commercial basis.

A number of awareness meetings have been conducted so far between NFA, the respective Provincial Fisheries Office and NDB in a number of coastal and Highlands provinces. These meetings are geared towards explaining the Fisheries Credit Facility and the eligibility requirements of accessing credit.
Under this credit facility there are three lines of credit to carter for the needs of almost every Papua New Guinean from the grassroots level to the local exporters.

Under this credit facility there are three lines of credit to carter for the needs of almost every Papua New Guinean from the grassroots level to the local exporters.

1. Micro-credit line
With the aim to deliver small lines of credit to village based fishermen or enterprises that may not necessarily have access to credit from mainstream financial institutions.

2. Small Enterprise Credit-line
With the aim to targets small fishing enterprises with financial assistance to assist small enterprises to strengthen their operations and become new segment of small enterprises operating within the fisheries sector. Under this credit line, it is anticipated that they will be able to pledge some form of tangible collateral to the Bank to secure credit funds from the facility.

3. Business Credit line
Aims to specifically target the established private fishing companies and may also be extended to those individual members of fisheries cooperatives or associations that have been successful and are expanding their operations or seeking to improve internal management.

RURAL HOUSING LOAN PRODUCT
Funds for Rural Housing Loans are appropriated in the National Annual Budget. These funds are given to the National Development Bank Ltd to on-lend as loans for rural housing. The extent of financing for such loans is limited by the amount appropriated each year in the National Budget.

The loans are given for the purchase of building materials to construct or improve existing home in rural areas. The maximum loan term is six (6) years.

All applicants should exhibit the ability to repay to a maximum of 25% of net annual income. Such net income could be derived from farming or wages/salaries. The applicant must build the house in his/her village or permanent place of settlement in the rural area.

Where possible security is taken to cover loans.

For additional information please contact the National Development Bank Ltd, Lending Division enquiries on 3247500.

Pamphlets

Business Credit Line

Enterprise Credit Line

Fishing Business Credit Line

PCD Credit Line

SBDC

Small Business Credit Line

Women In Textile

Micro Finance Pamphlets

General Micro Finance

Micro Finance Credit Line

TPA

Tutu Loans

Information Source: ndbpng.wordpress.co

GorokaPh:732 2155Fax:732 2156P.O. Box 445, Goroka, EHP
goroka@devbank.com.pg

KaviengPh:984 2060Fax:984 2060P.O. Box 136, Kavieng, NIP
kavieng@devbank.com.pg

KimbePh:983 5019P.O. Box 183, Kimbe, WNBP 
kimbe@devbank.com.pg

KokopoPh:982 8544/48Fax:982 8542P.O. Box 277, Kokopo, ENBP
kokopo@devbank.com.pg

LaePh:472 1711/263Fax:472 5416P.O. BOX 341, Lae, MP
lae@devbank.com.pg

MadangPh:852 2961/2220Fax:852 2876P.O. Box 632, Madang, MP
madang@devbank.com.pg

MaprikPh:858 1205/1206P.O Box 180, Maprik, ESP
maprik@devbank.com.pg

Mt. HagenPh:542 1613/33/34Fax:542 1781P.O. BOX 309, Mt. Hagen, WHP
hagen@devbank.com.pg

MutzingPh:474 9345/46/47Fax:474 9348P.O BOX 2579, Lae, MPmutzing@devbank.com.pg

PopondettaPh:329 7012/2599Fax:329 7157P.O. BOX 198, Popondetta, OP
popondetta@devbank.com.pg

WewakPh:856 2777Fax:856 2253P.O. Box 141, Wewak, ESP

wewak@devbank.com.pg 

To download lending application forms click here. 

For General Information about National Development Bank of PNG click here. 

The National Development Bank Limited is a company under the Companies Act.

Since its establishment in 1967 the Bank has provided K1 billion in loans to customers in all sectors with up to 50 percent of loans going to the agriculture sector.

The current products include long term agriculture and commercial loans, credit scheme loans including the fisheries credit facility and the SBDC Credit Guarantee Scheme. The Bank has also launched into commercial microfinance in 2007 and also facilitating insurance cover, valuation services and personal viability training for its current and potential clients.

The Bank is also working on an ambitious plan to introduce new products and services on an ongoing basis.

The head office is in Port Moresby while we have 18 branch offices in the country.

For more information on how to apply for loans go to this link.