Guidance

Papua New Guinea: Knowledge Base profile

Published 18 August 2025

Version 2.0

About: Papua New Guinea

This document contains useful information about Papua New Guinea which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 13 August 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Papua New Guinea: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Papua New Guinea.

Names in Papua New Guinea consist of:

• 1 or more forenames
• 1 surname

The surname given at birth is:

• the surname of the father if the:
  • child is born legitimate
  • child is born and the marriage of the parents is void but they would have been legitimate if the marriage was not voided
  • father’s details are shown on the child’s birth certificate
• the surname of the mother if none of the above apply

Papua New Guinea: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Papua New Guinea.

Dual nationality is allowed in Papua New Guinea for citizens that hold dual nationality with any of the following countries:

• Australia
• Fiji
• Germany
• New Zealand
• Samoa
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Vanuatu

Papua New Guinea: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Papua New Guinea.

Legitimacy

Papua New Guinea recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate if:
  • their parents are married at the time of birth
  • their parents marry after the birth
• illegitimate if the parents never marry

Papua New Guinea: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Papua New Guinea.

Adoption is legal in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Papua New Guinea.

Surrogacy is not recognised in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Papua New Guinea.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Papua New Guinea.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not recognised in Papua New Guinea.

Civil marriages are legal in Papua New Guinea.

Customary marriages are recognised in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Papua New Guinea.

All births, marriages and deaths are registered at the Civil and Identity Registry Office within the Department of Community Development, which was formerly known as Department of Welfare.

Birth certificates

Births must be registered with the Registrar Generals Office within 3 months of the birth. A birth certificate is issued when the birth is registered. Late registrations are allowed. Late registrations of more than one year from the date of birth must be approved by a Magistrate in a District Court.

Hospital records exist.

Marriage certificates

Civil marriages are registered with the Registrar Generals Office and a certificate is issued.

Civil marriages are conducted by authorised Ministers of Religion, District Officers or Registrars.

Death certificates

All deaths in Papua New Guinea must be registered with the Registrar Generals Office within 14 days of the date of death.