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Visas & entry
French citizens may enter freely. Many visitors from the EU/EEA, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand can generally visit visa-free for short stays, commonly up to 90 days, but French Polynesia has entry rules distinct from metropolitan France and a Schengen visa is not automatically sufficient. Check the current French Polynesian/French consular rules for your nationality before booking.
Getting in
- Papeete–Tahiti Faaʻa International Airport: This is the territory’s essential international gateway and the only realistic starting point for almost every independent itinerary. International arrivals connect onward by Air Tahiti flights or the ferry to Moʻorea; plan an overnight on Tahiti if your connection is awkward.
- Port of Papeete, Tahiti: Cruise passengers and a small number of yacht travelers arrive here. It is useful only if your ship itinerary already includes Tahiti, not as a practical substitute for flying into PPT.
Getting around
Air Tahiti is the backbone for inter-island travel, and domestic flight schedules should shape the itinerary rather than the other way around. Use the ferry for Tahiti–Moʻorea; rent a car or scooter on the larger high islands, where public transport is thin and sightseeing without wheels is frustrating. Atolls and islands such as Tahaʻa, Maupiti and parts of the Tuamotus run on boat transfers, guesthouse logistics and limited schedules, so leave slack rather than chaining tight connections.
Money
The currency is the CFP franc (XPF), pegged to the euro. Cards work at resorts, larger restaurants and many shops on Tahiti and Bora Bora, but carry cash for pensions, small islands, markets and boat operators; ATMs become scarce fast outside the main circuit. Service is generally included, so tipping is appreciated rather than expected.
Book before you land
Air Tahiti domestic flights in July–September, especially Bora Bora, Maupiti and Marquesas routes · Heiva i Tahiti grandstand performances in Papeete in July · Limited-capacity dive packages and boats for Rangiroa’s Tiputa Pass and Fakarava’s North/South Pass during peak season
- Treat Papeete as a working capital and logistics hub, not a beach resort; traffic and airport-area hotels are part of the reality.
- Book domestic flights before locking in hotels, particularly for Maupiti, the Marquesas and multi-island itineraries with little schedule backup.
- On small islands, a full pension or dive boat can effectively close off your plans; confirm transfers, meal arrangements and operating days in advance.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, rash protection and respect for marine wildlife matter: do not touch coral, rays, turtles or whales, and choose operators that keep proper distance.
- French and Tahitian are the official languages; English is common in resorts but less reliable in family pensions and remote archipelagos.
- Sunday can be quiet: shops, restaurants, transport and excursions may run reduced hours or not at all.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this country.