Maximum Alerts / French Polynesia

French PolynesiaLevel 1/4

Level published by the State Department on 01.12.2024 · read 16 October 2026 · source checked daily

French Polynesia — official level as of 16 October 2026: Level 1/4 ("Exercise Normal Precautions"), from the U.S. Department of State. Maximum Insurance covers this country: hospital settled directly, unlimited repatriation, EUR 1.5M, certificate on payment.

Four official readings
United StatesState Departmentsource ↗Our reference level — the one shown across this site
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
Level 1/4 — “Exercise Normal Precautions”levels 1 and 2 are advice to be careful, not travel restrictions
FranceFrance Diplomatiesource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: red or orange AREAS
Is the whole country advised against?Not read todayFrench advisory not retrieved this morning — this is not a No
our reading: Security page not retrieved right now
United KingdomFCDOsource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: travel statuses
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
our reading: no travel advised against
source reviewed 10 December 2025
SwitzerlandFDFAsource ↗Advisory cited by the Maximum policy
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
our reading: the FDFA advises against no travel

One source could not be read: the cell says so — that is not an answer.

The three readings that take a position agree: no restriction on the whole country.Our comparison reading: 27 September 2026

All 207 countries compared, advisory by advisory →

How we read these four advisories

Every country has its own scale, so we ask them all the same question: is the whole country advised against?

An advisory covering only areas of the country does not raise the answer: it stays “No”, and the area is shown in the relevant column.

The level shown on this page — and across this site — is the one published by the U.S. State Department, from 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). France and the United Kingdom publish their own advisories, with their own rules: they add to that level, they do not replace it.

Get covered — €990/yr
Regional map…
Level 1/4 — Exercise Normal Precautions Checked on 16 October 2026 · U.S. State Department
Country briefing
Get the PDF

Where are you right now in French Polynesia?

Doctors — Papeetē31
DrDocteur Antoine0.4 km

Rue Paul Gauguin Papeete

Google MapsDirections
DrConseil de l'Ordre des Médecins0.4 km

near Avenue du Prince Hīnoi

Google MapsDirections
DrCentre médical Prince Hīnoi0.5 km

Avenue du Prince Hīnoi Papeete
general;ophthalmology;dermatology;radiology

Google MapsDirections
DrDr. Fallevoz0.6 km

7 Place Notre-Dame
ophthalmology

DrFrédéric Précloux D.C. Chiropracteur0.7 km

4 Rue de Nansouty

DrCentre médical de Mamao0.9 km

near Avenue Georges Clemenceau

DrMaison du diabétique0.9 km

near Rue de l'Évêché

Google MapsDirections
DrCentre d'hygiène dentaire1.0 km

near Servitude Mamao

Google MapsDirections
DrCentre d'hygiène dentaire1.0 km

near Servitude Mamao

Google MapsDirections
DrFoyer de personnes âgées1.1 km

near Av. du Commandant Chesse

Google MapsDirections
DrCentre d'hygiène dentaire1.1 km

near Servitude Mamao

Google MapsDirections
DrPolyclinique Paofai1.3 km

near Rue du Lieutenant Varney

DrDispensaire de Papeete1.4 km

near Cours de l'Union Sacrée
Mo-Th 07:00-15:00; Fr 07:00-14:00

Google MapsDirections
DrFare Croix Rouge2.0 km

near Rue les Vini

Google MapsDirections
DrIIME Te Ana Hau2.3 km

near Rue Hitiura

Google MapsDirections
DrCentre de la mère et de l'enfant2.3 km

near Rue Hitiura

Google MapsDirections
DrLaboratoire d'Analyses Médicales2.7 km

near Servitude Blanchard

Google MapsDirections
DrCabinet Médical Pamatai2.9 km

near Route de Pāmata'i
general

DrDispensaire Tavana Rosa Raoulx3.5 km

near Servitude Tavana Rosa Raoulx

Google MapsDirections
DrTaote Didier Bondoux3.7 km

near Aratia Nelson Mandela
Mo-Fr 06:30-19:00; Sa 06:30-12:00

Google MapsDirections
DrMédecine du travail (CGPME)3.7 km

near Servitude Bonno

Google MapsDirections
DrCabinet médical3.8 km

near Servitude Taae

Google MapsDirections
DrDispensaire de Faaa3.9 km

near Aroa Van Bastolaer

Google MapsDirections
Drgénéraliste4.5 km

near Servitude Te Vai Arii

Google MapsDirections
DrDispensaire du Mt Sinaï4.5 km

near Aratia Collège Henri Hiro

Google MapsDirections
DrDispensaire Mama Maria4.6 km

near Servitude Te Niu Tia

Google MapsDirections
DrCentre médical Fanomai4.8 km

near Aroa Aubry 2

Google MapsDirections
DrCabinet médical4.9 km

near Servitude Sophie Bryant

Google MapsDirections
DrCabinet Kinésithérapie5.1 km

near Aratia Aeroport

Google MapsDirections
DrDr Caroline Audouin - ORL5.9 km

Faa'a
Mo,PH 14:00-17:30; Tu-We,Fr,PH 07:30-17:30; Sa,PH 07:30-12:30

DrCentre Rééducation Te Tiare6.2 km

near Rue Nina Peata

Google MapsDirections
Pharmacies — Papeetē20
+Pharmacie du Port0.4 km

near Rue Paul Gauguin

Google MapsDirections
+Lafayette0.5 km

near Rue du Père Collette

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Prince Hinoi0.5 km

near Avenue du Régent Paraita

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie du Vaima0.7 km

near Avenue du Général de Gaulle
Mo-Fr 07:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-12:00

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie du Pacifique0.7 km

near Rue Titiaivai
Mo-Fr 06:30-19:00; Sa 06:30-12:00

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Faariipiti1.0 km

Avenue du Commandant Chessé Papeete

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Mamao1.0 km

near Avenue Georges Clemenceau

+Résidence Vairaatoa Nui1.0 km

near Av. du Commandant Chesse

Google MapsDirections
+Vétérinaire Faariipiti1.2 km

near Avenue du Chef Vairaatoa

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Maeva1.2 km

near Avenue des Poilus Tahitiens

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Paofai1.3 km

near Rue du Lieutenant Varney

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie de Pirae1.7 km

near Avenue Charles de Gaulle
Mo-Fr 07:00-18:30; Sa 07:30-12:00,15:00-18:00; Su 08:00-11:00

