French Polynesia - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: South Pacific
Local Time: Gambier Islands: GMT-9
Marquesas Islands: GMT-9
Rest of French Polynesia: GMT-10
Capital City: Papeete
Population: 270,000
Area: 4,167 square km, 3,660 square miles.
Language(s): French, Tahitian, some English
Dialling Code: 689
Emergency: Police: 17. Fire: 18. Ambulance: 15
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence required
Electricity: 110/220V AC 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Pacific Franc (XPF)
Notes: XPF: 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000
Coins: XPF: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Major credit cards are generally accepted. Travellers cheques are recommended

Opening Hours
Bank: 0800-1530 Mon-Fri
Office: 0800-1600 Mon-Fri, 0800-1200 Sat
Shops: 0730-1130 & 1330-1700/1800 Mon-Fri, 0730-1130 Sat

Public Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day, 5 Mar Missionary Day, 2 Apr Good Friday, 5 Apr Easter Monday, 1 May Labour Day, 8 May Victory Day, 13 May Ascension, 23 May Whit Sunday, 24 May Whit Monday, 29 Jun Anniversary of Internal Autonomy, 14 Jul Fall of the Bastille, 15 Aug Assumption, 1 Nov All Saints' Day, 11 Nov Armistice Day, 25 Dec Christmas Day.

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in French, some executives speak English, particularly those connected with tourism

Tipping: Not customary

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt infants under 1 year.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, tetanus, typhoid*
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks:

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from day of departure

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:

1) Nationals of France

2) For stays up to 3 months by:
a) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen, British National (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizen (containing the right to abode label issued by the UK)
b) Nationals of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR passports), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR passports), Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland & Vatican City

3) For stays up to 1 month by nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Korea (South), Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Singapore, United States, Uruguay

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:

1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country within 3 hours by the same aircraft without leaving the airport

Exit Permits

Special Notes

All visitors must hold a return ticket, except permanent residents of Tahiti, aliens holding a 10 year residence card for metropolitan France & nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland Rep, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden & United Kingdom

Climate

Warm all year round with brisk sea breezes. Rain falls throughout the year, hot season Nov-Mar

Clothing

Lightweights all year with warmer outer clothing for evenings. Light rainwear required all year

Charts for Tahiti

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 32 32 32 32 31 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 Min Temp (C) 22 22 22 22 21 21 20 20 21 21 22 22 Humidity am (%) 82 82 84 85 84 85 83 83 81 79 80 81 Humidity pm (%) 77 77 78 78 78 79 77 78 76 76 77 78 Rainfall (mm) 252 244 429 142 102 76 53 43 53 89 150 249

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Tahiti Tourisme
3rd Floor Colechurch House
1 London Bridge walk
London, SE1 2SX
tel: +44 20 7367 0933
fax: +44 20 7407 3810
website: www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk

Embassy
Represented in the UK by:
Consulate General of France
21 Cromwell Place
London, SW7 2EW
tel: +44 20 7073 1250, 0906 550 8940* (visa enq)
hours: 0845-1130 (Mon-Fri)
* calls cost 1 per minute