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papua-new-guinea Papua New Guinea v.2026-05-15

Tribal fighting in Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands, with checkpoints, curfews and closed public services in most of Enga Province.

  • Articolo
  • aggiornato 2026-05-15

As of May 15, 2026, official advisories for Papua New Guinea point to avoiding non-essential travel, with the sharpest warnings tied to violent crime, inter-ethnic violence, civil unrest, tribal fighting in parts of the Highlands, severe weather, and active health alerts.

What Is Being Advised

Avoid non-essential travel to Papua New Guinea unless the trip is essential and you can absorb route changes, delays, or local restrictions. Before booking non-refundable transport or accommodation, check the newest official notice for any plan involving the Highlands, Port Moresby, Lae, Madang, Bougainville, Tabubil, Western Province islands, or overland travel.

Some advisories apply nationwide. Others name specific provinces, districts, cities, border areas, or health risks. For overland plans, build in slack and verify local instructions close to departure; an older route note is not enough for areas with fighting zones, checkpoints, curfews, landslides, or severe weather.

Where exactly this applies
  • Nationwide: Canada, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand describe Papua New Guinea as requiring at least heightened caution, with several advising against non-essential travel.
  • Hela and Southern Highlands: the UK advises against all but essential travel; New Zealand also advises avoiding non-essential travel because of violent tribal clashes and politically motivated unrest.
  • Enga: the UK advises against all but essential travel except Wabag District. The UK notice says all districts except Wabag District have been declared “fighting zones” after widespread intercommunal violence in the Wapenamanda area, with deaths, property destruction, public-service closures, checkpoints, random searches, and curfews.
  • Western Highlands: Switzerland advises against tourist and other non-urgent travel.
  • Port Moresby and Lae: Italy marks both for heightened caution due to security risks. France also has an active Port Moresby health update for increased dengue and malaria cases.
  • Tari, Madang, Mount Hagen, Goroka, and Lagaip-Porgera District: Italy marks these for heightened caution, with clashes noted for Tari/Madang and Goroka, and clashes plus landmines noted for Lagaip-Porgera.
  • Tabubil: Italy flags border risk and landslides in separate notices.
  • Bougainville: Italy marks the Autonomous Region of Bougainville for heightened caution due to security risks.
  • Western Province islands: the UK says Cyclone Maila is affecting parts of the Solomon Islands and moving toward Papua New Guinea, with Western Province islands most affected in the PNG-related note.
Organizations issuing warnings
  • Global Affairs Canada
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale
  • Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia
  • Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland
  • Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères

Why The Advice Is Elevated

Canada’s May 6, 2026 advisory gives the bluntest nationwide read: avoid non-essential travel to Papua New Guinea because of high levels of crime, inter-ethnic violence, and civil unrest. Japan’s January 13, 2026 notice also keeps Papua New Guinea at a level that means avoid non-urgent travel, with instructions to monitor reliable information and take safety measures.

The strongest regional security warnings concentrate in the Highlands. The UK’s April 5, 2026 advice names Hela, Southern Highlands, and most of Enga Province. Switzerland’s October 14, 2025 update adds Enga, Hela, Southern Highlands, and Western Highlands for tourist and other non-urgent travel.

New Zealand’s November 29, 2024 advisory gives two instructions: heightened caution nationwide because of violent crime and possible civil unrest, and avoid non-essential travel to Hela, Enga, and Southern Highlands because of ongoing violent tribal clashes and politically motivated unrest.

Italy’s November 5, 2025 notes are more granular. They flag Port Moresby, Lae, Mount Hagen, Bougainville, and several other places for security risks or clashes, and separately identify Lagaip-Porgera District for clashes and landmines, Tabubil for border risk and landslides, and Papua New Guinea more broadly for cholera.

France has two active health notices checked on May 14, 2026: increased dengue and malaria cases in Port Moresby, and vigilance during a poliomyelitis outbreak. Treat them as health alerts, not as a separate instruction to avoid travel.

Current Disruption Notes

The UK notice includes a global air-travel warning tied to escalation in the Middle East, with possible airspace closures, delayed flights, and cancelled flights even outside the Middle East. If your Papua New Guinea itinerary depends on tight international connections, check airline and airport status before travel.

The same UK notice says Tropical Cyclone Maila is affecting parts of the Solomon Islands and moving toward Papua New Guinea, with Western Province islands most affected in the PNG-related warning and severe weather predicted across all provinces named in that notice. Treat weather-dependent sea or island travel as provisional until local forecasts and transport operators confirm service.

Source Notes

The official inputs checked on May 14, 2026 include no avoid-all-travel advisory for Papua New Guinea. The strongest common instruction is avoid non-essential travel, either nationwide or for named regions.

Government wording differs. Canada, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, and the UK include avoid-non-essential-travel or equivalent advice somewhere in their Papua New Guinea guidance. Australia and Ireland sit at heightened caution nationally. France’s active items in this packet are health alerts.

Official source notes

Official source notes used for this article. Native government labels are preserved when available.