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Tautiare2.4 km

near Aratia Nelson Mandela

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Porinetia Nahoata2.5 km

near Servitude Tepohue Toru

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Tiare Tahiti2.9 km

Route de Pāmata'i faaa

+Pharmacie de Pamatai3.7 km

near Aratia Nelson Mandela
Mo-Sa 06:00-19:00; Su 06:00-12:00

+Pharmacie Royale4.5 km

near Servitude Te Vai Arii

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Tahiti-Faa'a5.0 km

near Aratia Nelson Mandela

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Heiri6.0 km

near Rond-Point de Heiri

Google MapsDirections
+Pharmacie Moana Nui7.2 km

PH,Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

Google MapsDirections
Official — Papeetē3
Consulates and embassies 2
AConsulat honoraire de la République fédérale d'Allemagne1.4 km
Google MapsDirections
AConsulat de Chine7.4 km

near Allée des Aute
Mo,Th 09:00-11:00

Google MapsDirections
Town halls 1
AMairie de Papeete0.4 km

near Rue des Remparts

Google MapsDirections
Police — Papeetē2
PGendarmerie nationale1.2 km

near Rue de Faiere
Mo-Sa 07:00-12:00,14:00-17:00; Su 09:00-12:00; PH 09:00-12:00

PGendarmerie nationale4.1 km

near Servitude Taae
Mo-Sa 07:00-12:00,14:00-17:00; Su 08:00-12:00,15:00-17:00; PH 08:00-12:00,15:00-

Transport — Papeetē6
Bus 6
TGare Maritime0.0 km

near Boulevard de la Reine Pōmare IV

Google MapsDirections
TGare routière de l'hôtel de ville0.3 km

near Rue du Père Collette

Google MapsDirections
TGare routière du Marché0.5 km

near Av. du maréchal Foch

Google MapsDirections
TGare routière de Tipaerui1.9 km

near Route de Ceinture

Google MapsDirections
TUniversité de Polynésie-Française6.2 km

near Aroa Teparepare

TGiratoire du Lycée Hôtelier6.6 km

near Route de Ceinture

Google MapsDirections

The next 7 days around Papeetē Pacific/TahitiMET Norway ↗read 16.10.2026

Fri 16 Oct24–30°rain · 2.8 mm
Sat 17 Oct25–29°overcast · 0.1 mm
Sun 18 Oct25–27°rain · 2.8 mm
Mon 19 Oct25–30°showers · 11.3 mm
Tue 20 Oct25–29°rain · 1.4 mm
Wed 21 Oct22–28°overcast
Thu 22 Oct22–28°partly cloudy

Forecast: MET Norway (Norwegian Meteorological Institute, CC BY 4.0), grouped by day and formatted by Maximum.

Nearest river dischargeOpen-Meteo ↗updated 15.10.2026 · read 16.10.2026

10-16 0.1 · 10-17 0.2 · 10-18 0.2 · 10-19 0.2 · 10-20 0.2 · 10-21 0.3 · 10-22 0.3 m³/s

Simulated discharge: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), data rounded and formatted by Maximum. Contains modified Copernicus Emergency Management Service information 2026. For information only: this is not a flood warning; only national or regional authorities issue those.

No geolocated event in this country at this reading.

No geolocated UCDP incident in this country.

No news located around Papeetē in this reading.

The country feed →

National numbers (Wikidata, 2026 reading). On site, call local emergency services first, then Maximum: the insurer sends its payment guarantee to the hospital.

Recommended vaccines and medicines9

Routine vaccinesCDC ↗

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include Chickenpox (Varicella) Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, Tdap, or Td) Flu (influenza) Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Polio Shingles

COVID-19CDC ↗

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information.

Hepatitis ACDC ↗

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to French Polynesia. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series. Travelers allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Hepatitis BCDC ↗

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages traveling to French Polynesia.

MeaslesCDC ↗

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

MonkeypoxCDC ↗

Monkeypox vaccination is recommended for any adult who anticipates any of the following activities during travel: Sexual or intimate contact with a new partner Sexual or intimate contact at a commercial sex venue, like a sex club or bathhouse Sexual or intimate contact in exchange for money, goods, drugs, or other trade Sexual or intimate contact in association with a large public event, such as a rave, party, or…

RabiesCDC ↗

Dogs infected with rabies are not commonly found in French Polynesia. If rabies exposures occur while in French Polynesia, rabies vaccines may only be available in larger suburban/urban medical facilities.

TyphoidCDC ↗

Consider getting a typhoid vaccine if you might: Travel to areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water, including rural areas Spend a long time in French Polynesia, such as a month or more Visit friends or relatives Typhoid vaccine is not 100% effective. Practicing safe food and water habits , including washing hands at key times , can also help prevent typhoid fever .

Yellow FeverCDC ↗

CDC recommendations: Vaccine is not recommended. Country entry requirements: Direct travel from United States: Vaccine is not required. Travel from countries with risk for YF virus transmission: Vaccine is required for travelers ≥1 year old; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 3 Updated April 23, 2025 See footnotes

CDC Travelers' Health, re-read weekly — the recommendation depends on your age, vaccines and itinerary: confirm it with a doctor or a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure.CDC ↗read 10.10.2026

Diseases without a vaccine — how they spread

Avoid contaminated food and water
  • Leptospirosis — Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud Drinking water or eating foo
Avoid bugs
  • Dengue — Mosquito bite
  • Zika — Mosquito bite An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby
Airborne & droplet
  • Hantavirus — Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents Bite from an infected rodent Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus
  • Tuberculosis (TB) — Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Risks in figures

Tuberculosis — cases per 100,000
French Polynesia24 2024
Switzerland5 2024
France8 2024

Moderate incidence: nothing special for a short stay.

