French Polynesia Travel Guide

Visa and Entry

Entry to French Polynesia is easy. If you have a valid passport from the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Austria, or Switzerland then you don’t need a visa before arrival and can freely stay in the country for up to 90 days. One important thing to remember is that your passport needs to be valid for six months after the date you wish to leave French Polynesia, with two blank pages. If not, you may be refused entry.

Cash and Currency

The currency of French Polynesia is the Comptoirs Français du Pacific or French Pacific Franc (XPF). You can easily exchange cash on your cruise ship, in your hotel, in Tahiti-Faa’a airport, or banks that are located in all the major towns. ATMS are also available at all major towns and cities. 

However, it is always a good idea to carry cash, as many market stands, food trucks (such as the wonderful Roulottes of Papeete) and shops (especially on the smaller islands) are unlikely to accept cards.

Customs, Formalities and Regulations

There are some minor customs considerations you should be aware of before entering or exiting French Polynesia. Bringing pets to the country is extremely difficult and is best avoided as they need to be microchipped, vaccinated against contagious diseases, and have a detailed health certificate. You also need to apply for an import permit with the Biosafety Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. Many breeds of dog are banned outright. 
You will need an import license for any telecommunications equipment that you are bringing to the country.

While in French Polynesia, you might want to buy some pearl jewelry. Before doing so, you should be aware that French Polynesia has strict quality control measures in place to limit or prohibit poor quality pearls leaving the country. Only buy pearls with a certificate of authenticity and, before you leave French Polynesia, be sure to notify customs officials that you are carrying pearls.

Language

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the name ‘French Polynesia’, the official language of the country is French, but there are a large number of indigenous Polynesian languages such as Tahitian (in fact, each island chain in the country has its own language). Although not an official language, English is quite widely spoken, particularly in islands popular with foreign visitors such as Tahiti.

Learning a few Tahitian phrases such as “Māuruuru roa!” (thank you very much) and “Ia ora na!” (Good morning) is a good way to connect with Polynesian locals.

Health Information

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that visitors to French Polynesia get the following vaccines before entering the country: Hepatitis A and B, Yellow Fever, Polio, Rabies, Meningitis, (MMR) Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), Chickenpox, Shingles, and Influenza.

Almost all trips to the country are incident-free, but if you need to call emergency services, make a note of the following numbers: 

Ambulance-68915
Fire- 689120
Police-68920

Getting Around

Except for around Papeete, there is very little public transportation infrastructure in French Polynesia. So, hiring a private car or a driver is recommended. It is relatively simple to get a ticket aboard a ferry or water taxi, with the most popular route being the 30-40 minute trip between Tahiti to the beautiful island of Moorea.

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