Driving Permit for Papua New Guinea
Driving in Papua New Guinea? Traffic keeps left and visitors can drive up to 6 months on a foreign license — an IDP under the 1949 convention is recommended and often required by rental desks.
- Drive on
- Left
- Convention
- 1949 Geneva
- IDP validity
- 6 months
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea recognises the International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for their first six months in the country — UK government guidance, for example, accepts photocard licences for six months but requires an IDP for older paper-only licences. In practice, carrying a 1949-convention IDP alongside your original licence is the safest approach: hire companies in PNG often impose stricter conditions than the law itself, including holding an IDP, at least a year of driving experience, and a higher minimum age.
Traffic drives on the left, a legacy of Australian administration, and vehicles are right-hand drive. Driving conditions are among the most challenging in the Pacific: roads are frequently in poor repair, especially in rural areas, driving standards are erratic, and the mountainous terrain means not all major cities are even connected by road — most intercity travel is by plane. The Highlands Highway, linking the port city of Lae and Madang with Goroka and the Highlands region, is the country's longest and most important road, while many other routes remain unsealed.
Security is the other major consideration. Carjacking and roadblock robberies are common, particularly outside towns, so official advice is to keep doors locked and windows up and to travel in convoy on higher-risk routes. If you are involved in an accident, do not remain at the scene — crowds can form quickly and turn on those they consider responsible — instead drive to the nearest safe place and report the incident to police from there. Most visitors rent through established international desks such as Avis, the country's largest operator, or hire a car with a local driver.
Papua New Guinea recognises the IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Papua New Guinea is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Papua New Guinea, plan on 6 months.
What you need to drive in Papua New Guinea
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Valid original driver's license from your home country (photocard licenses are accepted; older paper-only licenses need an IDP)
International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention — recommended for all visitors and often required by rental companies
Rental firms commonly impose stricter conditions than the law: an IDP, at least a year of driving experience, and a higher minimum age
Right-hand-drive vehicle familiarity — traffic drives on the left
Traffic drives on the left, a legacy of Australian administration, so rental vehicles are right-hand drive.
Due to the mountainous terrain, not all major cities are connected by road and many roads are unsealed — the official tourism authority says the best way to get around PNG is by plane.
The Highlands Highway, linking Lae and Madang to Goroka and the Highlands region, is the longest road in the country.
UK guidance confirms photocard licences are accepted for the first 6 months, while older paper-only licences require an International Driving Permit.
Carjacking and roadblock robberies occur, particularly outside towns; authorities advise convoy travel, locked doors, and closed windows.
PMVs (public motor vehicles — privately owned minivans, buses, and open-tray trucks) are the cheap local transport, but official advice urges caution, especially for women traveling alone.
What to know before you turn the key
Papua New Guinea drives on the left — the driver sits on the right, and roundabouts flow clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Rental desks (Avis is the leading operator, with around 12 locations) frequently ask for an IDP alongside your home license, so carry both.
Roads are often unsealed and in poor repair outside cities; the Highlands Highway linking Lae and Madang to Goroka is the main long-distance route, and many travelers fly between cities instead.
After any accident, official advice is not to remain at the scene — crowds can form quickly — but to drive to the nearest safe place and then report to police.
Specific fine schedules are not well publicised internationally, but driving without a valid licence (or without an IDP where one is needed) can lead to police fines and problems with insurance claims. The greater practical risk in PNG is the aftermath of an accident: crowds can form quickly and become violent toward whoever they consider responsible, so official advice is to leave the scene for the nearest safe place — such as a police station — and report the incident from there rather than remaining with the vehicle.
Local rules to watch in Papua New Guinea
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Port Moresby: the main arrival and car-rental hub, but it has no road link to most of the country — keep doors locked and windows up in traffic, as vehicle crime is common.
Lae: PNG's industrial port and the gateway to the Highlands Highway toward Goroka and the Highlands region.
Kavieng (New Ireland): the flat, well-maintained Boluminski Highway to Namatanai is one of PNG's few easy self-drive routes and is popular with cyclists.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Papua New Guinea keeps.
Common questions about driving in Papua New Guinea
Drive Papua New Guinea, confidently.
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