World Bank — latest published valuedata.worldbank.org ↗read 09.10.2026

The official advice, in full

Source: France Diplomatie (health advice, in French).

In brief
  • Obtain travel insurance covering local medical treatment and emergency evacuation before departure, particularly if you have health conditions or are pregnant. Foreign Office
  • Check vaccine recommendations at least eight weeks before travel and verify availability on the NHS travel vaccinations page. Foreign Office
  • Be aware of health risks including chikungunya and dengue in French Polynesia. Foreign Office
  • Call 15 (or 4048 5906 from a landline) for ambulances and contact your insurance company immediately if referred to a medical facility. Foreign Office
  • Note that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) do not provide cover in French Polynesia. Foreign Office
  • Verify the legal status of your UK medications before travel, as regulations differ in French Polynesia. Foreign Office

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

WHO: no outbreak reported for this country in the last 24 months (Disease Outbreak News).who.int ↗read 15.10.2026

Health — Foreign OfficeForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 15.10.2026

Health — Foreign Office

Before you travel check that:

  • your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
  • you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Call 15 (or 4048 5906 from a landline) and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccine recommendations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip:

  • check the latest vaccine recommendations for French Polynesia
  • see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

See what health risks you’ll face in French Polynesia , including:

  • chikungunya
  • dengue
Medication

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro .

Healthcare in French Polynesia

General healthcare facilities in French Polynesia are good for uncomplicated treatment, but more serious cases may need evacuation to a larger healthcare facility. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

Healthcare for residents

If you plan to live in French Polynesia, consult the UK Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) about long-term entitlement to healthcare under the French national system.

DWP Overseas Medical Benefits helpline: +44 (0)191 218 1999

You can also get English-language information about French social security services online or on +33 (0)820 90 42 12. You can get French-language information online about state services in French Polynesia .

Health insurance cards

The European Health Insurance Card ( EHIC ) or Global Health Insurance Card ( GHIC ) do not provide health cover for you if you go to French Polynesia to visit or to live.

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro .

TravelHealthPro ↗

Places read from OpenStreetMap, within a circle of about 12 km: phone, email, address, website and hours when the source publishes them. No customer reviews, that source has none. Straight-line distances.

The comparator

What is your current insurance?

The verdict
No area exclusion at this level — but three written limits: deductible and prior approval, 90-day cap, advance under conditions.
Exact wording (official French text): « Des Voyages vers des pays où Votre gouvernement a conseillé de ne pas voyager » — general exclusion n° 11, applying to ALL travel covers.
Line by line
Cover
With your Amex Platinum
Territorial exclusion at this level
No territorial exclusion at this level — the clause targets countries your government advised against travelling to
Covered — the core of the Maximum contract
Medical expenses cap abroad
€2M — but 10% deductible (€150–500), insurer's prior approval, trip paid with the Card
EUR 1.5M emergency medical expenses
Hospital deposit before admission
Advance possible — prior approval required before care
Direct payment guarantee: the insurer settles the hospital
Trip duration covered
Maximum 90 consecutive days per trip
12 months, unlimited trips
Visa certificate (incl. Schengen)
Not provided
Official named certificate, issued on payment

Notices vary by bank and vintage — yours prevails. On the right: the Maximum contract (public documents).

Where to go, where not to

No region is advised against by the official readings checked (Global Affairs Canada and Foreign Office): the national advice applies everywhere. France Diplomatie: no security page found for this destination.

In brief
  • National level “Exercise normal security precautions”; no region named (advisory of 15.10.2026). Global Affairs Canada
  • Advises against neither the country nor any area (reviewed 10.12.2025). Foreign Office
  • Level 1 of 4: exercise normal precautions (advisory of 01.12.2024). State Department

The levels each government publishes, unsummarised: their texts, linked below, prevail.

Papeetē (Windward Islands) is in no region these official readings advise against.The red dot on the map. Change the city at the top of the page to read the map from another point.
Windward Islands — Country-wide vigilanceLeeward Islands — Country-wide vigilanceMarquesas Islands — Country-wide vigilancePapeetē
Country-wide vigilancePapeetēNone of the readings checked (Global Affairs Canada and Foreign Office) names a region: the whole country keeps the “country-wide vigilance” colour. Boundaries: Natural Earth. Off the map: Marquesas Islands (not named by these readings).
Country-wide vigilance
the whole country, including Papeetē
So:

no region is advised against by these readings; the trip follows the national advice. A new regional advisory would call for a new, written decision.

US01.12.2024
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
GB10.12.2025
No area coveredYour region (Windward Islands): not covered
CA15.10.2026
Exercise normal security precautionsYour region (Windward Islands): not covered
Maximum excludes no area of the country.The VIP Pack covers care and repatriation there. Still enforceable: sanctions and embargoes, and a country already at war at departure. Extraction and security belong to the VIP Pack Extreme, upon eligibility. See My cover

Global Affairs Canada — Open Government Licence – Canada (15.10.2026) · Foreign Office — Open Government Licence v3.0 · Natural Earth

No located event in this reading.

Last change: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).

French Polynesia - Level 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsState Department ↗updated 01.12.2024 · read 16.10.2026

Updated 01.12.2024

Reissued after periodic review without changes

Exercise normal precautions in French Polynesia.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to French Polynesia.

If you decide to travel to French Polynesia:

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter .
  • Review the Country Security Report for French Polynesia.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

Nearest river dischargeOpen-Meteo ↗updated 15.10.2026 · read 16.10.2026

10-16 0.1 · 10-17 0.2 · 10-18 0.2 · 10-19 0.2 · 10-20 0.2 · 10-21 0.3 · 10-22 0.3 m³/s

Simulated discharge: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), data rounded and formatted by Maximum. Contains modified Copernicus Emergency Management Service information 2026. For information only: this is not a flood warning; only national or regional authorities issue those.

Where, exactly?

What the national level does not tell you

The level is national. Risk areas are in the state advisories below.

