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French Polynesia: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors

97 harbours

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French Polynesia: 97 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.

Formalities

outside the EU customs unionCurrency: CFP franc (XPF), pegged to the euro at a fixed rate: 1,000 XPF equal 8.38 euros

Clearing in: Overseas country of France, associated with the EU but part of neither the EU nor the Schengen area, and with its own customs territory. Before arrival, file the joint declaration for customs and border police online (a new form for yachts arriving from 1 September 2026; confirmation takes one hour to five days), 48 hours ahead the maritime declaration of health (DMS) and the notification to the maritime authority via ESCALES, and a few days ahead the biosecurity declaration. Clear in at one of the 13 border crossing points: Papeete, Moorea (Afareaitu), Raiatea (Uturoa), Huahine (Fare), Bora Bora (Vaitape), Nuku Hiva (Taiohae), Ua Pou (Hakahau), Hiva Oa (Atuona), Tubuai, Rurutu, Raivavae, Rangiroa (Tiputa) and Mangareva (Rikitea). On Tahiti and Moorea customs at the port of Papeete and border police at Faa'a airport, on the other islands the gendarmerie; in the Marquesas stay at anchor and on board until cleared, yellow flag, according to sailors one to three days. Fakarava is not a port of entry. An agent is not compulsory.

Ausreise: Enter the departure date in the declaration and obtain clearance from the Port autonome de Papeete, or from the other islands at the gendarmerie of the last island.

Documents: Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland need no visa and no stamp, with a passport or identity card. Other visa-exempt nationals three months per six months; a Schengen visa is valid only with the endorsement 'valable pour la Polynésie française'. For crew from outside the EU, according to sailors, a bond equal to the return flight or a return ticket. From 1 September 2026 the yacht may stay duty-free for at most twelve months at a stretch (over 24 m length 36 months, yachts that arrived earlier 24 months), and only again after six months outside; conditions: owner not resident, foreign registration, no chartering. Diesel partly tax-free with a certificate from customs in Papeete.

Fees: No fee for clearance; the biosecurity inspection 1,000 XPF. Moorings in Bora Bora, according to sailors, 4,000 XPF per night; fees have been announced for registration via ESCALES.

Fairway: Buoyage follows IALA system A, as in Europe. Take the passes of the Tuamotus only at slack water: swell and wind prolong the outgoing current and shift slack water by one to two hours; the SHOM tables are more reliable than those in the plotter. Coral heads in the lagoons: only with the sun high and a lookout. Small tidal range. SHOM charts; on some charts the atolls are offset from their true position.

Nature: Anchor only in the designated zones; separate regulations for Maupiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha'a, Huahine, Bora Bora, Taiarapu Ouest and Faa'a with Punaauia. In Moorea the administrative court annulled the anchoring regulation on 15 July 2026; what applies there now is unclear. Fakarava (UNESCO biosphere reserve): quotas per anchoring zone, book for the night, no anchoring at the Sables Roses. Bora Bora: few anchoring zones, otherwise moorings. Whales from July to the end of October: without a permit keep 300 m away, closer than that at most 3 kn; whale watching in lagoons, bays and passes is prohibited. Biosecurity: food, plants and animals go ashore only after clearance, fruit stays sealed on board, dogs and cats only with an entry pass.

Tropical storm season: Cyclone season November to April: the Austral Islands are most at risk, the Tuamotus moderately, the Marquesas and the Society Islands little, and there almost only in El Niño years. In July 2025 a tsunami warning after the earthquake off Kamchatka: up to 4 m forecast in Nuku Hiva, boats were not allowed to leave.

Emergency: JRCC Tahiti: short number 16, +689 40 54 16 16; VHF channel 16 only around the Society Islands and Hiva Oa, otherwise 2182 kHz or satellite.

Sources: DPAM: Formalités d'arrivée par voie maritime en Polynésie française, Douane de Polynésie française: Formalités d'entrée et de sortie de navire, Direction de la biosécurité: Navires de plaisance, DPAM: Mouillage aux îles de la Société, JRCC Tahiti: contact, Auswärtiges Amt: France (with the overseas territories), travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)

Local winds

Harbours by cruising area

French Polynesia: Austral Islands (Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae)

French Polynesia: Gambier Islands (Mangareva)

French Polynesia: Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Maupiti)

French Polynesia: Marquesas (Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva)

French Polynesia: Tahiti and Moorea

French Polynesia: Tuamotus (Rangiroa, Fakarava, Makemo, Hao)

Frequently asked questions

French Polynesia: Do I need to clear in?

Overseas country of France, associated with the EU but part of neither the EU nor the Schengen area, and with its own customs territory. Before arrival, file the joint declaration for customs and border police online (a new form for yachts arriving from 1 September 2026; confirmation takes one hour to five days), 48 hours ahead the maritime declaration of health (DMS) and the notification to the maritime authority via ESCALES, and a few days ahead the biosecurity declaration. Clear in at one of the 13 border crossing points: Papeete, Moorea (Afareaitu), Raiatea (Uturoa), Huahine (Fare), Bora Bora (Vaitape), Nuku Hiva (Taiohae), Ua Pou (Hakahau), Hiva Oa (Atuona), Tubuai, Rurutu, Raivavae, Rangiroa (Tiputa) and Mangareva (Rikitea). On Tahiti and Moorea customs at the port of Papeete and border police at Faa'a airport, on the other islands the gendarmerie; in the Marquesas stay at anchor and on board until cleared, yellow flag, according to sailors one to three days. Fakarava is not a port of entry. An agent is not compulsory.

French Polynesia: Which documents do I need on board?

Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland need no visa and no stamp, with a passport or identity card. Other visa-exempt nationals three months per six months; a Schengen visa is valid only with the endorsement 'valable pour la Polynésie française'. For crew from outside the EU, according to sailors, a bond equal to the return flight or a return ticket. From 1 September 2026 the yacht may stay duty-free for at most twelve months at a stretch (over 24 m length 36 months, yachts that arrived earlier 24 months), and only again after six months outside; conditions: owner not resident, foreign registration, no chartering. Diesel partly tax-free with a certificate from customs in Papeete.

French Polynesia: What fees apply?

No fee for clearance; the biosecurity inspection 1,000 XPF. Moorings in Bora Bora, according to sailors, 4,000 XPF per night; fees have been announced for registration via ESCALES.

French Polynesia: What is the emergency number at sea?

JRCC Tahiti: short number 16, +689 40 54 16 16; VHF channel 16 only around the Society Islands and Hiva Oa, otherwise 2182 kHz or satellite.

French Polynesia: Which local winds blow there?

Maraamu.

French Polynesia: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?

Sailseer covers 97 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.