Sending a package to Papua New Guinea: Customs, GST and delivery time
From Germany to Port Moresby, Lae or Madang: How to properly prepare business shipments
Papua New Guinea lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and is geographically part of Oceania. The combination of vast distances, numerous islands, mountainous regions, and a sometimes limited transport infrastructure makes international deliveries more challenging than in many traditional export markets.
- Shipping from Germany to Papua New Guinea
- Parcel, express and freight solutions
- Shipping to Port Moresby, Lae and other regions
- Prepare customs and goods data digitally
- 10% GST must be taken into account upon import.
- Check customs duty rate using the HS code
- Using REX and preferential origin correctly
- Obtain import permits before shipping
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Papua New Guinea requires complete data before import.
For business shipments, the goods description, customs tariff number, value of goods and importer should be clearly established before collection.
Long transport routes can make missing documents particularly troublesome. Detaining a shipment after several thousand kilometers due to a missing import permit is logistically about as elegant as it sounds.
Include 10% GST in your calculations
A Goods and Services Tax of 10 percent is generally levied on taxable imports. Additional import duties and other charges may also apply.
Check importer registration
Commercial importers must be registered with the Papua New Guinea Customs Service. This registration is linked to the local Tax Identification Number and stored in ASYCUDAWorld.
New certificates of origin since September 2026
For the customs preferences of the EU-Pacific Agreement, EUR.1 certificates are no longer accepted for EU exports as of September 1, 2026. Instead, a declaration on the invoice according to the new REX rules is required.
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Important information about customs and import duties
DAP or DDP to Papua New Guinea: Clarify importer and import costs beforehand
For business shipments, it should be determined who will handle import clearance before the shipment is booked.
For DAP The seller organizes the transport to the agreed destination.
Import clearance and the agreed import costs are generally the responsibility of the recipient.
This can include:
- Import duty
- 10% GST
- Excise tax (if applicable)
- Import permits
- Customs broker fees
- Carrier handling fees
- Onward transport within Papua New Guinea
For DDP The seller assumes further obligations and agreed import costs, provided that the carrier and local import structure allow this.
Especially in the case of Papua New Guinea, the following should be checked before making a DDP offer:
- who acts as an importer
- whether a valid TIN and customs registration are available
- Which HS code applies?
- which customs duty rate applies
- whether the goods have EU preferential origin
- whether an import permit is required
- which GST and other taxes are incurred
- what costs are incurred for forwarding to the recipient
Especially for recipients outside of Port Moresby or Lae, domestic transport should also be included in the overall calculation.
What is the import duty in Papua New Guinea?
The import duty depends on the specific tariff classification of the goods.
Papua New Guinea Customs Service checks the following in particular during imports:
- correct product classification
- cart value
- applicable customs duty rate
- possible restrictions
- necessary permits
The applicable customs duty rate is the one in effect on the day the import declaration is submitted.
EU goods can benefit from preferential tariffs.
Papua New Guinea is part of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Pacific States.
The agreement has been provisionally applied with Papua New Guinea since 2009.
It envisions an asymmetrical market opening. While products originating in Papua New Guinea can enter the EU duty-free and quota-free, Papua New Guinea will gradually open its market to EU-origin goods and keep sensitive product groups out of liberalization.
For German exporters, this means:
Depending on the goods and proven EU preferential origin, a more favorable customs duty rate may apply.
However, shipping from Germany alone does not establish EU origin.
What is the GST rate in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea raises a question:
Goods and Services Tax, or GST for short.
The regular rate is:
10%.
The tax is generally also levied on taxable imports of goods.
The calculation does not solely consider the pure value of the goods.
The customs administration generally calculates the GST as follows:
- Customs value of the goods
- plus import duty
- possibly other relevant taxes
Depending on the goods, additional excise duties or other fees may apply.
Therefore, a flat rate of 10 percent should not simply be added to the invoice amount for DDP calculation.
Regular GST: 10%
ASYCUDAWorld: Papua New Guinea processes imports electronically
Papua New Guinea uses the following for its customs procedures:
Automated System for Customs Data, ASYCUDAWorld.