  • U.S. State Department — the full advisory details the regions concerned and the reasons (crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest) (read the advisory)
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (United Kingdom) — the United Kingdom advises against no travel to this country · reviewed 10 December 2025
    Last announced change : « New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page). » (read the advisory)
  • France Diplomatie — French advisory not retrieved right now — refer to the official text (official Security page)

No major event in progress is located in this country at this morning's check.

What we locate on the map are events in progress that have real coordinates: USGS earthquakes, GDACS disasters, NOAA storms and open NASA EONET events. Hover a dot for details, click to open it in this briefing.

I travel on a passportEach government writes for its own nationals. The advisory that counts for you — and for your policy's clauses — is your country's.

French passport — France Diplomatie

France Diplomatie ↗read 15.10.2026

Swiss passport — FDFA (Switzerland)

The FDFA has no readable travel advice for this country at this reading: consult eda.admin.ch directly.eda.admin.ch ↗

British passport — Foreign Office (UK)

In brief
  • Obtain travel insurance covering your itinerary, planned activities and emergency expenses before travelling to French Polynesia. Foreign Office
  • Carry both your UK driving licence and the 1968 international driving permit when driving; obtain the permit in the UK before travel. Foreign Office
  • Avoid isolated areas and beaches after dark; do not carry large amounts of cash or wear expensive jewellery on the street. Foreign Office
  • Before scuba diving, verify the operator's credentials, check your insurance policy requirements, inspect safety equipment, confirm oxygen availability on the boat, and ask about transfer procedures to Papeete's hyperbaric chamber. Foreign Office
  • Monitor local news and World Meteorological Organization reports for cyclones, which occur from November to April in French Polynesia. Foreign Office
  • Earthquakes are a risk in French Polynesia; consult the US Federal Emergency Management Agency website for guidance on earthquake preparedness and response. Foreign Office

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

Warnings — Foreign OfficeForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 15.10.2026

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:

  • see general advice for women travellers
  • read our guide on disability and travel abroad
  • see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
  • read about safety for solo and independent travel
  • see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

Safety — Foreign OfficeForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 15.10.2026

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in French Polynesia

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in French Polynesia, attacks cannot be ruled out.

Protecting yourself and your belongings

Avoid isolated areas, including beaches, after dark.

Do not carry large amounts of cash or wear expensive-looking jewellery or watches on the street. Put valuables and travel documents in a safety deposit box or hotel safe.

Swimming safety

See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.

Scuba diving

Diving schools may have limited resources and do not always observe safety and maintenance standards. Always:

  • ask to see a dive operator’s credentials
  • check the conditions on your insurance policy – some policies require dive instructors to have certain qualifications
  • make sure safety equipment looks to be in good condition
  • make sure oxygen is available on the boat
  • ask about safety precautions, including the ability to transfer divers to the only hyperbaric chamber in French Polynesia, which is in Papeete

If you have not had any previous diving experience, check what to do if something goes wrong, including how to call for help while at sea.

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in French Polynesia, see information on driving abroad .

You’ll need to carry both the 1968 version of the international driving permit ( IDP ) and your UK driving licence when driving. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.

Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP .

Extreme weather and natural disasters

Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards .

Cyclones

Tropical storms including cyclones can happen from November to April. Monitor local news and check World Meteorological Organization weather reports for French Polynesia .

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are a risk in French Polynesia. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake .

American passport — U.S. Department of State

In brief
  • French Polynesia is rated Level 1: exercise normal precautions. State Department
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and emergency assistance. State Department
  • Review the Country Security Report for French Polynesia before travelling. State Department
  • Consult the CDC website for the latest travel health information for French Polynesia. State Department
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergencies and review the Traveler's Checklist. State Department

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

French Polynesia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions 2024-12-01travel.state.gov ↗updated 01.12.2024 · read 16.10.2026

Advisory summary

Reissued after periodic review without changes

Exercise normal precautions in French Polynesia.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to French Polynesia.

If you decide to travel to French Polynesia:

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter .
  • Review the Country Security Report for French Polynesia.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

Global Affairs Canada — additional reading

Exercise normal security precautions

Open Government Licence – Canada · October 15, 2026 04:21 EDTtravel.gc.ca ↗updated 15.10.2026 · read 16.10.2026

In brief
  • Drug possession, use or trafficking carry severe penalties including jail sentences and heavy fines in French Polynesia. Global Affairs Canada
  • Canadian citizens imprisoned in French Polynesia may request transfer to a Canadian prison under the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, requiring agreement from both authorities. Global Affairs Canada
  • If your child was wrongfully taken to French Polynesia, contact your provincial Central Authority immediately and consult lawyers in Canada and French Polynesia; The Hague Convention may enable the child's return. Global Affairs Canada
  • You may drive with a valid Canadian licence for up to one year; if not in French, provide an official translation or international driving permit. After one year, obtain a French Polynesian licence. Global Affairs Canada
  • The currency is the CFP franc (XPF); exchange at Tahiti airport or major banks. Outside main tourist islands, only cash in local currency is accepted. Global Affairs Canada
  • Dress conservatively and behave discreetly outside tourist areas to respect local religious and social traditions. Global Affairs Canada

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

Global Affairs Canada — written for Canadian travellers, valid for all

Local laws

You must abide by local laws. Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad. French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity. Canada and France are signatories to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in France or its overseas collectivities to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and French authorities.

Drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Drugs, alcohol and travel

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and France. If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in French Polynesia, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Polynesian court. If you are in this situation:

  • act as quickly as you can
  • contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
  • consult a lawyer in Canada and in French Polynesia to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
  • report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies. Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

2SLGBTQI+ persons

French law does not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. However, 2SLGBTQI+ persons could be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics. Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dress and behaviour

Outside tourist areas, to avoid offending local sensitivities:

  • dress conservatively
  • behave discreetly
  • respect religious and social traditions
Driving

You can drive for up to 1 year with a valid Canadian driver’s licence. If your licence is not in French, you must provide an official translation or have an international driving permit. After 1 year, you must obtain a French Polynesian driver’s licence. International Driving Permit

Money

The currency in French Polynesia is the CFP (Comptoirs français du Pacifique) franc (XPF). Currency can be exchanged at the airport in Tahiti and at major banks. Outside of the busiest tourist islands and major hotels, only cash in local currency may be accepted.

