People in the Momase and Highlands regions don’t have to travel far to Port Moresby city to get a passport or renew it, now that the Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority (ICSA) has a new passport printing service center in Lae city.
The ICSA has officially opened a new passport printing service center in its Lae Regional Office on Monday 23rd December 2024, signifying a transfer of services from Port Moresby to Lae.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Immigration, John Rosso, officially opened the new passport printing facility located inside the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority’s Lae Regional Office situated inside the Nambawan Super House at Top Town.
Minister Rosso said Lae is the second largest city and has road links to other Momase provinces and the Highlands region and is an ideal location for people to easy apply and get their passport printed.
He said this is a significant milestone achievement for ICSA and a perfect Christmas Gift to the people of Morobe and the neighboring Madang and Highlands provinces.
Minister Rosso took the opportunity to print the first standard passport inside the new printing facility to signify the launch of this new facility.
Following the opening, people who want to apply for a standard passport can lodge applications at the Immigration Lae Regional Office and the application will be processed and passport printed and issued to them.
The Passport printing facility is an extension of the establishment in Port Moresby and the same standard operational procedures are followed.
The Deputy Prime Minister outlined the requirements for obtaining a standard passport, emphasizing that people must correctly fill out the passport application form, attach two passport size identification photos, copy of your birth certificate issued by the Civil Registry Office and the receipt of the fee of K100. Mr. Rosso said people who need an urgent passport can pay the express fee of K300 to get their passport within 48 hours.
“There is no need for you to travel to Port Moresby anymore. You can lodge your application here in Lae and get your passport printed here and released to you,” Minister Rosso said.
The migration services offered at the Lae Regional Office will serve Lae residents as well as people in Momase, Highlands and New Guinea Islands.