Papua New Guinea: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic

💊 Drugs · Guides by topic

• Almost every country separates use, possession and trafficking — and the line between them is a weight, not an intention.
• Being caught with several bags, a scale or cash next to the drug will usually reclassify "use" into "dealing".
• Carrying for a friend counts as your possession. There is no shared-responsibility defence.

❤️ Sex & dating · Guides by topic

• The age of consent is the first thing to check, and it varies from 13 to 21 depending on the country and sometimes the region.
• Some countries criminalise sex outside marriage, which can affect an unmarried couple sharing a hotel room.
• Same-sex relations remain a criminal offence in around 60 countries, with sentences up to life in a handful.

🚗 Driving · Guides by topic

• An International Driving Permit is required or strongly recommended in most non-European countries — get it before leaving, it cannot be issued abroad.
• A few countries do not recognise foreign licences at all and require a local one.
• Rental insurance excesses are often huge; check what a scratch actually costs you.

🔪 Weapons · Guides by topic

• Pocket knives, multi-tools and even a corkscrew can be classified as a weapon depending on blade length and lock type.
• Pepper spray and personal alarms are banned or restricted in a surprising number of countries.
• Tasers and knuckledusters are prohibited essentially everywhere.

🤝 Behavior · Guides by topic

• Insulting the head of state, the royal family or the flag is a criminal offence in a number of countries.
• Losing your temper in public — shouting, aggressive gestures — is treated far more seriously in Asia than in Europe.
• Rude gestures that are trivial at home can be a public order offence elsewhere.

⛓️ Jail risk · Guides by topic

• You have the right to contact your consulate. Ask immediately, and repeat the request until it happens.
• A consulate cannot get you out, but it can find a lawyer, notify your family and monitor conditions.
• Never sign a statement you cannot read. Demand an interpreter, in writing if possible.

Is Papua New Guinea strict with tourists?

Overall verdict: Tough. 6 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Sex & dating, Driving, Weapons, Behavior, Jail risk), 11 require caution.

What can get me fined or arrested in Papua New Guinea?

The strictest topics for travellers in Papua New Guinea are: Drugs, Sex & dating, Driving, Weapons, Behavior, Jail risk. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.

Where do I find the exact rules for Papua New Guinea?

In LawsTravels: open Papua New Guinea, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. Your home country is free; a destination is unlocked for the price of a coffee.