  • Global Affairs Canada (ca) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: Avoid non-essential travel; updated 2026-05-06; checked 2026-05-14): Papua New Guinea - Avoid non-essential travel. Avoid non-essential travel to Papua New Guinea due to high levels of crime, inter-ethnic violence and civil unrest.
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gb) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: FCDO advises against all but essential travel; updated 2026-04-05; checked 2026-05-14): Papua New Guinea: FCDO advises against all but essential travel. Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces due to the high risk of tribal fighting Enga Province in the Highlands, except Wabag District Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (jp) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: レベル２：不要不急の渡航は止めてください。（継続）; updated 2026-01-13; checked 2026-05-14): Papua New Guinea: レベル２：不要不急の渡航は止めてください。（継続）. Japan MOFA keeps Papua New Guinea in the listed area at レベル２：不要不急の渡航は止めてください。（継続）; travelers should avoid non-essential travel. The update notes cite ongoing security risks and advise travelers to monitor reliable information and take sufficient safety measures.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Papua Nuova Guinea in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. The official advice is to avoid non-essential travel, postpone travel, or reassess planned trips.
  • Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (ch) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: regional — Von touristischen und anderen nicht dringenden Reisen in die Provinzen Enga, Hela, Southern Highlands und Western Highlands wird abgeraten; wird von touristischen und anderen nicht dringenden Reisen in einzelne Landesteile abgeraten; updated 2025-10-14; checked 2026-05-14): FDFA travel advice for Papua New Guinea. The FDFA advises against tourist and non-urgent travel to/in provinces Enga, Hela, Southern Highlands und Western Highlands. The current FDFA update note was published on 2025-10-14.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (nz) (avoid non-essential travel; native label: Exercise increased caution; Avoid non-essential travel; updated 2024-11-29; checked 2026-05-14): Papua New Guinea: Exercise increased caution. Exercise increased caution in Papua New Guinea due to violent crime and the potential for civil unrest (level 2 of 4). Avoid non-essential travel to the Hela, Enga and Southern Highlands provinces due to ongoing violent tribal clashes and politically motivated unrest (level 3 of 4).
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (au) (heightened caution; native label: Exercise a high degree of caution; updated 2026-04-16; checked 2026-05-14): Smartraveller advisory for Papua New Guinea: Exercise a high degree of caution. Australia Smartraveller lists Papua New Guinea at "Exercise a high degree of caution" on its current destinations index. The destination entry was updated on 2026-04-16.
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gb) (heightened caution; native label: Current FCDO warning; updated 2026-04-05; checked 2026-05-14): Papua New Guinea: Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East. Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East.
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gb) (heightened caution; native label: Current FCDO warning; updated 2026-04-05; checked 2026-05-14): Papua New Guinea: Enga Province. Enga Province Following wide-spread intercommunal violence in Wapenamanda area of Enga Province, the provincial government has declared all districts except Wabag District, which remains relatively safe, as ‘fighting zones’. The authorities report deaths, destruction of property, and the closure of public services. Checkpoints, random searches, and curfews have been introduced.
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gb) (heightened caution; native label: Current FCDO warning; updated 2026-04-05; checked 2026-05-14): Papua New Guinea: Cyclone Maila. Cyclone Maila Tropical Cyclone Maila is affecting parts of the Solomon Islands with heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and hazardous sea conditions. The cyclone is located west of the Solomon Islands and is moving towards Papua New Guinea. Western Province Islands are most affected followed by Choiseul and Isabel Provinces but severe weather is predicted across all provinces.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (jp) (heightened caution; native label: レベル１：十分注意してください。（継続）; updated 2026-01-13; checked 2026-05-14): Papua New Guinea: レベル１：十分注意してください。（継続）. Japan MOFA keeps Papua New Guinea nationwide at レベル１：十分注意してください。（継続）; travelers should exercise a high degree of caution. The update notes cite ongoing security risks and advise travelers to monitor reliable information and take sufficient safety measures.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Port Moresby in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Lae in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Tari e Madang in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to clashes. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Mount Hagen in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Goroka in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to clashes. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Distretto di Lagaip-Porgera in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to clashes and landmines. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Tabubil in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to border risk. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Regione di Bougainville (AROB) in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to security risks. Travelers are told to avoid the affected area or activity and follow local instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sicurezza - Area di particolare cautela; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Area di particolare cautela. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Tabubil in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to landslides. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (it) (heightened caution; native label: sanitaria - Situazione sanitaria; updated 2025-11-05; checked 2026-05-14): Situazione sanitaria. Official Viaggiare Sicuri marks Papua Nuova Guinea in Papua Nuova Guinea for above-baseline travel caution due to cholera. Travelers are advised to use heightened caution and follow local authority instructions.
  • Department of Foreign Affairs (ie) (heightened caution; native label: High Degree of Caution; updated 2025-06-03; checked 2026-05-14): Ireland DFA: High caution - Papua New Guinea. Ireland DFA currently rates Papua New Guinea as High Degree of Caution. The security situation in Papua New Guinea is very challenging, both in Port Moresby and outside.
  • Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres (fr) (heightened caution; native label: Dernières minutes; checked 2026-05-14): Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée - Port Moresby – recrudescence des cas de dengue et de paludisme. France Diplomatie has an active 'Dernières minutes' update for Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, titled 'Port Moresby – recrudescence des cas de dengue et de paludisme'. The update concerns health risks; the original French excerpt is included for exact official wording.
  • Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres (fr) (heightened caution; native label: Dernières minutes; checked 2026-05-14): Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée - Epidémie de poliomyélite : appel à la vigilance. France Diplomatie has an active 'Dernières minutes' update for Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, titled 'Epidémie de poliomyélite : appel à la vigilance'. The update concerns health risks; the original French excerpt is included for exact official wording.