Open Government Licence – Canada · October 15, 2026 04:21 EDTtravel.gc.ca ↗updated 15.10.2026 · read 16.10.2026

Air: Good 13/100PM2.5 0.3 µg/m³ · PM10 0.4 µg/m³
UV low today max 1.6Right now 0.0 · WHO scale 0–11+

What it changes for you: Air acceptable at this hour: nothing special to plan.

Reading 20:00 (Pacific/Tahiti)Open-Meteo ↗updated 15.10.2026 · read 16.10.2026

Air quality and UV: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), data rounded and formatted by Maximum. Contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information 2026. Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF is responsible for any use that may be made of the Copernicus information or data it contains.

Life expectancy (years)
French Polynesia84.2 2024
Switzerland84.4 2024
France83.0 2024

No value published by the World Bank in the last eight years for French Polynesia: physicians per 1,000 people, hospital beds per 1,000 people, health spending per person (USD).

World Bank — latest published value, year per indicatordata.worldbank.org ↗read 09.10.2026

I travel on a passportVisa, passport validity, entry form: the rules depend on your passport. Each government describes them for its own nationals.

French passport — France Diplomatie

France Diplomatie's Entry and stay page could not be read at this reading: consult it directly.diplomatie.gouv.fr ↗read 15.10.2026

Swiss passport — FDFA (Switzerland)

The FDFA does not publish entry requirements: they are set out by the destination's embassy or consulate in Switzerland — check them before booking, passport in hand. As a guide, the French and British requirements below describe the same rules as seen by two other governments.eda.admin.ch ↗

British passport — Foreign Office (UK)

In brief
  • British passport holders may visit French Polynesia visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or business; passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond departure date. Foreign Office
  • British nationals requiring longer stays, work, or study must apply for a visa through the French visa website; work permission from the French Consulate General in the UK is required before travel. Foreign Office
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if arriving from a country listed as a transmission risk; consult TravelHealthPro's French Polynesia guide for full medical entry requirements. Foreign Office
  • UK residents of French Polynesia must carry their residence document and passport when entering or exiting; if not yet received, carry the certificate of application sent by email. Foreign Office
  • Strict customs rules apply to goods entering or leaving French Polynesia; all prohibited items and goods subject to tax or duty must be declared. Foreign Office
  • Declare cash and valuables according to French Polynesia's requirements; contact the French Consulate General in the UK if uncertain how entry rules apply to your circumstances. Foreign Office

Faithful summary of the official texts below, which prevail.

Entry requirements — rules for a British passportForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 15.10.2026

Entry requirements — rules for a British passport

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of French Polynesia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

French Polynesia is an Overseas Collectivity of France (‘Collectivité d’Outre-Mer’). The authorities in French Polynesia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the French Consulate General in the UK .

Passport validity requirements

Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave French Polynesia.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement . See Dual citizenship .

Visa requirements

You can visit French Polynesia without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, check the visa application process and timelines on the French visa website.

If you want to work in French Polynesia, get permission from the French Consulate General before you travel there.

UK residents of French Polynesia

Carry your residence document, as well as your passport, when entering or exiting French Polynesia. If you have applied but not yet received your document, carry your certificate of application. You will have received this as an email.

Vaccine requirements

You must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk .

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s French Polynesia guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of French Polynesia (in French). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into French Polynesia

Check what cash and valuables you need to declare to bring them into French Polynesia.

American passport — U.S. Department of State

The State Department publishes the requirements ("Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements") on its country page, which our servers cannot read. Read it before you go; as a guide, the French and British requirements below describe the same rules as seen by two other governments.travel.state.gov ↗updated 01.12.2024 · read 16.10.2026

Living on site

For each risk, the official texts themselves: what is happening, then, where they say so, what to do.

CrimeMODERATE

What the texts say · Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs. Violent crime is rare.

What they advise:
  • Avoid isolated areas, including beaches, after dark.
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash or wear expensive-looking jewellery or watches on the street.
  • Ensure that personal belongings, including passports and other travel documents, are secure at all times.
Global Affairs Canada · Foreign Office
TransportMODERATE

What the texts say · Roads are narrow. Drivers don’t always respect traffic laws.

What they advise: Exercise caution, particularly after dark.
Global Affairs Canada
Nature and climateMODERATE

What the texts say · Roads may become impassable and infrastructure may be damaged. Cyclones also usually occur from November to April. French Polynesia is located in an active seismic zone and is prone to earthquakes.

What they advise:
  • If you’re staying on the coast, familiarize yourself with the region’s evacuation plans in the event of a tsunami warning.
  • If you decide to travel to French Polynesia during the cyclone season: stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts.
  • If you decide to travel to French Polynesia during the cyclone season: follow the advice and instructions of local authorities.
Global Affairs Canada
Laws and customsTO KNOW

What the texts say · Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe.

Global Affairs Canada
Crowds and calendarLOW

What the texts say · Demonstrations take place from time to time.

What they advise: Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place.
Global Affairs Canada

Sentences copied word for word from the official texts cited, chosen for the destination; the level is our reading. The full texts, at each source:Global Affairs Canada ↗updated 15.10.2026 · read 16.10.2026 (updated 15.10.2026 · read 05.10.2026)Foreign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 15.10.2026 (updated 10.12.2025 · read 05.10.2026)

—:—Local time · Pacific/Tahiti ·
112Local emergency numbers · Single number 112
Drivingon the right

Time zone: IANA and timezone-boundary-builder (ODbL) · RESTCountries · EmergencyNumberAPI · Wikidata · European Central Bank

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Photon search by komoot.

Public holidaysNager.Date ↗read 25.09.2026

  • Sun 1 Nov — All Saints' Day
  • Wed 11 Nov — Armistice Day
  • Fri 20 Nov — Matari'i
  • Fri 25 Dec — Christmas Day
ESSENTIAL

Maximum policyholder: before paying anything, call the 24/7 number. If you are admitted for more than 24 h, Maximum sends its direct payment guarantee to the hospital (art. 2.12).

