PNG Customs Clearance Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Importers

Key takeaways

• Only a licensed customs broker can lodge an import entry, through the ASYCUDA World system.
• The entry can be lodged up to five working days before the goods arrive.
• Customs and biosecurity officers can inspect cargo, and some containers are X-rayed.
• Goods left uncleared for 30 days can be sold at auction.

Who’s involved

• The importer, as owner of the goods, is legally responsible for declaring them correctly.
• The licensed customs broker prepares and lodges the entry on the importer’s behalf.
• PNG Customs Service assesses the entry, collects duties and taxes, and can inspect the goods.
• The biosecurity authority, NAQIA, now being replaced by Biosecurity PNG, checks permits and inspects for pests and contamination.
• The shipping line or its agent issues the delivery order once freight and its charges are settled.
• The terminal operator releases the container once all holds are cleared and charges are paid.

The process, step by step

1. Register as an importerThe importer registers with PNG Customs using its Tax Identification Number.
2. Appoint a licensed brokerThe importer authorises a licensed customs broker on Customs Form G26. Customs deals only with authorised agents.
3. Prepare documents and permitsThe invoice, packing list, transport document, valuation information and any permits are gathered before the goods are shipped.
4. Lodge the import entryThe broker lodges Customs Form 15 in ASYCUDA World, up to five working days before arrival, and uploads the supporting documents.
5. Customs checks the entryCustoms checks classification under the Customs Tariff, value, origin and permits. The duty rate applied is the one in force on the day the entry is lodged.
6. Inspection, if selectedCustoms may examine or X-ray the cargo, and biosecurity officers may inspect goods, packaging and the container.
7. Assessment and paymentA notice of assessment sets out the duty, any excise and GST, which must be paid before release.
8. Release and collectionWith customs release, a delivery order and terminal charges paid, the cargo can be collected and the empty container returned.

How long does clearance take?

There’s no single answer. A well-prepared entry for low-risk goods, lodged before the vessel arrives, can move through quickly. Selection for examination, a biosecurity hold, a valuation query or a missing permit can each add days.

The single most effective step is to lodge early. Using the pre-arrival window means Customs can process the entry while the cargo is still at sea, rather than after it has started accruing storage charges.

Inspections and container scanning

PNG Customs uses a risk-based approach, targeting higher-risk importers and consignments for closer checks. It operates a container examination facility at Motukea in Port Moresby, where containers can be scanned and examined, and has invested in a similar facility for Lae.

If your container is selected, it will be moved to the examination area, scanned or opened, and released once officers are satisfied. Expect additional handling charges and time. Biosecurity officers may also inspect the goods and packaging, particularly for timber, food, used machinery and personal effects.

What can delay clearance

• documents that don’t match each other;
• missing, expired or incorrect permits;
• valuation queries, including suspected under-declaration;
• incorrect tariff classification;
• unpaid duties, GST or shipping line charges;
• selection for customs or biosecurity inspection;
• congestion at the port or public holidays.

Penalties and consequences

PNG Customs takes non-compliance seriously. A false or incorrect declaration, or importing prohibited or restricted goods without a permit, can lead to the goods being seized, prosecution, and stricter checks on future imports.

Timing matters too. Goods that aren’t cleared and collected can be sold at auction by Customs after 30 days, and storage charges build up long before that.

Records and audits

Keep all import records, including invoices, contracts, payment records and correspondence, for five years from the date of import. Customs can audit importers after goods are released and request these records.

Frequently asked questions

More on customs and import requirements

Sources

• PNG Customs Service: import procedures
• PNG Customs Service: licensed customs brokers

Written by

Philip Thomas

Philip is the lead author and editor at Phantom8. He writes practical guides to shipping freight into Papua New Guinea, with a focus on choosing the right port, clearing customs and planning the inland leg.

Read Philip’s profile