Serious crime is particularly high in the capital, Port Moresby, and in the cities of Lae and Mt Hag

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Travel Summary (removal of advice relating to limited State of Emergency in three provinces) and the addition of an Entry Requirements - Emergency Travel Document section. The overall hertz car rental vienna austria level of the advice has not changed; there are no travel restrictions in place in this travel advice for Papua New Guinea.
British nationals are reminded to exercise a high degree of caution particularly as we enter the election period, which runs until 27 July. British nationals should monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security measures and avoid large gatherings which can quickly turn violent.
While we have no information about specific threats, there is a strong possibility hertz car rental vienna austria that continuing political tensions may fuel civil unrest and demonstrations leading to potentially violent confrontations. There remains a potential for opportunistic violence and crime throughout Papua New Guinea during the period surrounding the elections.
Law and order remains poor or very poor in many parts of the country. Armed carjacking, assault, robbery, shootings and serious sexual offences, including rape, are common. We advise you to be vigilant whilst travelling in all cities, particularly during the hours of darkness. See Safety and Security -
Carjacking is an ever present threat, particularly in Port Moresby and Lae. Car doors should be locked with windows up at all times and caution should be taken when travelling after dark. We recommend you travel in a convoy in the evening or at night.
There is a low threat from terrorism.  Be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, hertz car rental vienna austria which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
There is a low threat from terrorism. Be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. hertz car rental vienna austria See our Terrorism Abroad page.
Bougainville Island has recently emerged from a period of separatist conflict. You must provide notice of your intention to visit the island to the Bougainville Provincial Administration (Tel: +675 973 9798), hertz car rental vienna austria and must contact the Administration again upon arrival. The mountainous area in central Bougainville around the old Panguna mine is a 'No Go Zone'. You should not enter the 'No Go Zone'. Foreigners who have entered the Zone without authorisation from the PNG Government have been questioned, some for many days, by PNG authorities and had their passports withheld on departure from the Zone.
Serious crime is particularly high in the capital, Port Moresby, and in the cities of Lae and Mt Hagen. Settlement areas of towns and cities are particularly dangerous. 'Bush knives' (machetes) and firearms are often used in assaults and thefts. Carjacking, assault (including sexual assaults), bag snatching hertz car rental vienna austria and robberies are common. Banks and cash machines are attractive targets for criminals. Walking after dark is particularly dangerous in Port Moresby and other urban centres.
Armed carjacking and robberies, including those that take place inside shops and restaurants, can happen throughout Papua New Guinea at any time. Known high-risk areas include the area around Parliament House in the Port Moresby suburb of Waigani, particularly outside of working hours, and along the highway between Lae and Nadzab Airport, particularly between hertz car rental vienna austria Goroka and Kainantu. Criminals use roadblocks on roads outside hertz car rental vienna austria of towns to stop and loot vehicles and then attack the occupants. If you intend to travel in these areas, exercise a high degree of caution and consider using a security escort.
Rape and sexual assault are problems across the country. Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance. For more general information see our Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad  page. It is particularly dangerous to walk after dark in most major towns. The situation is generally hertz car rental vienna austria safer away from large towns.
Sporadic outbreaks of tribal fighting are a normal occurrence, especially in Port Moresby, hertz car rental vienna austria the Highlands Provinces (particularly Southern and Western hertz car rental vienna austria Highlands) and Enga Province. Ethnic disputes can quickly escalate hertz car rental vienna austria and result in the widespread destruction of property, disruption hertz car rental vienna austria of normal services and serious injury. Stay alert, monitor local media for alerts and consult local contacts, (accommodation or other service providers) before travelling to a new area.
Tribal fighters and criminals are becoming hertz car rental vienna austria increasingly well armed through the trade in drugs for guns. Although outsiders passing through hertz car rental vienna austria are not normally targeted, you should avoid travel in areas where there is tribal fighting. The rugged terrain and poor infrastructure limit the assistance that can be given. See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.