+41 22 ••• •• •• — Full number in your client area

The hospitals to know — Papeetē

The hospital list has not been read from OpenStreetMap for this page yet: the medical-network map loads it when opened. Maximum's assistance directs you to the right facility, 24/7. The medical-network map ↗

20pharmacies31doctorsFull map and list ↗

Before you go

  • Routine vaccinesup to date
  • Yellow feverrequired if arriving from a risk area
  • Hepatitis Arecommended
  • Hepatitis Brecommended
  • Mpoxdepending on the trip
  • Typhoiddepending on the trip

CDC Travelers' Health recommendations, most important first. They depend on your age, vaccines and itinerary: confirm them with a doctor or a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Details, disease by disease ↗cdc.gov ↗read 10.10.2026

On site

DengueMosquitoes bite by day: repellent, long sleeves.
ChikungunyaMosquito-borne: same protection as for dengue.
MedicationIn their box, with the prescription — in English if possible.

Back home — a fever in the following weeks should be told to a doctor, naming the country.

The next 7 days Pacific/TahitiMET Norway ↗read 16.10.2026

Fri 16 Oct24–30°rain · 2.8 mm
Sat 17 Oct25–29°overcast · 0.1 mm
Sun 18 Oct25–27°rain · 2.8 mm
Mon 19 Oct25–30°showers · 11.3 mm
Tue 20 Oct25–29°rain · 1.4 mm
Wed 21 Oct22–28°overcast
Thu 22 Oct22–28°partly cloudy

Forecast: MET Norway (Norwegian Meteorological Institute, CC BY 4.0), grouped by day and formatted by Maximum.

I travel on a passportYour embassy, and the service to register with, depend on your passport.

Your country, 24/7, from abroad

FR
Crisis and Support Centre — French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs+33 1 53 59 11 0024/7 emergency line, standard rate. First contact abroad: the French embassy or consulate.www.diplomatie.gouv.fr ↗read 15.10.2026
CH
FDFA Helpline+41 58 465 33 33+41 800 24 7 36524/7, 365 days a year — helpline@eda.admin.ch. Beware of scam calls spoofing these numbers.www.eda.admin.ch ↗
GB
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office+44 20 7008 500024 hours, for British nationals.www.gov.uk ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 15.10.2026
US
Overseas Citizens Services — U.S. Department of State+1 202 501 4444+1 888 407 4747From abroad; the second number from the U.S. and Canada.travel.state.gov ↗updated 01.12.2024 · read 16.10.2026

Police

  • Gendarmerie nationale · 1.2 km
    +689 40 46 74 30
  • Gendarmerie nationale · 4.1 km
    +689 40 46 72 00

Town hall

  • Mairie de Papeete · 0.4 km

OpenStreetMap

Getting help — Foreign OfficeForeign Office ↗updated 10.12.2025 · read 15.10.2026

Getting help — Foreign Office

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in French Polynesia

Ambulance: 15 (or 4048 5906 from a landline)

Fire: 18

Police: 17

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

  • getting help if you’re a victim of crime
  • what to do if you’re in hospital
  • if you’re affected by a crisis , such as a terrorist attack
Help abroad

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.

Help in the UK

You can call  FCDO  in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Ten phrases in French

For emergencies. If pronunciation fails, show the screen — or the printed page.

Help!Au secours !
Call an ambulance!Appelez une ambulance !
I need a doctor.J'ai besoin d'un médecin.
Where is the nearest hospital?Où est l'hôpital le plus proche ?
Call the police!Appelez la police !
I am allergic to penicillin.Je suis allergique à la pénicilline.
I have international medical insurance.J'ai une assurance médicale internationale.
I want to contact my embassy.Je voudrais contacter mon ambassade.
Please take me to this address.Emmenez-moi à cette adresse, s'il vous plaît.
Do you speak English?Parlez-vous anglais ?

Translations by Maximum Insurance, original script and transliteration.

  • Keep the entry stamp, hospital invoices and the medical report. Without them a claim cannot be rebuilt.
  • File it from the claim form, once back, with those papers.
  • The France Diplomatie health page mentions dengue and chikungunya. A fever in the weeks after return should be told to a doctor, naming the country.

Actions to take before each professional trip abroad.

1Once — the framework
2For each departure
3During the mission, and after

What is happening in French Polynesia right now

Live alerts and level changes, each with its official source. Continuously updated.

What governments have just written

UpdateGlobal Affairs Canada

Natural disasters and climate section – added information on El Niño

October 15, 2026 04:21 EDTtravel.gc.ca ↗updated 15.10.2026 · read 16.10.2026

No level change recorded for this country since the log opened. The live alerts above are updated continuously.

⚡ The world feed — every country →

Frequently asked questions — travel insurance French Polynesia

24/7 support number — +41 22 ••• •• ••An adviser goes through each question with you until you have an actionable answer: cover, hospital, entry rules, claims. Full number in your client area. You can also ask Maximum directly, just below these questions.
What is the official risk level in French Polynesia today?

Level 1/4 — Exercise Normal Precautions, U.S. Department of State, retrieved on 16 October 2026.

  • Is the whole country advised against? United States: no · United Kingdom: no · Switzerland: no (reading of 27 September 2026).
  • Contractually, only an FDFA, FOPH or WHO advisory against the trip opens Module A (art. 18.1) — that is not the case today.
  • Travel with international medical cover and the 24/7 number (+41 22 ••• •• ••) saved: here the risk is not the advisory, it is the hospital bill.
  • We check these sources every morning and e-mail you the day one changes (Alerts button).

Sourcestravel.state.gov · updated 01.12 · read 16.10France Diplomatie · read 15.10DFAE207-country comparison

Is the whole of French Polynesia advised against, or only some areas?

An area advised against does not rule out the country.

  • Official answers: United States: no · United Kingdom: no · Switzerland: no.
  • Keep your country of residence's advisory on booking day and on departure day: that is what your policy's clauses cite.

