Port Moresby - Post Report Question and Answers
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Family members entering Papua New Guinea on a U.S. diplomatic passport are prohibited from working or even volunteering on the local economy. Most expat spouses work within their partners’ missions. A few Australian spouses are able to secure permission to teach at the international school, but work permits can take up to six months and you have to be employed before you can enter the country. A few spouses are able to maintain telecommuting jobs here with their overseas firms or freelance. Some spouses tutor for cash part-time. Local employees are not paid high wages. The average day laborer (gardener, guard, cleaner, nanny) makes less than $20 per day. Office workers are paid more, but not enough to compensate for the high cost of living. - Aug 2025
Not much available unless you are a qualified teacher or development professional. Although some spouses, after living in PIM for several years, got business-type jobs (HR manager and so on). - May 2019
There are a few positions available. As the post gets bigger, it will become a problem, because there is not much to do here for spouses. Telecommuting is difficult due to unreliable and slow internet. - Jun 2016
No. But if you have certain skills, there are international contracts to be had. A dependent can get a job, exit and re-enter with a new visa, but the search and visa process can take 6 to 9 months. Visa terms are adhered to. - Jun 2008
