Papua New Guinea expat guide

Papua new guinea & Port Moresby expat survival guide

It’s not for nothing that Papua New Guinea (PNG) is known as the 'Land of the Unexpected;' so it’s quite likely your perceptions of the country may be wrong. Most people only know Papua New Guinea from what they’ve seen on National Geographic - usually a program about painted tribesmen living in a remote and unexplored topical jungle. But for expats working in Papua New Guinea things are a little different, and in regard to expat jobs, things are changing in PNG - fast! For one thing, PNG is no longer a poor backwater for expat jobs; it’s now a thriving location with many high paying posts for expats.

International Jobs for Expats in PNG

Papua New Guinea has an $18+ billion LNG project underway providing thousands of well paying jobs. Not surprisingly this has made working in Papua New Guinea very popular with expats as it's now a job Mecca for expats of all nationalities. The huge investment on the project means that working in Papua New Guinea now provides for many more well paid expat job opportunities in the thriving oil, gas, construction and support industry sectors of PNG.

Working In Papua New Guinea

When you are looking at international jobs, deciding to take an expat job and work in PNG can be difficult because it’s hard to get factual information about working in Papua New Guinea - and of course living in Papua New Guinea – where life as an expat is very different from other countries. This is why the Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide was developed and written.

Learn how to be an expat and work in PNG, with the PNG Expat Guide.

Life as an expat in Papua New Guinea

Like any country that has large numbers of its workforce drawn from overseas, Papua New Guinea has many positive and negative aspects for life as an expat. A major concern for many expats is the country's security problems, and of course the perception many have that the country is very poor with few job opportunities with a high expat salary. Although there are security concerns, happily, lucrative job opportunities for expats abound.

expat Jobs in PNG

After many years of little growth, the long awaited multi-billion LNG project has transformed PNG into a land full of positive job opportunities for expat jobs. What’s more, as few know about the job opportunities in this fascinating country, most expat jobs come with a lucrative expat salary. In fact, companies involved with the development of new infrastructure for the many ongoing project spin-offs are finding it difficult to find enough expats to fill open job positions, which provides huge - and very lucrative - job opportunities for expats of all nationalities wanting expat jobs in PNG.   

Job opportunities for expat jobs in PNG now abound, use the PNG expat guide to take advantage of them

There is of course a slight catch. You see, if you want to cash in on the new expat job opportunities in PNG, or you have dreams or plans to move overseas to live and work in what many feel is an unexplored tropical paradise, you need to know the facts of life as an expat working in Papua New Guinea. This means learning something about the country itself, the local customs, the people, jobs in PNG, the local work environment, PNG expat work contracts, PNG employment opportunities, and of course the many pitfalls to be wary of and learn how to avoid. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy getting all of this information - because to be an expat in PNG you need much more than just ‘pretty’ tourist details, you need the down-to-earth nitty-gritty truth about life as an expat working in Papua New Guinea.

Find relevant information on the lifestyle and expat jobs in PNG from the PNG expat guide.

If you are looking for job opportunities in PNG and perform a web search, you’ll find websites galore and a number of excellent books available on Papua New Guinea. The problem is that all these will tell you about are the tourist wonders of Papua New Guinea, or the country’s ecology, wildlife and tribal culture. You’ll find information abounds on the best dive spots, locations and facilities of exotic island resorts, hiking the Kokoda trail or attending one of PNG’s famous cultural extravaganzas. Unfortunately, outside of this tourist hype and academic research there is little information of any relevance or real use to you if you’re looking for expat jobs in PNG or thinking of living and working in Papua New Guinea. It is to fill this information void that the Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide was developed.

Learn how to be an expat and work in PNG, with the PNG Expat Guide.

Why you need a PNG Expat Guide

The simple truth is you may have a very hard time finding information of direct relevance to you, your work and to life as an expat in PNG. The Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide provides the information you need - along with a host of helpful tips from in-country PNG expats. They pass on their mistakes so you can avoid learning lessons the hard way. Whether you want to be a working expat grabbing a high expat salary, or just want to spend some time in Papua New Guinea, you can now get all the relevant, up-to-date, information you need.

Use the expat guide for relevant up-to-date information for life as an expat and work in PNG

It’s sad, but many expats arrive in Papua New Guinea after accepting an expat work contract that does not actually provide what they expected - either in real financial benefits or in regard to the housing and expat lifestyle they expected to enjoy. Other expats arrive unaware of many facts and details that could make their transition to life as an expat in PNG easier, less costly - and much less frustrating. Luckily, because of the Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide, you do not have to be one of these people.

Everything you need for a life as an expat in PNG

If you are a traveling expat, the guide covers everything you need from tips on local health, local security, traveling around the country - even the best places to eat, drink, and have fun in Port Moresby (POM). If you are (or want to be) a working expat, enjoying a high expat salary from PNG’s job opportunities, the guide's comprehensive coverage is ideal for you. The guide covers all of the topics, advice and information you need to know; everything from the different expat contract types, to tips on what to check on expat work contracts to get the right contract for your needs, up to date information on the true cost of living in PNG, and the different lifestyles available depending on your contract type – and the drawbacks that some contract wording can have on the true expat lifestyle you can enjoy as a working expat in Papua New Guinea.

Practical, experience-based advice

Professionally written by an expat with years of specific experience in developing and performing expat country orientations, teaching  newcomers to PNG what they need to know, the expat guide not only covers the basic facts and information expats (and most expat employers and multi-national companies) need, it also answers the questions so many new expats have – but often don't ask or can’t find the answers to until it’s too late!

Guide Coverage

Thoughtfully laid out to best present topics, the Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide is a must read if you plan on working in Papua New Guinea. Whether you’re looking for expat jobs in PNG, considering taking up an expat job, visiting and plan to tour the country, or even just plan on spending some time in Port Moresby, the guide ensure that you have all the information, tips and advice you need.

