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French Polynesia
Country Specific Information
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August 13, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: 
French Polynesia is a French overseas territory located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups
of islands, the largest and most populated of which is Tahiti. Tourist facilities are well developed and are available on
the major islands. For more information visit Tahiti’s web site at http://www.go-to-tahiti.com/.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport valid for six months beyond duration of stay is required. Visas are not required for stays of up to one month.
Extensions for up to three months may be granted locally by applying to the border police at the airport or to the Haut Commissionaire
(The French High Commissioner). The application for an extension must be presented with a fiscal stamp, which can be purchased
in a post office. For further information about entry requirements, travelers, particularly those planning to enter by sea,
may contact the French Embassy at 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007, telephone 202-944-6200, fax 202-944-6212,
or visit the Embassy of France's web site at http://www.info-france-usa.org/. Additional information is available at GIE Tourisme, Fare Manihini, Boulevard Pomare, B. P. 65, Papeete, French Polynesia,
Telephone: (689) 50-57-00, Fax: (689) 43-66-19.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information.
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SAFETY AND SECURITY: For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Internet site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, including the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll- free in the U.S. and Canada, or for overseas callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll -line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.
For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see
the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Although French Polynesia has one of the lowest crime rates within France and its territories, petty crime, such as pick-pocketing
and purse snatching, is occurring more frequently. Visitors should secure valuables at all times. Common sense precautions
should be taken, especially at night, to avoid becoming a target of opportunity.
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INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Consular Agent
in French Polynesia at (689) 42- 65-35. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local
police, please contact the U.S. Consular Agent in French Polynesia for assistance. The U.S. Consular Agent can, for example,
assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred.
Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, the Consular Agent
can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney, if needed.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in French Polynesia is 15 for ambulance and medical emergencies, 18 for fire,
and 17 for police.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical treatment is generally good on the major islands, but is limited in more remote or less populated areas. Patients
with emergencies or serious illnesses are often referred to facilities on Tahiti for treatment. In Papeete, the capital of
Tahiti, two major hospitals and several private clinics provide 24 hour medical service. Serious medical problems requiring
hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Although some doctors and hospitals
are beginning to accept credit card and U.S. insurance payments, others still expect immediate cash payment for health services.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection,
may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at
http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restirictions for visitors to or foreign residents of French
Polynesia.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad
to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
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TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United
States. The information below concerning French Polynesia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally
accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
While most major roads are paved, many secondary roads are not. In urban areas, traffic is brisk and all types of vehicles
and pedestrians jockey for space on narrow streets. Crosswalks are marked, and the law requires that motor vehicles stop
for pedestrians; however, this is not always done. Tourists should exercise caution when driving, particularly at night.
While extensive sections of the road circumnavigating Tahiti have streetlights, many streets do not. Pedestrians walk along
the sides of darkened roadways and sometimes cross in unmarked areas. Bicycles and mopeds are frequently driven without headlights
and taillights. Tourists who rent bicycles or mopeds should be particularly attentive to their driving and the driving of
others and not underestimate the danger, even on roads with little traffic.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
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AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: Civil aviation operations in French Polynesia fall under the jurisdiction of French authorities. The U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of France’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of France’s air carrier operations. For further
information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa/.
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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: French customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from French Polynesia
of some items. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. or one of the French consulates in the
United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. The web site for French customs is http://www.finances.gouv.fr/. Goods arriving on pleasure yachts must be declared at the first point of arrival in French Polynesia. Arms, animals, alcohol,
cigarettes, cameras, etc., must be included in this declaration.
Please see our Customs Information
U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passports with them at all times, so that if questioned by local
officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available. If detained, U.S. citizens are encouraged to request
that the U.S. Consular Agent in French Polynesia be notified.
The cyclone season is November through April. French Polynesia is located in an area of high seismic activity. Although
the probability of a major earthquake occurring during an individual trip is remote, earthquakes do occur. General information
regarding disaster preparedness is available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site, and from the U.S. Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) home page at http://www.fema.gov/.
Some visitors to French Polynesia have reported problems using ATMs with certain kinds of credit and debit cards at ATM machines.
Visitors should verify that their cards can be used in French Polynesia.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly
from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties
for breaking the law can be more severe than those in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating French Polynesia’s
laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession of, use of, or trafficking in illegal
drugs in French Polynesia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in
sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in
the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on intercountry adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children’s Issues web pages.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: There is no U.S. eEmbassy or cConsulate in French Polynesia. However, there is a U.S. Consular Agent in French Polynesia
who can provide assistance. Americans living or traveling to French Polynesia are encouraged to register with the local U.S.
Consular Agent or the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, or through the State Department’s travel registration web site and to obtain up-to-date information on travel and security within French Polynesia. Americans without Internet access may
register directly with the nearest eEmbassy or cConsulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the eEmbassy
or cConsulate to contact them in case of emergency. To contact the U.S. Consular Agent, call (689) 42 65 35 or fax (689)
50 80 96 or e-mail usconsul@mail.pf. The U.S. Consular Agency is located at Centre Tamanu Iti, 1er etage, Punaauia, B.P. 10765, 98711 Paea, Polynesie Francaise.
The U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, which oversees the U.S.Consular Agent in French Polynesia, can also provide assistance for
U.S. citizens. It is located in the capital city of Suva at 31 Loftus Street, P.O. Box 218, telephone 679-331-4-466, fax
679-3302-267. Information may also be obtained by visiting the Embassy’s home page at http://fiji.usembassy.gov/.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for French Polynesia dated February 219, 20087, to update sections on Entry/Exit
Requirement, Safety and SecurityInformation for Victims of Crime and , Medical Facilities and Health Information, and Traffic Safety and Road Conditions.
