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French Polynesia : Formalities

Clearance

Papeete is the main port of entry and all yachts have to finalise their clearance here. However, because of the distances and sailing conditions, the outer islands have been made informal ports of entry, where yachts may initially clear in.

On arrival in one of the other islands, yachts should report to the local police (Gendarmerie). Failure to report may lead to a fine.

The gendarme in the first port of arrival normally issues a document, one copy has to be mailed to Tahiti and one copy has to be presented in every other island visited on the way to Tahiti.

Even on islands without a resident gendarme, the captain should take the document to the local police officer to signal his passage.

For crew who do not require a visa in advance (for visits of up to 3 months), there is a period of grace before they are expected to clear into Papeete (Tahiti) and complete proper formalities. At this point they can apply for a visa for a longer stay. The period of grace will depend on nationality, but is at least 30 days. See immigration for more details.

It must be stressed that yachts which made their initial clearance into a port other than Papeete will not be able to obtain clearance when leaving French Polynesia, if leaving from another port than Papeete, unless they have obtained their formal clearance from Papeete.

When making initial clearance, ensure that your papers note which island you will be departing from in order that arrangements can be made to retrieve your bond. See Documents and fees for more information.

Note: Customs patrol between the islands and if you see a Customs boat, it's likely you will be boarded and searched. Stopping illegally prior to clearing in officially at a port of entry, is not advised. See Fatu Hiva before Hiva Oa?

All boats are required to leave before November 1st and visas are only issued for the period between April and October.

last updated June 2009.

Immigration

All visitors need a passport valid for at least 6 months (except French nationals).

Residents of France and citizens and nationals of the United States, Canada, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, and Uruguay may visit for up to 1 month without a visa.

Nationals of Andorra, Australia, the European Union countries, Monaco, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, St. Martin, and the Vatican, can stay up to 3 months without a visa.

All other nationalities require a visa in advance, which can be obtained from French diplomatic missions, for example in Panama City.

EU citizens can apply to extend their 3 month stay by writing to the High Commissioner's office in Papeete (Direction de la Reglementation et du Controle de la Legalite - DRCL, BP115, Papeete, Tahiti, Tel. (+689) 54 27 13) at least 1 month before the end of the 3 month period, and apply for a "Carte de Sejour" resident card (up to 10 years). Only a special committee can deny an application and has to notify the applicant of the reason his demand was denied.

Non-EU citizens wishing to stay longer than 3 months must contact a French consulate 5 months BEFORE arriving and follow the procedure to obtain a "Carte de Sejour" (temporary resident card). Reasons will have to be provided as to why you wish to stay longer, as well as having to give an idea of what you plan to do during your stay, submit proofs of financial independence, etc. The consulate will transmit your demand to the High Commissioner in Papeete. The procedure is lengthy but legitimate requests are often granted.

Proof may be demanded of sufficient funds for one's stay in French Polynesia, especially for those arriving without a visa. In this case, without a return air ticket, each crew member will be required to deposit a significant bond.

Crew arriving by air to join a boat should make this clear on their visa application, also to immigration on arrival at the airport, who should give them both an entrance and an exit stamp in their passport. The exit stamp is needed to clear out by boat.

Last updated June 2009.

Customs

Firearms and ammunition must be declared. If staying less than three days they can be kept on board, otherwise must be bonded by the authorities in each island until departure.

Alcohol and tobacco products must be declared.

Yachts may remain for 6 months, extendable to a year without paying duty. Time during which the boat is left in dry-storage while the crew is out of the country can be exempted from counting towards the year's stay if prior arrangements are made with customs. Boatyards and marinas may have arrangements with customs to that effect.

It is reported that a new cruising permit (to replace the actual import duty - "papetisation") may soon be introduced. Currently, those boats staying over 1 year in any 2 year period are subjected to customs importation tax (15 to 37% of the assessed value of the vessel).

The import of plants and grains is forbidden. Recently, the transport of fruits between the islands in the Marquesas has begun to be controlled as they have started to have problems with some fruit flies. Check with the local agriculture inspection when landing. Yachts coming from the western Pacific, such as Fiji, Tonga or the Cooks, may have to be fumigated. On arrival they should anchor off and clear formalities before tying to the quay.

Bringing in spare parts/equipment: French custom law requires that a special custom's approved agent be used in order to deal with them. Except for parcels having a value inferior to about 150 US$, one must go through an agent and pay their fee (even if one is using companies such as Fedex, DHL). In the past the customs at Faaa airport were more tolerant of visiting yachts but it appears now the law is being more rigorously applied, even to French yachts.

Last updated November 2008.