Part 1: The Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide starts out by covering the information you need on PNG itself; the people, food, history and culture - all important knowledge for those visiting or working in Papua New Guinea. Knowing these facts about this fascinating country will help you to understand how the country runs -- and help you to avoid some common expat blunders and help you to fit into the life here a little easier. Think of part 1 as a quick ‘PNG Culture 101’ lesson – forming the first part of your PNG Expat Survival course.

Avoid the common blunders made by most new expats in PNG  

Part 2: For those in expat jobs, moving to another country often involves having to check through reams of bureaucratic legalese - written in such a way that it is often only understandable to those with a law degree. So, in Part 2 the guide cuts through the reams of official government and company ‘legalese.’ It starts by explaining in plan English what different types of expat work contracts are common for the expat jobs in PNG, and what these contracts involve. Too many expatriates come to Papua New Guinea not understanding that the work contract they accept sets the parameters of the lifestyle they can realistically have – both in PNG and from the money they send back to their home countries. The guide gives you what may be eye-opening insights into what is realistically available for expatriates, both those who are working in Papua New Guinea full-time on resident contracts, and for those who only spend part of their time in country, working rotational shift contracts.

For jobs in PNG, know what contract details to check

The guide then goes on to explain, (in English understandable even to us mortals without law degrees), the different types of visas and documentation you need for entering and working in Papua New Guinea, both for the various expat jobs, and for non-working spouses and children. It then goes on to explain what you should bring, (and why you should bring it), and what you shouldn’t bring (and why you shouldn’t bring it).

Make sure you get the right visa for working in Papua New Guinea

Part 3: When you become an expatriate anywhere, there are many facts and snippets of local knowledge that are useful, often even essential to know no matter - whatever expat jobs you perform. And working in Papua New Guinea is no different.

Part 3 of the Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide covers what you, as an expat really need to know and understand both before and immediately after arrival. Whatever your expat job, this includes what you need to know and check before signing a work contract…  what you need to do and considered prior to arriving in PNG… when moving you family or belongings to and from PNG… and what you need to understand during your settling in period. By learning these topics - and taking note of the tips learned from other expats hard experience, you will save yourself many unpleasant surprises, suffer less frustration, and avoid many of the mistakes and problems common to those who chose life as an expat in PNG.

What you need before and on arrival for life as an expat working in Papua New Guinea

You will also learn the truth about available expat housing and the general housing packages available for the different types of expat jobs in PNG -- resident and rotational, as well as what you must check to avoid the pitfalls - especially before signing your work contract or bringing your family to live in Papua New Guinea.

Expat jobs in PNG have different benefits and housing, Use the PNG expat guide to find what’s available

You will also learn about important local security and personal safety issues… why these are so important when working in Papua New Guinea… and actions to take to reduce the chances of having to be too worried about your safety. Health and medical information chapters are also in part 3. These forewarn and hopefully forearm you, so you can take the actions required to prevent any needless mishaps - simply through heeding some suggestions from other expats experiences. In the hot and steamy climate, this is all crucial advice in keeping yourself and your family happy and healthy while you’re living and working in Papua New Guinea.

PNG expat guide tell you the facts on local security and health conditions when living and working in Papua New Guinea

Everyone has to eat, and knowing what to expect – the good, the bad, (and in PNG, frankly the sometimes downright ugly), may well prevent you upset and frustration when dinning or shopping while in Port Moresby and elsewhere in Papua New Guinea. Part 3 ends with some basic but important business information, including office and shop hours, banks, using local ATMs and currency exchanges, local mobile phones, the types of driving licenses available in PNG - and how to obtain them, traveling around the country, (an important topic itself for many expat jobs). Knowing this information is essential for your life as an expat working in Papua New Guinea.

Part 4: This part of the Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide builds on topics from part 3, delving deeper into life as an expat working in Papua New Guinea. A host of helpful knowledge and experience to aid you and your family fit into the local expat lifestyle – without too many bumps in the road.

Use the PNG expat guide to learn how to fit into the local expat lifestyle – without too many bumps in the road!

Coverage begins by explaining with light humor how you should dress and treat local people in various social and work situations. This is followed by some plain talking words of wisdom on matters of the heart, (or more truthfully, a somewhat smaller organ lower on the body that has caused problems for so many expats not used to local ways). Finance, the cost of living in PNG -- and how much you need to budget for monthly outgoings follows next, along with some practical and effective ideas on how you can reduce your overall monthly cash needs - without downgrading your life as an expat. More truths are reveled with some down-to-earth local knowledge on dealing with PNG domestic staff - after all, life as an expat wouldn’t be the same if domestic help were not around to make life easier (at least sometimes).

Practical and effective advice and tips for life as an expat working in Papua New Guinea

All things must come to an end, and part 4 of the Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide rounds off with pages of pertinent reminders and a host of extra expat-to-expat tips drawn from many experienced in-country PNG expats. Follow these tips and you will make your life as an expat working in Papua New Guinea much easier -- and certainly reduce the common hassles you face (as well as help you keep more of your cash in your pocket).

To end the guide, there is an appendix section of Useful Information, including sections of maps of Port Moresby, and many hard to find local website links. As an added bonus, details of the popular eating, drinking and entertainment venues for expats in Port Moresby (or POM as it’s known to all locals and in-country PNG expats) have been added. 

All in all, no matter what expat jobs you seek to perform, the Papua New Guinea & Port Moresby Expat Survival Guide ensures that you have all of the information you need to better enjoy – and profit from – your life as an expat living and working in Papua New Guinea.  

About the expat guide