The system is used for all import, export, and excise registrations.
ASYCUDAWorld was introduced in 2017 and fully rolled out at all official customs ports in 2019.
The system processes, among other things:
- Import declarations
- Export declarations
- Customs tariff data
- Customs value information
- Document references
- Payments
Commercial importers must be registered.
All importers and exporters must be registered with PNG Customs Service.
The registration is linked to the Tax Identification Number of the Internal Revenue Commission.
For companies, the following documents are among those required for registration:
- Form G26
- TIN Certificate
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- IPA company verification
Therefore, in the case of a B2B delivery, it should be checked before shipping whether the recipient is registered as an importer.
Sending a package to Papua New Guinea: What companies should know beforehand
Papua New Guinea lies north of Australia and comprises the eastern part of the island of New Guinea as well as numerous smaller islands.
This geographical structure has a direct impact on transport costs and transit times.
The most important economic and logistics locations include:
- Port Moresby
- Lae
- Madang
- Rabaul
- Mount Hagen
- Kimbe
Port Moresby is the capital city and an important air transport hub.
In contrast, Lae plays a particularly important role for sea freight, container traffic and the supply of the industrial hinterland.
What documents do I need for Papua New Guinea?
For a regular commercial import, customs authorities typically require several trade and transport documents.
These include:
- Commercial Invoices
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- Packing List
- Purchase Order
- Proof of payment, if applicable
- Customs Valuation Documents
- Proof of origin, if applicable
- Import permit or license may be required.
The actual import declaration is normally submitted electronically via ASYCUDAWorld by an approved Customs Broker.
What has changed regarding preferential origin in 2026?
Exports from Germany to Papua New Guinea have been subject to restrictions since [date]. September 1, 2026 There is an important change to note.
Until then, EUR.1 certificates could be used under the EU-Pacific Agreement, among other things.
However, since September 2026, the following applies to products originating in the EU:
The EUR.1 certificate is no longer accepted for claiming EPA customs preferences.
Instead, a Explanation on the invoice prevail.
Exporters who have been assigned a REX number under EU law must state this number in the declaration of origin.
If an exporter is not assigned a REX number under EU regulations, the declaration can also be issued without a REX number under the relevant conditions.
This change is particularly important for companies that regularly export to Papua New Guinea, because old processes using EUR.1 will no longer lead to EPA preference since September 2026.
How long does it take for a package to arrive in Papua New Guinea?
Standard packages typically have significantly longer transit times than many other international destinations.
DHL currently lists the following for International Parcel:
more than 30 working days.
The current storage period is 20 days.
In contrast, the standard delivery time for Papua New Guinea with DHL Express Worldwide is approximately:
4 working days
in the international main race.
Actual delivery may take longer, especially in the case of:
- Customs inspection
- missing import permits
- Recipients outside Port Moresby or Laes
- Redirect to other islands
- hard-to-reach regions
What language should the customs declaration be in?
DHL lists the following for Papua New Guinea:
English.
The product description should be as specific as possible.
Not:
"Spare Parts"
but for example:
“Steel hydraulic coupling for mining conveyor system”
This makes the product, material, and intended use much easier to identify.
How to write an address for Papua New Guinea correctly
International recipient addresses should be written in Latin letters and Arabic numerals.
One possible format is:
PNG INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES LTD.
LOT 14, GABAKA STREET
GORDONS
PORT MORESBY NCD 111
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Additionally, the recipient's telephone number and email address should be provided.
This is particularly useful for destinations with long transport routes, because import questions should be clarified without additional waiting days.
These errors are delaying shipments to Papua New Guinea.
Long international and domestic transport routes can make errors in shipping preparation particularly costly.
Typical problems include:
- The importer is not registered with customs.
- The TIN or company data does not match the import documents.
- The product description is too general.
- HS code is incorrect
- The value of the goods cannot be verified.
- Import permit was not checked in advance.
- The old EUR.1 process will continue to be used despite the change from September 2026.
- The packing list and commercial invoice contradict each other.
- Recipient data is incomplete
- Domestic onward transport was not taken into account.
PNG Customs explicitly points out that the company name, TIN, and information in trade and shipping documents must match. Discrepancies may delay processing.
