Asia and Oceania

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before leaving UK.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake, including cover for medical evacuation by air ambulance particularly if you plan to engage in adventure sports.  See Travel Insurance for more details.

 

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

 

Consular Assistance

 

We recommended that you register with and seek the latest local advice from the British High Commission in Port Moresby on arrival. You should leave travel plans with friends, relatives or reliable local contacts. An electronic copy of a consular registration form can be obtained from the High Commission’s website at: http://www.ukinpng.fco.gov.uk.

 

Consular Registration

 

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

 

NB.  The British High Commission in Port Moresby does not issue passports. Applications for a new passport should be submitted to the High Commission for processing. Where possible, you are advised to apply at least four months before your passport is due to expire. You will be allowed to retain your old passport whilst waiting for the replacement to be processed and returned.

 

Urgent applications will be forwarded by commercial courier to the British High Commission in Wellington, and the courier cost will be added to the passport fee. You should be aware that our High Commissions will process your application as quickly as possible but, due to the distances involved, it is likely that there will be a delay in issuing you with a full replacement British Passport. Less urgent applications will be forwarded to Wellington via the Diplomatic bag free of charge. The average non-urgent waiting time for passport renewal is six weeks.

 

In genuine emergencies the High Commission will issue an Emergency Passport or a Temporary Passport.  Emergency Passports  are valid for a single journey back to the UK using agreed transit points as necessary, or to Commonwealth countries provided a prior arrangement exists with the authorities of the Commonwealth country concerned (for example, no such arrangement exists with Australia). Temporary passports are valid for 12 months but can be restricted for the duration of a journey.

 

The High Commission will be able to advise you which of these options best suits your circumstances.