SourcesFrance Diplomatie · read 15.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 15.10State Department · updated 01.12 · read 16.10

What are the entry requirements for French Polynesia with my passport?

The rules depend on the passport, not on the destination alone.

  • British passport (Foreign Office): British passport holders may visit French Polynesia visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or business; passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond departure date. British nationals requiring longer stays, work, or study must apply for a visa through the French visa website; work permission from the French Consulate General in the UK is required before travel. Yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if arriving from a country listed as a transmission risk; consult TravelHealthPro's French Polynesia guide for full medical entry requirements.
  • American passport: the requirements are on the State Department country page (travel.state.gov).
  • Swiss passport: the FDFA refers you to the destination's embassy in Switzerland.
  • Pick your passport at the top of Before you go › Entry: the official text that concerns you comes first, with its “In brief” summary.

SourcesFrance Diplomatie · read 15.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 15.10State Department · updated 01.12 · read 16.10

Do I need an insurance certificate for a French Polynesia visa?

For a Schengen visa, yes: at least €30,000 of travel medical insurance (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, art. 15).

  • Many other countries ask for it on entry or for a visa, case by case: check Before you go › Entry, with your passport.
  • Subscribe: the named certificate arrives by e-mail on payment, with your name, dates and limits (EUR 1.5M medical expenses, unlimited evacuation and repatriation) — the ones consulates check.
  • Attach it to the visa file; if in doubt about the format, write to us.

SourcesRegulation (EC) 810/2009, art. 15General conditions, policy 20 00 479

What does Maximum Insurance do in French Polynesia, concretely?

VIP Pack — €990 for twelve months, unlimited trips.

  • EUR 1.5M emergency medical expenses, unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation, search and rescue EUR 50,000, cancellation or change EUR 5,000.
  • One 24/7 number, +41 22 ••• •• ••: Maximum sends its direct payment guarantee to the hospital (art. 2.12).
  • Network of 45,000 providers (art. 6.9); evacuation is decided, organised and paid by Maximum's medical team if the local facility is not enough (art. 6.2.2).
  • Named certificate by e-mail on payment, no medical questionnaire.

SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479OpenStreetMap · read 12.10

What should I do if hospitalised in French Polynesia?

Six steps, in this order.

  • 1. Call +41 22 ••• •• •• before paying anything, or have the front desk call: it is the condition for full cover (otherwise: reduced or refused benefits).
  • 2. Ask for a hospital in the Maximum network (art. 6.9).
  • 3. See a doctor the same day and leave with the certificate: without an on-the-spot finding, nothing is covered (art. 33).
  • 4. Admitted for more than 24 h? The front desk calls Maximum: direct payment guarantee, no deposit (art. 2.12).
  • 5. Book no ambulance or flight yourself (art. 6.2.2).
  • 6. Once home, file within 30 days (art. 35.7).
  • Local emergency services: single number 112.

SourcesSpecial conditions 01.26General conditions, policy 20 00 479

Which emergency numbers in French Polynesia?

Local emergency services: single number 112

  • Maximum, 24/7, before any payment: +41 22 ••• •• ••.
  • Save these numbers before leaving; in immediate danger, call local emergency services first, then Maximum.

SourcesEmergencyNumberAPI · Wikidata · read 08.10OpenStreetMap · read 12.10

Is an Amex, Visa or Mastercard enough in French Polynesia?

At today's level 1/4, card by card:

  • Amex Platinum — No area exclusion at this level — but three written limits: deductible and prior approval, 90-day cap, advance under conditions.
  • Visa — No express area exclusion — but a €156,000 cap, 90 days, and the war/instability exclusion in the background.
  • Mastercard — No exclusion in play at this level — but a €155,000 cap and 90 covered days.
  • Three lines to read in your notice: the duration (often 90 days per trip), the settlement (reimbursement afterwards or direct payment of the hospital) and the area exclusion at level 4/4.

SourcesAmex Platinum France T&Cs, 01.2025 — general exclusion n° 11BNP Paribas Visa Infinite notice (policy PT7), 04.2025 — comFortuneo World Elite Mastercard notice, 01.2026 — art. 5.5 '

Are a health plan or a travel policy enough in French Polynesia?

A health plan reimburses at home; here, the hospital asks for a payment guarantee before admission.

  • Health plan — A health plan treats you at home. Here the hospital asks for a guarantee before admission — not a later reimbursement.
  • Travel policy — No area exclusion at this level — compare cap, deductible and covered duration.
  • A travel policy often has a territorial clause at level 4/4 and a 90-day limit per trip.
  • Have your IPID number or the PDF of the terms and ask an expert to call you back: the answer is in the document, not in the brochure.

SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479

How do I use the medical network on this page?

The page reads hospitals, pharmacies and doctors from OpenStreetMap, around the point you choose.

  • Type your city, hotel or beach: the map re-centres, 24/7 emergency rooms come first.
  • Each row gives the phone when the source publishes it, the nearest street, directions and the Google Maps listing.
  • The PDF briefing repeats the same places, numbered on a printable map.
  • No customer reviews: OpenStreetMap has none, and we invent none.

SourcesOpenStreetMap (ODbL) · read 12.10

Which vaccines and health precautions for French Polynesia?

The sourced detail is under Medical network › Health: vaccines, diseases present, altitude, outbreaks.

  • CDC (Travelers' Health), depending on the trip: Routine vaccines, COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Monkeypox, Rabies.
  • France Diplomatie reports in the country: dengue, chikungunya — mosquito protection day and night.
  • See a doctor or a travel clinic 8 weeks before departure (Foreign Office).
  • Carry your medicines in their packaging, with a prescription using international non-proprietary names (France Diplomatie).

SourcesCDC Travelers' Health · read 10.10France Diplomatie · read 15.10OMS · read 15.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 15.10

Can I be treated in French Polynesia, or will I be evacuated?

The compared figures are under Safety & risks › Health system.

  • When the local facility is not enough, Maximum's medical team decides the evacuation to a suitable centre, and pays for it (art. 6.2.2).