Especially with complex shipments to third countries, it is therefore worthwhile to thoroughly check the goods data before shipping, instead of fixing it later across several time zones.
What goods are shipped from Germany to Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea's economy is heavily influenced by raw materials, mining, energy, agriculture and infrastructure.
This creates a need for imports, particularly for technical products and capital goods.
For German companies, the following goods, for example, may be of interest:
- Machines and production facilities
- Mining and Conveyor Technology
- Machine spare parts
- Pumps and water technology
- Electrical Engineering
- Generators and power equipment
- Solar technology
- Measurement and testing technology
- Tools and workshop equipment
- IT and communication technology
- medical devices and accessories
Especially for machinery and technical spare parts, the customs tariff number should be determined before booking the shipment.
Papua New Guinea uses the Harmonised System for its commodity tariff classification. The actual import duty payable depends on the specific tariff heading.
For IT devices with lithium-ion batteries, the transport regulations for batteries and accumulators must also be taken into account.
Further information can be found at Safely ship lithium-ion batteries internationally.
Shipping information: Papua New Guinea
Standard, express or freight to Papua New Guinea?
In Papua New Guinea, the delivery times of the different shipping methods vary particularly significantly.
Standard package
For less time-critical goods, an international parcel service can be used.
DHL currently specifies a delivery time estimate of:
more than 30 working days.
For urgent B2B goods, standard shipping is therefore only attractive to a limited extent.
Further information about the service can be found at DHL Parcel and international shipping options.
Express Shipping
For urgent spare parts, IT equipment or production materials, express shipping is much more interesting.
DHL Express Worldwide indicates a standard delivery time of approximately four working days for Papua New Guinea in the main route.
Freight shipping
Air and sea freight are options for machinery, pallets, and larger quantities of goods.
Of particular importance is the question of which port or airport is most suitable for reaching the recipient.
Lae and Port Moresby are the most important logistics hubs.
Papua New Guinea has numerous ports along its coasts and island regions.
The state-owned PNG Ports Corporation manages, among other things, ports in:
- Lae
- Motukea near Port Moresby
- Madang
- Kimbe
- Rabaul
- Alotau
- Weak
- Vanimo
For international container traffic Lae particularly important.
The international container terminal there has a capacity of around 550.000 TEU and serves as an important access point for the industrial and resource-rich hinterland.
Port Moresby uses, among other things, the port of Motukea.
For smaller and time-critical goods, however, air freight plays a central role.
For deliveries outside of major centers, onward transport must be planned with particular care.
What import costs can arise in Papua New Guinea?
The actual import costs depend on the specific goods.
Possible components include:
- Import duty
- 10% GST
- Excise duty (if applicable)
- Import license costs
- Customs broker fees
- Carrier handling fees
- Domestic onward transport costs
For products of EU origin, it should also be checked whether the goods fall under the EU-Pacific EPA and whether a preference can be claimed.
Since September 2026, the new origin declaration process must be taken into account for this purpose.
How much does a package to Papua New Guinea cost?
The transport price depends in particular on:
- Weight
- Dimensions
- Volumetric weight
- Carrier
- Standard or express shipping
- Target region
- Type of goods
- Additional Services
In Papua New Guinea, the exact recipient region plays a particularly important role.
A shipment to Port Moresby or Lae can be logistically much simpler than a delivery to a smaller island or a remote region.
In addition to international transport costs, significant costs may therefore arise for onward transport within the country.
For regular shipping, it's worth comparing different carriers and shipping methods.
You can find out more at Multi-carrier shipping for international business shipments.
Online trade to Papua New Guinea: Understanding the K250 limit correctly
Papua New Guinea has a specific small-value rule for smaller international shipments.
The current customs administration states:
Goods with a dutiable value of no more than 250 Kina can be imported duty-free.
Shipments with a dutiable value of up to 5.000 kina still generally require registration, but can be processed via a simplified procedure.
This rule should not be confused with a blanket tax exemption for every online order.
Depending on the product, the following may also be possible:
- GST
- Product-specific taxes
- approval requirements
- Carrier fees
be relevant.
