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Visas & entry
French Polynesia is French territory but not part of the Schengen Area, so do not assume Schengen rules or time in metropolitan France applies. U.S., Canadian, EU and Australian visitors can generally visit visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days in 180, subject to passport and onward-travel requirements; UK and other passport holders should check France-Visas and French Polynesian authorities before booking. U.S. transit rules, including ESTA where applicable, apply if routing via the United States.
Getting in
- Tahiti–Faa’a International Airport, beside Papeete: This is the overwhelmingly dominant international arrival point and the hub for domestic flights and the Tahiti–Moorea ferry. Expect a long-haul Pacific arrival—Los Angeles is about eight hours away—and leave buffer time rather than forcing a same-day outer-island connection.
Getting around
Fly between most islands: Air Tahiti is the main network and Air Moana serves a smaller set of routes. Multi-island passes can help on price, but only after checking real flight schedules; a cheap pass does not fix a bad sequence. Use the frequent, roughly 30-minute ferry for Tahiti–Moorea, and rent a car on Tahiti or Moorea if you want to see more than your hotel area.
Money
Currency, card acceptance, cash needs and tipping practices are not specified in the dossier.
Book before you land
Fakarava south-pass dive excursions · Rangiroa and Fakarava pass dives, particularly tide-dependent departures
- Treat French Polynesia entry rules separately from Schengen rules.
- If transiting the United States, confirm U.S. transit authorization even if French Polynesia itself is visa-free for you.
- Do not schedule tight inter-island connections: airport transfers, baggage limits, hotel boats and land transfers make short flights operationally long.
- For Tahiti–Moorea, take the ferry, but do not rely on a tight same-day connection after a long-haul arrival.
- Book diving around tides and weather before committing to inter-island flights, especially in Fakarava.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this region.