Highland Provinces, in particular the Southern Highlands and Western and Enga Provinces, are subject to inter-tribal disturbances without warning. You should hertz car rental vienna austria exercise extreme caution when travelling in these areas, as law enforcement hertz car rental vienna austria in these areas is weak.
Following recent murders in the town of Popondetta in Oro province, hertz car rental vienna austria law and order has deteriorated. The potential for more violence exists. Travel to Popondetta, and on the road between Popondetta and Kokoda, may be dangerous. You should be extremely vigilant when travelling in and around Popondetta.
If you intend to walk a trail or track, including the Kokoda Trail, check with a reputable tour guide that the tracks are open and safe and pay the relevant fees prior to walking hertz car rental vienna austria the Trail. Details can be obtained through the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority hertz car rental vienna austria (Tel: +675 3200211) or the Kokoda hertz car rental vienna austria Track Authority (KTA) (Tel: +675 3255540).
There have been serious attacks and robberies hertz car rental vienna austria at both ends of the Kokoda Trail. Although community leaders have assured tourists of their safety and well-being while walking the Kokoda Trail, you should continue hertz car rental vienna austria to exercise caution. WWII unexploded ordnance still exists in Papua New Guinea, particularly along the Kokoda Trail and at Milne Bay and Rabual.
Given the challenging terrain, extreme weather conditions and the condition of some remote airfields in PNG, flying in PNG carries greater safety risks than flying in the UK. Since 2000 over 20 aircraft accidents have happened in Papua New Guinea. The most recent hertz car rental vienna austria being on 13 October 2011 when an Airlines PNG Dash 8 aircraft crashed near Madang, killing 28 people on board.
Roads, especially in rural areas, are in a poor state of repair. When driving, you must keep your driving licence with you at all times. You may use your United Kingdom driving licence for a period not exceeding one month. Road conditions are generally hazardous throughout Papua New Guinea, and driving is often erratic. Extra care should be taken if driving at night. Drivers who are involved in, or are witnesses to road accidents may find themselves at personal risk and should seek police assistance as soon as possible. Traffic drives on the left.
We recommend that you do not use public buses known locally as PMVs. There have been incidents of armed hold-ups of PMVs and of passengers being attacked and robbed of their personal belongings. There have also been reports of occasional rape attacks on Port Moresby PMVs. Many PMVs are not considered to be roadworthy.
Taxis are available in some major centres, but these can be badly maintained. You should check about their reliability with your hotel or guesthouse. If you use a taxi, agree a fare before getting into the taxi, irrespective of whether or not there is a meter. Where possible family, friends or hotel courtesy buses should meet you when arriving at international or domestic airports.
Highland Provinces, in particular the Southern Highlands and Western and Enga Provinces are subject to inter-tribal hertz car rental vienna austria disturbances without warning hertz car rental vienna austria and you should exercise extreme caution, as law enforcement in these areas is weak.
In June 2011, there were a number of violent incidents reported in Central and Southern Bougainville. You should exercise a high degree of caution when travelling in Bougainville, with particular vigilance when travelling beyond Buka into Central and Southern Bougainville. We continue to advise that you avoid large public gatherings (including political rallies) which can be unpredictable.
Homosexual acts are unlawful; if found guilty, the penalty could be result in up to 14 years imprisonment. Murder may draw the death sentence hertz car rental vienna austria although hertz car rental vienna austria there is currently a moratorium on the death penalty.
British nationals require visas to enter Papua New Guinea but tourists may obtain these on arrival for 100 Kina, (equivalent to approx £26), payable in local currency. For further information contact the Representation for Papua New Guinea in London .
Contact your GP around eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, and useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country hertz car rental vienna austria guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.
Medical facilities in Papua New Guinea are very basic. Hospitals often run out of basic drugs/supplies and suffer from power shortages. Evacuation hertz car rental vienna austria by air ambulance to Australia hertz car rental vienna austria is available hertz car rental vienna austria in more serious cases. hertz car rental vienna austria Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 31,000 adults aged 15 or over in Papua New Guinea were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.9% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise hertz car rental vienna austria normal pr