For B2C shipments, potential import costs should therefore be clearly communicated before the purchase.
Additionally, good status information is particularly important due to the long standard runtimes.
For more information, please visit Tracking page with custom branding.
Since September 2026, REX has replaced EUR.1 for EPA preference.
One of the most important current features regarding exports to Papua New Guinea concerns preferential origin.
The EU-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement allows qualifying EU-origin products preferential customs treatment.
However, the evidence has turned into September 1, 2026 changed.
Since that date, the Pacific states no longer accept EUR.1 movement certificates for EU exports if EPA preference is to be claimed.
Instead, an explanation is used on the invoice.
For registered exporters, the assigned REX number must be stated in the declaration of origin.
This should encourage companies that have previously exported goods to Papua New Guinea to review their existing customs procedures.
An old template folder with “PNG = EUR.1” has been about as useful as a fax machine in the API project since September 2026.
Further information on digital export and customs documents can be found at Automate shipping documents.
Which carrier is suitable for Papua New Guinea?
For shipments from Germany to Papua New Guinea, different parcel, express and freight solutions are available depending on the type of goods.
This could include, for example:
- DHL
- DHL Express
- UPS and international partner networks
- FedEx and its international partner networks
- Air freight forwarders
- Sea freight and project logistics partner
When making a comparison, the base price should not be the only factor considered.
Particularly important are:
- Runtime
- Customs service
- Recipient region
- Tracking
- Insurance
- maximum dimensions and weights
- Forwarding within Papua New Guinea
- possible remote area surcharges
Due to the difference between approximately four days for express main delivery and more than 30 working days for standard delivery, comparing carriers and services is particularly worthwhile for Papua New Guinea.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shipping
Can I send a package from Germany to Papua New Guinea?
Yes. Parcels, express shipments, and business goods can be sent from Germany to Papua New Guinea. Since the country is outside the EU, shipments require complete customs information.
How long does it take for a package to arrive in Papua New Guinea?
DHL Parcel currently quotes a standard transit time of more than 30 working days. DHL Express Worldwide, on the other hand, indicates approximately four working days for Papua New Guinea in its main international transit route.
What is the value-added tax (VAT) rate in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea levies a Goods and Services Tax of 10 percent. For imports, it is generally calculated on the customs value plus any applicable import duties.
What is the import duty in Papua New Guinea?
Customs duties depend on the specific tariff classification. The applicable duty rate is that in effect at the time the import declaration is submitted. Preferential tariffs may apply to certain EU-origin goods under the EU-Pacific Agreement.
Is there a trade agreement between Papua New Guinea and the EU?
Yes. Papua New Guinea participates in the EU-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement has been provisionally applied with Papua New Guinea since December 2009.
Do I need a EUR.1 note for Papua New Guinea?
Since September 1, 2026, an EUR.1 certificate is no longer accepted as proof of preferential origin for EU exports under the EU-Pacific EPA. Instead, proof is provided via a corresponding declaration on the invoice according to the REX rules.
What is REX for shipping to Papua New Guinea?
REX is the Registered Exporters System. Since September 2026, EU exporters who have been assigned a REX number must include it in their invoice declaration for EPA customs preference.
What is ASYCUDAWorld?
ASYCUDAWorld is the electronic customs system of Papua New Guinea. It is used nationwide for import, export, and excise declarations. Customs Authority of Papua New Guinea
Does the recipient need to be registered as an importer?
Commercial importers must be registered with PNG Customs Service. This registration is linked to the local Tax Identification Number and stored in ASYCUDAWorld.
Is there a duty-free allowance for packages to Papua New Guinea?
The current customs administration classifies goods with a dutiable value of 250 kina or less as duty-free. A simplified import procedure can be used for goods with a dutiable value of up to 5.000 kina.
What language should the customs declaration be in?
DHL specifies English as an acceptable language for the customs declaration to Papua New Guinea.
What documents do I need for Papua New Guinea?
Typically, a commercial invoice, transport document, packing list, purchase order, and complete product data are required. Depending on the shipment, proof of payment, certificates of origin, and import permits may also be necessary.
