Overall Rank: #154 out of 199 countries
Papua New Guinea ranks #154 out of 199 countries and territories in the Globevisa Passport Ranking, placing it in the low-ranking category. Across the five core dimensions — Mobility (#118), Governance (#159), Security (#168), Education (#163), and Quality of Life (#149) — Papua New Guinea performs strongest in mobility (#118), followed by quality of life (#149). Its weakest dimension is security (#168).
Mobility: #118 (score 41/100), Governance: #159 (score 21/100), Security: #168 (score 16/100), Education: #163 (score 19/100), Quality of Life: #149 (score 26/100)
Papua New Guinea ranks #154 globally in the 2026 Globevisa Passport Ranking, which evaluates 199 countries and territories worldwide. Unlike traditional passport indices that focus solely on visa-free destination counts, the Globevisa Passport Ranking provides a comprehensive structural assessment across five core dimensions: Mobility, Governance, Security, Education, and Quality of Life. Papua New Guinea shows a relatively balanced profile across all dimensions. However, Quality of Life (#149) and Governance (#159) and Education (#163) and Security (#168) represent structural areas of concern.
Country Overview: Papua New Guinea is a resource-rich Pacific nation facing significant security challenges and restricted immigration policies. / Limited mobility passport with restricted immigration pathways (Not currently recommended).
Identity Attributes: Long-term Residency, Identity Springboard
Global Taxation: Yes (Worldwide Taxation)
Cost of Living: Medium
Culture & Adaptation: English-friendly in urban and professional settings; high cultural distance due to strong traditional norms and complex tribal structures; extremely challenging adaptation for most international residents due to infrastructure and safety concerns
Employment & Development: Economy dominated by extractives and subsistence agriculture; specialized opportunities for highly skilled professionals in mining and energy; high entry barriers due to strict work permit regulations and local hiring preferences.
Holding a Papua New Guinean passport generally requires a formal visa for entry into the Schengen Area and the United States, though it currently benefits from an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for short-term visits to the United Kingdom. Internationally, the passport is considered to have moderate mobility, ranking mid-tier globally with access to several Commonwealth and regional destinations. While it maintains stable diplomatic relations, the document remains subject to periodic reviews by major regions like the EU to ensure continued compliance with international security and migration standards. Future travel privileges may be influenced by evolving global security policies and the implementation of digital border systems.
Papua New Guinea’s immigration framework is currently in an evolving state as the government undergoes a comprehensive review of its long-standing migration laws to better align with modern economic needs. Recent policy updates have primarily focused on restructuring and streamlining administrative processes, such as merging work permits and residency visas, rather than implementing sudden program closures. Applicants should remain aware that entry requirements and visa categories could be subject to further adjustments as the country strengthens its regulatory oversight and international compliance standards. While the environment remains open to foreign investment, these ongoing legislative updates may introduce more rigorous vetting procedures or modified compliance expectations in the near future.
Papua New Guinea experiences significant challenges with political stability and public safety, characterized by high crime rates and periodic civil unrest. Safety conditions vary greatly by region, with urban centers like Port Moresby, Lae, and Mount Hagen, as well as the Highlands provinces, facing elevated risks of violent crime and tribal conflict. While the government maintains a national police force and legal system to safeguard residents, enforcement capacity is often limited by resource constraints and a low police-to-population ratio. Consequently, many international residents and businesses rely on private security services and strict personal safety protocols to mitigate these real-world living risks.