Citizenship

Eligibility for PNG Citizenship (Section 67 of the National Constitution)  

A person who has resided continuously in the country for at least eight (8) years may apply to the Minister responsible for Citizenship matters to be naturalized as a Citizen, and the Minister may, if he is satisfied as to the matters there in, in his deliberate judgment but subject to the advice of the Committee, grant or refuse the application.

To be eligible for naturalization, a person must:

• be of good character;
• intend to reside permanently in the country;
• unless prevented by physical or mental disability, to speak and understand Tok Pisin or Hiri Motu, or a vernacular of the country, sufficiently for normal conversational purpose;
• have a respect for the customs and cultures of the country;
• be unlikely to be or become a charge on public funds;
• have a reasonable knowledge and understanding of the rights, privileges, responsibilities and duties of citizenship; and
• renounce in such manner as is prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament, any other citizenship and make the Declaration of Loyalty.

If an applicant for naturalization so requests, any child of the applicant who is under voting age at the time when the applicant is naturalized becomes a citizen by naturalization on the naturalization of the applicant.