New Caledonia: Learning the New Visa Requirements the Hard Way

Entry Requirements

So, we learned (the hard way) that New Caledonia entry requirements had changed and were different than what we had researched.

We arrived at Port Moselle Marina and the office handled our Customs paperwork. Matt went in (I had to stay on the boat), he did not know any differently.

We thought, wow that is nice. However, they automatically put a 90 day stay for the cruising permit to match the 90 day immigration visas. Makes sense unless you need to extend your visa.

We had to extend our visas here (see Visa Extension Rigmarole below) due to a mechanical failure which made it unsafe for us to cross the Pacific. In ordering our part we realized we were never issued an IFT (Importation en Franchise Temporaire) which provides duty free importation. This is a custom-free and tax fee status granted to foreign registered boats.

So, I reached out to Customs (port-noumea@douane.finances.gouv.fr) and they informed me that our boat had overstayed! What? Evidently, the Marina Office put 90 days on the boat. Our Immigration visas were good for an additional two weeks as we flew out of the country but the boat was still on the same 90 day expiry date.

I was able to complete the Annex 3-19 form and got an extension at no cost.

So, what I would suggest is two-fold.

Since the Marina office will offer to complete the Customs paperwork, ensure that the office puts longer than 90 days on the Cruising Permit and specifically request the IFT.

Or, take matters into your own hands and complete the paperwork yourself at Customs.  You will need to complete the Annex 6-3 with the length of stay for the boat.  I would suggest putting longer than 90 days in case you have a similar issue to us. And while you are there, you can complete the IFT directly.

Neither of things are automatic. We mistakenly thought the boat had six months, but that is not correct.

Attached are the Annex 3-19, Annex 6-3 and a really handy brochure that Customs sent me.

Visa Extension Rigmarole

New Caledonia will ONLY extend a visa if you have a mechanical failure preventing you from leaving.

Immigration will ONLY extend your visa the last business day before the expiry date.

Engage Noumea Yacht Services at least two to three weeks prior to your visa expiry date. They speak French, have connections with the Haute-Commissariat office and will verify that you have all of the necessary documents in order. Email:  contact@nys@.nc or nys22s@hotmail.com; Phone:  +687.79.56.01 or +687.24.01.23

Required Documents:

• Cover Letter (in English and French) – Explaining why you are requesting the extension, what measures you have taken to ensure that you will leave as soon as mechanical repair is complete, the steps you have taken to get the repair done, basic information on the crew and boat, timeline in and out of New Caledonia and any useful photographs.
• Photo copy of Passport Bio page and stamped (entry/exit) pages for each person
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of boat insurance
• Proof of Financial funds to support yourself
• Boat registration
• Copy of New Caledonia Inward Clearance Certificate
• Proof of mechanical failure (letter from mechanic, or yard, or receipt of part, shipping information, etc..)
• Verify the expiry date of your Cruising Permit.  If it expires 90 days after your arrival, then complete the Annexe 3-19 form and get it approved PRIOR to submitting your visa extension request.

New Caledonia has declared that tourists have to wait until the last business day of their current visa to submit an extension.  The tourist has to be in the country for the full 90 days prior to extending the visa. This is due to a new regulation established in September 2026.

The Visa Extension is done at the Haute-Commisariat and you must have an appointment prior to arriving.

Haute-Commissariat De La Republique en Nouvelle-Caledonie
9 Bis rue de la Republique
BP C5, 9844, Noumea, Cedex
+687.200-200
www.nouvellecaledonie.gouv.fr
Hours: Mon-Fri: 0800-1600

Cost

The Visa Extension and Cruising Permit Extension were both free.  However, Noumea Yacht Services charges a fee per extension and an hourly fee to accompany you to the appointment.

Note:  It is best if you ask Noumea Yacht Services to schedule your Haute-Commissariat appointment for 0800.  The office gets very busy and they tend to run behind schedule.  You want to be the first person there when they open and the first appointment.

Boat Extension

You will need to extend your Cruising Permit if it expires 90 days after your arrival.  We made the incorrect assumption that we had six months on our boat. However, the Port Moselle Marina office completed the Customs document and put three months to match our visas (which evidently is normal).  It is fairly easy and straight forward to renew the boat stay.

Email: port-noumea@douane.finances.gouv.fr – everything needs to be in French.

Send the following information:

• Inward Clearance Certificate
• Boat Registration
• Photo copy of Captain’s passport
• Explanation for extension
• Proof of mechanical failure (we sent receipts)

They were very courteous and professional. They were able to extend our Cruising Permit for two months (which is what we asked for) and sent us an amended and stamped Annexe-3-19 (blank copy attached).

We included the Annexe 3-19 completed and stamped form with our visa extension request paperwork.

Christine Mitchell
SV Sugar Shack

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About the Author

Christine and her partner Matt live aboard their 47′ sailing catamaran, Sugar Shack an owner version Catana 471 which they bought in Turkey in 2010.  After spending many seasons in the Caribbean, they decided to move aboard permanently in 2016 and since then they have been thoroughly enjoying living and sailing around the world.

They have sailed from the Caribbean to Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao then onto Columbia, Panama, through the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Chile (down the entire country), Robinson Crusoe Island, Easter Island, French Polynesia, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu.  They have spent the last few months in New Caledonia and plan to return to New Zealand before continuing their journey westward towards Australia and Indonesia.

• Follow their journey at https://www.svsugarshack.com/
• Read their Portrait of a Cruiser story
• Read their report from Tuvalu and Kiribati

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