Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea hosts some 11,800 asylum seekers and refugees. Around 100 people were transferred there under PNG’s former regional processing arrangement with Australia, most from Indonesia.
UNHCR supports PNG in developing national refugee legislation and policy through technical advice and capacity-building activities, with a particular focus on promoting access to asylum procedures, implementing protection-sensitive entry systems, and maintaining the civilian character of asylum and access to naturalisation. UNHCR also works closely with PNG on its refugee emergency contingency plan and response to asylum seeker/refugee arrivals in the two border provinces. This includes collaborating with partners on activities that support local integration and self-sufficiency.
UNHCR also monitors the situation of Australia’s offshore refugees and asylum-seekers in PNG.
Additional information
For information about our work in Papua New Guinea:
- Learn about UNHCR's work in the region
- Read the latest regional press releases, news and stories
- Read the latest regional publications
- Contact the UNHCR Regional Representation in Canberra
Are you a refugee or asylum-seeker in this country? Find information about your rights and available services on our HELP site.
Visit the UNHCR regional website (UNHCR Australia) for more information on our work in the region and the latest local news and stories.
For legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection, visit Refworld.
Office contact details
Papua New Guinea is covered by the following UNHCR office:
Street and postal address:
14 Kendall Lane, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Please note that you must have an appointment to visit the office.
- Donation enquiries in Australia (Australia for UNHCR): [email protected]
- Donation enquiries in New Zealand (Aotearoa New Zealand for UNHCR): [email protected]
- Protection enquiries: [email protected]
- Media and public information enquiries: [email protected]
Telephone
- Donation enquiries in Australia (Australia for UNHCR): 1300 361 288
- Donation enquiries in New Zealand (Aotearoa New Zealand for UNHCR): +64 9414 7883
- General enquiries: +61 2 6281 9100 (4 pm - 5 pm Tuesdays & Thursdays)
- Media enquiries: +61 426 796 138
Time zone
GMT/UTC +10
Working hours
- Monday: 8:45 - 17:00
- Tuesday: 8:45 - 17:00
- Wednesday: 8:45 - 17:00
- Thursday: 8:45 - 17:00
- Friday: 8:45 - 17:00
Public holidays
- 1 January 2024, New Year's Day
- 29 March 2024, Good Friday
- 1 April 2024, Easter Monday
- 10 April 2024, Eid Al-Fitr
- 25 April 2024, Anzac Day
- 17 June 2024, Eid Al-Adha
- 7 October 2024, Labour Day
- 25 December 2024, Christmas Day
- 26 December 2024, Boxing Day
