Formalities

French Polynesia is French territory but not part of the Schengen area, so it sets its own entry rules. Most nationalities may visit for up to three months without a visa. For longer you need a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour), and you must apply before you arrive, at a French consulate at home or along your route. Crews leaving from Panama commonly apply at the French Embassy there: at the earliest three months and at the latest one month before you sail, around €99, and in most cases in person. EU citizens are exempt; Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein citizens are not.

Non-EU crew are also asked to show they can leave again: a repatriation bond, an onward air ticket, or a bond exemption letter. The bond can be waived for short stays of up to 30 days.

Send your maritime health declaration to the Bureau de la veille sanitaire (veille@sante.gov.pf) 48 hours before you arrive.

Separately, tell the Direction polynésienne des affaires maritimes (escales.dpam@administration.gov.pf) your first and last island and dates, the boat’s name and flag, who is skippering, and how many people are on board.

Fly the yellow Q flag until immigration, customs and phytosanitary formalities are all complete, then switch to the courtesy flag.

Your first landfall must be at an island with a gendarmerie. Currently: Tahiti–Papeete, Moorea–Afareaitu, Huahine–Fare, Raiatea–Uturoa, Bora Bora–Vaitape, Nuku Hiva–Taiohae, Hiva Oa–Atuona, Ua Pou–Hakahau, Rangiroa–Tiputa, Mangareva–Rikitea, Tubuai–Mataura, Rurutu–Moerai and Raivavae–Raima. Report to the gendarmerie there.

Foreign pleasure craft now use a single online declaration (déclaration unique plaisance) rather than separate paperwork at each desk. Crews report it makes clearing in quick.

Once cleared in you may cruise the whole of French Polynesia without further permits, but you must file a Declaration of Entry and Exit of Pleasure Craft for movements between islands and for any crew change. Keep the stamped paperwork safe; you’ll need it when you clear out.

French Polynesia is free of many pests and diseases and protects that seriously. Importing any animal, plant, or product of animal or vegetable origin is prohibited unless the Service du développement rural grants a waiver.

Taking your pet ashore isn’t permitted. Honey is banned outright. Food of animal origin must stay on board. Declare everything on arrival, including firearms, which are bonded.

Your boat enters under temporary admission. Confirm the permitted duration with customs in Papeete before you plan a long stay or a haul-out; it depends on your flag and your own residency status, and it’s the detail that most often catches crews out.

Sail Tahiti can store, maintain, manage or help sell your boat at the end of the season.