Health

French Polynesia is very well covered by health care with hospitals and many doctors, specialists and dentists in the most populated islands, infirmeries with qualified nurses in even remotely populated areas. Emergency air transportation is in place if necessary. Many cruisers have been well taken care off so one should not hesitate to contact medical help if needed.

Staphilococcus infections are prevalent and usually start from a small cut. The cuts should be cleaned out well, covered with an antibiotic cream and treated until healed, which can take as long as two weeks.

Filariosis (elephantiasis) is still known to exist in some islands. There is a preventative medicine, which gives protection for a year (only necessary if you stay over 6 months.

Documents

Foreign yachts may be asked to leave French Polynesia before the start of the cyclone season in November, but preferably earlier.

Bond: Since the end of 1999 citizens of EU countries arriving by yacht are no longer required to post a bond (Article 3 of law no. 590 of 24 November 1999). Each person from a non-EU country on board the yacht must deposit in a French Polynesian bank a sum of money equivalent to a one-way air ticket back to their home country. On arrival, arrangements have to be made immediately to have money telexed or to pay money into a bank. There are banks in the Marquesas (Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa). If arriving there as one's first landfall in French Polynesia, and if planning to clear in Papeete in less than 1 month from one's first arrival, it may be possible to wait until arrival in Tahiti to post the bond.

Because of currency fluctuation, one should insist that the money is not changed into the local currency (Pacific Franc), but kept in US dollars, so that the refund is made in the same currency as the deposit. This is possible at Banque de Polynesie or Banque Socredo (check commission rates as these can vary from bank to bank). There is a handling fee of $20 and a 1 per cent charge on the total amount.

This money is normally refunded on the day before departure from Tahiti Nui. If the bond is posted in Papeete, and one leaves from Bora Bora, one must obtain a letter from the Papeete immigration officer confirming the bond. The letter and the receipt must be presented for the refund. Refunds can be in cash, or travellers' cheques, although the latter must be ordered in advance.

Yachts staying only a short period (up to one month) may be able to have the bond requirement waived. The bond can be avoided by buying tickets for flights back to one's own country. The unused tickets can be refunded, although one may have to pay a handling charge of approximately 5 per cent. If resorting to this solution, one should make sure that the tickets are refundable and also that the issuing agency will actually authorise a refund.

A reciprocal ham license can be obtained on the spot and for free at the phone administration office in many islands (OPT). It can be renewed every 3 months, up to 1 year).

Fees

There is a charge for visas granted on arrival. $35US in 2008.

There are port charges (in Papeete harbour).

If arriving without a visa and no return air ticket, a bond equal to the air fare to your home country must be deposited per person. This bond can be deposited in cash, travellers cheques, credit card or by electronic transfer. Ensure that the bank you use has a branch on the island from which you will be departing. If the bond is in cash, ensure this branch is advised of the fact as the outlying branches do not normally carry large amount of cash. The bond is normally returned in the same currency in which the deposit was made. There will be a handling fee.

Alternatively, purchase a redeamable air ticket direct from the airline.

Last updated November 2008.

Restrictions

Charter: Visiting yachts may not charter in French Polynesia. People arriving by air to charter a boat need only a valid passport, return air ticket and a visa where applicable.

The approaches to the atolls of Mururoa, and Fangataufa and the area around them are prohibited areas, classed as military zones.

The movement of yachts is restricted in certain lagoons in the Tuamotus where there are pearl farms. Generally, one should avoid anchoring near oyster beds.

Alcohol consumption is a problem in many of the islands and visiting boats are urged not to dispense drinks freely to locals.

All fruit trees, including coconut trees, are privately owned. Fruit must not be taken without prior permission. Similarly, reefs inside lagoons are owned by families, so fishing should only be done after having asked permission to do so. Often, if asked, they give freely or gladly in exchange for goods or services.

Pets

Animals on-board: a letter must to be sent to the Minister of Agriculture to ask special authorization for the animal to go ashore at the end of its 6-month quarantine (time at sea counts). You will need to send copies of current vaccinations (rabies vaccination done within the last year), tattoo or micro-chip documents, special vaccination against "Echinococcus Sp." (you can get Drontal or Drontic by mail from Papeete), a vet certificate that the animal is treated against ticks, copies of your exit stamps from the last country where the animal was allowed ashore and from your entry stamp into French Polynesia. The Service de Developpement Rural in Nuku Hiva will help you with these formalities. Then the animal has to be seen by a certified vet before getting permission to go ashore. Since there is no vet in the Marquesas at this time, you have to see the vet from Papeete who only makes the occasional visit. Without that certificate, the animal will not be allowed ashore. Contact Dr Valerie Antras sdevrural@mail.pf at the government service for the current procedure.

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