Moving to French Polynesia
Visas and residency, citizenship, tax, company and banking, cost of living and the places to live in French Polynesia, in one place.
PolynesiaThinking about moving to French Polynesia?
Here's how long you can stay, the ways to live there for good, what you'd pay in tax and what everyday life costs, each figure from an official source.
In this guide, I'll show you:
- How long you can stay, by passport
- How tax works, with the rates
- What it costs, and the internet and safety
- The basics: capital, currency and languages
Pick your passport at the top of the page, and the stay rule shows for you.
TL;DRKey takeaways
French Polynesia at a glance
How long can you stay in French Polynesia?
It depends on the passport you hold.
For any other passport, pick yours at the top, or see every country on the visa-free countries map.
Tax in French Polynesia
French Polynesia has no personal income tax.
See where it sits among every country on the territorial tax map.
The main rates:
- Corporate tax – 25%
Where you're a tax resident usually comes down to days.
Count yours with the 183-day rule calculator.
Company and banking
Compare the banks and cards that work for people abroad in the bank account finder.
Move money for less with the money transfer comparison.
Many people who live abroad run a US LLC instead; check yours with the US LLC for non-residents checker.
Is French Polynesia safe?
The US State Department rates French Polynesia Level 1 ("Exercise normal precautions", updated 2024-12-02), the same level it gives Austria, Portugal, Japan and Australia. Level 1 is normal travel. Some advisories are stricter for parts of a country, so read the full advisory before you go.
For a second view, the UK has no warning against travel.
See every country's level on the travel advisory map.
Internet in French Polynesia
In M-Lab's open speed tests across French Polynesia over the last 12 months, half came in above 14 Mbps download.
The fastest quarter of lines came in above 36 Mbps, closer to a good fiber connection (79,042 tests).
Test your own line when you arrive with my internet speed test.
French Polynesia: the basics
| What | French Polynesia |
|---|---|
| Capital | Papeete |
| Currency | CFP franc (XPF) |
| Languages | French, Tahitian |
| Population | about 277,679 |
From GeoNames' country data (CC BY 4.0).
More tools for French Polynesia
- Passport index and compare passports
- Time zone overlap calculator for calls with home
- eSIM finder for data when you land
- Card fees abroad calculator before you spend
French Polynesia FAQs
It depends on your passport.
Pick yours at the top of the page to see the days, and whether you need a visa first.
Not that I've found in official sources as of 2026-09-29.
The digital nomad visa finder lists every country that has one.
French Polynesia has no personal income tax.
Check the details with a tax adviser before you move.
The US State Department rates it Level 1.
Levels 1 and 2 are everyday travel; read the full advisory for any regions it warns about.
Half of M-Lab's tests there came in above 14 Mbps download over the last 12 months.
The fastest quarter of lines passed 36 Mbps.
The CFP franc (XPF).
The main languages are French and Tahitian.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist & AI OS builder
Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
Navid.me is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
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