SourcesWorld Bank · read 09.10General conditions, policy 20 00 479

French Polynesia: safety, in figures?

Comparable figures (homicides, roads, incidents) are under Safety & risks › Incidents.

SourcesWorld Bank (UNODC, WHO) · read 09.10UCDP

Where is my embassy in French Polynesia, and why register?

Embassies and consulates are under Before you go › Contacts, sorted by passport.

  • Register before leaving: France: Ariane · Switzerland: Travel Admin · United Kingdom: Foreign Office alerts · United States: STEP.
  • Two minutes, and in a crisis your country's authorities can reach you and count you in an evacuation.
  • Pick your passport at the top of Contacts: your embassy comes first.

SourcesOpenStreetMap · read 12.10DFAE

Which regions of French Polynesia should I avoid, precisely?

No region is advised against by the official readings checked (Global Affairs Canada and Foreign Office): the national advice applies everywhere. France Diplomatie: no security page found for this destination.

  • Your point (Windward Islands): country-wide vigilance.
  • Maximum does not exclude these areas: the VIP Pack covers care and repatriation there (sanctions, embargoes and a country already at war at departure remain enforceable).

SourcesGlobal Affairs Canada · updated 15.10 · read 16.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 15.10France Diplomatie · read 15.10

Which laws and customs should I know in French Polynesia?

Local laws apply to every traveller; here is what the official texts say.

  • Drug possession, use or trafficking carry severe penalties including jail sentences and heavy fines in French Polynesia.
  • Canadian citizens imprisoned in French Polynesia may request transfer to a Canadian prison under the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, requiring agreement from both authorities.
  • If your child was wrongfully taken to French Polynesia, contact your provincial Central Authority immediately and consult lawyers in Canada and French Polynesia; The Hague Convention may enable the child's return.
  • You may drive with a valid Canadian licence for up to one year; if not in French, provide an official translation or international driving permit. After one year, obtain a French Polynesian licence.
  • The currency is the CFP franc (XPF); exchange at Tahiti airport or major banks. Outside main tourist islands, only cash in local currency is accepted.

SourcesGlobal Affairs Canada · updated 15.10 · read 16.10Foreign Office · updated 10.12 · read 15.10

Who can I call at any hour from French Polynesia?

Every foreign ministry runs a 24/7 emergency line for its nationals.

  • France — Crisis and Support Centre — French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs: +33 1 53 59 11 00. 24/7 emergency line, standard rate. First contact abroad: the French embassy or consulate.
  • Switzerland — FDFA Helpline: +41 58 465 33 33 · +41 800 24 7 365. 24/7, 365 days a year — helpline@eda.admin.ch. Beware of scam calls spoofing these numbers.
  • United Kingdom — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: +44 20 7008 5000. 24 hours, for British nationals.
  • United States — Overseas Citizens Services — U.S. Department of State: +1 202 501 4444 · +1 888 407 4747. From abroad; the second number from the U.S. and Canada.

Sourcesdiplomatie.gouv.fr · read 15.10eda.admin.ch

A few useful phrases in French for French Polynesia?

Emergency phrases, to show if pronunciation fails:

  • Help! → Au secours !
  • Call an ambulance! → Appelez une ambulance !
  • I need a doctor. → J'ai besoin d'un médecin.
  • Where is the nearest hospital? → Où est l'hôpital le plus proche ?
  • Call the police! → Appelez la police !

SourcesMaximum Insurance

What should I keep after leaving French Polynesia, and how do I file a claim?

Keep the entry stamp, the invoices, the prescriptions and the medical report.

  • File within 30 days (art. 35.7) from your client area, with the documents; the official forms are pre-filled.
  • Costs advanced on site are reimbursed against receipts.
  • Fever, persistent diarrhoea or a rash in the following weeks? See a doctor and say where you have been — dengue, chikungunya circulate in the country (France Diplomatie).

SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479

What does the Pack VIP Extreme add?

Cancellation or change up to EUR 20,000, special risk EUR 5,000 per person, crisis management and security, optional Kidnap & Ransom.

  • Special risk (Module A): political event, attack, epidemic, natural disaster — opens when the FDFA, the FOPH or WHO advise against the trip (art. 18.1).
  • Epidemic: assistance must be requested within 7 days of the WHO or FDFA qualification (art. 36.2).
  • Crisis management and security: trip registration, monitoring, extraction, evacuation in case of riot, war, terrorism or disaster; Kidnap & Ransom subject to eligibility (art. 18.4).
  • €2,290 a year, unlimited trips.

SourcesGeneral conditions, policy 20 00 479

A question not answered here? Ask Maximum below, or call the support number: every question gets a clear, actionable answer.

A question? Maximum answers.Answers built from the French Polynesia file and your policy.

In a life-threatening emergency, call local emergency services first, then Maximum: +41 22 ••• •• •• — 24/7 support number, an adviser stays with you to the end.

What Maximum knows

The 207 country pages — hospitals, pharmacies, police, embassies, emergency numbers, official advice from four governments, health, safety in figures, events in progress — read around the city you name. Your policy — benefits, the six steps, claims, articles. The site — prices, certificate, subscription. Nothing else: what it does not know, it says so and hands you to an adviser.

Same advisory level: Japan · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Kiribati · Latvia · Liechtenstein

Cross-check with official sources
U.S. State Department → UK FCDO → France Diplomatie → DFAE (Suisse) →

The displayed level comes from the State Department, checked every morning. Before departure, always cross-check your country of residence's advisory: that is what your policy cites.

The level shown is the official U.S. Department of State level, checked daily. Maximum Insurance is an insurance distributor — general information, not personal advice.

Travel covered to French Polynesia
Get the Pack VIP — €990/yr Cover a team
Check my current cover in French Polynesia

The destination is already Papeetē. A few choices, then the reading of your cover, here.

Go further
Insured in an advised-against country →What a repatriation really costs →Who pays the hospital abroad →Where the United States, France and the United Kingdom disagree →Is an employer required to insure an employee on assignment abroad? →What insurance do you need for an assignment abroad? →

All 13 files, together → · All 207 countries →