IN an effort to reduce the high number of visa applications and turnaround time for clients, the Minister for Immigration and Labour, Bryan Kramer, reactivated the visa auto-grant function for selected visa classes on Wednesday (August 31).
Kramer said the visa auto-grant system operates independently, and when the applicant meets all the requirements of a selected visa class, the visa is automatically granted and emailed to their nominated email address almost instantaneously.
“This system is now available. PNG Immigration have used it before during the APEC in 2018, the Women’s Soccer World Cup and the Pacific Games in Port Moresby to facilitate large volumes of delegates. I want to reactivate this in a similar way but with strict conditions attached to the auto-grant letters,” he said.
The auto-grant only applies to visitors who apply online and meet all requirements under the visitor visa classes including Tourists (own itinerary and tour package), visiting relative, yacht person (crew and owner), easy visitor permit (30/60 days) and the Restricted Employment Visa.
The Minister said the auto-grant will allow tourists and visitors on short-term visits to get their visa granted immediately instead of waiting for seven days to get an approval.
He said the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) will step up its compliance and enforcement efforts to ensure visitors are complying with the conditions set out in the auto-grant letters.
“With limited staff on strength, I am taking this option so personnel in the department can concentrate on other visa categories that need careful assessment and consideration. The auto-granting of applications does not in any way compromise the integrity of our systems or pose security risks as there are border officers to monitor any unusual movements,” Kramer says.
Minister Kramer re-launched the auto-grant system at the PNG ICA Headquarters in Waigani, Port Moresby, witnessed by senior officials from the department, and the media.
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