IMMIGRATION

 

Visa Information

Non-European citizens conducting research or educational activities in French Polynesia usually need a visa no matter how long they plan to stay. The visa waiver normally only applies to those visiting for <1month as tourists or as non-PhD participants in an approved project or class.

For official and up to date information about visas for US citizens, including the documentation needed (evidence of insurance, nationality, forms etc.) see: Consulate General of France in San Francisco

General Guidelines

The following is our current interpretation of the process. Only the French authorities can tell you the official procedure. The visa process is subject to change and for the latest official policy, researchers should contact their nearest French consulate.

  1. All non-European nationals need a scientific/research visa for French Polynesia no matter with which institution in French Polynesia they are working or how long they plan to spend in the country.  This applies to all Principal Investigators and anyone involved in the project who has a PhD (i.e., all professional scientists).
  2. Technicians, assistants and students working on the project generally do not need research visas unless they plan to be in French Polynesia for more than 3 months. For US citizens, no visa is needed for stays <1month and short stay visa is needed for visits up to 3 months. These can be obtained from the French consulate with supporting documentation (including a copy of their supervisors permit and a letter of guarantee from the Gump Station).
  3. If their permit application is approved, researchers will receive an invitation (protocole d'accueil) from the Ministry of Research and a letter of guarantee from the Gump Station. The protocol is your permit for the project, but if you are not an EU national, you will also need a research visa in order to enter the country to carry out the project.
  4. Research visas are obtained for French Polynesia from your nearest French consulate. You will need the letter (permit) from the Tahitian ministry and a letter of guarantee from the Gump Station. Sometimes the consulate insists on the original permit. If time is short, we can FEDEX the letters to you (at your expense) and some consulates (e.g., Chicago) except a fax if it comes directly from the French Polynesian government.
  5. The French consulate will issue a multiple entry visa for French Polynesia. This can be for up to 3 months in any one year and has often been issued the same day.
  6. Anyone (student, assistant, researcher, or professor) wishing to stay for longer than 3 months in any one year, will need to get a residency permit (1 year). To do this, you must initiate the research visa procedure at your consulate as described above. The process takes longer, however, as the application will also be sent to Papeete for further review (which can take several weeks). Once approved, the consulate will issue a visa to travel to Tahiti. You then follow the procedure described below in the Residency Permit section.

To get your visa you may need:
Copy of your latest bank statement
Copy of your latest pay stub
Copy of your travel medical insurance
Copy of each page in your passport
To pick up the visa in person because finger-printing is now required before the visa is actually issued.

Residency Permit (stays > 3 months)

  1. Having obtained a research visa (see above) and arrived in Tahiti, you will need to go (during the first week or so) to LA DIRECTION DE LA REGLEMENTATION ET DU CONTROLE DE LA LEGALITE (DRCL) Immeuble Donald - rue Jeanne d'Arc - Papeete - BP 115 Papeete Tel. : 54 27 00
  2. The DRCL is the government office in Papeete where you can obtain a one year residency card. This allows multiple entry for a year and residence in French Polynesia for up to 12 months.
  3. The building (38 on the Papeete map) is across rue Jeanne d'Arc from the Vaima Shopping Center (towards ferry terminal). On the main waterfront road (Boulevard Pomare) you will see the travel agent (VOYAGENCE) you access the building from the back (a parking lot). There is a red sign for the office on the door, go in and climb the stairs to the 3rd floor (2nd level).
  4. Take with you a copy of your protocol (permit), two passport photos, and your passport. Ask to see Monsieur Calixte Teihoarii. Assuming they have received all the paperwork from the consulat, you should be able to return in a week or so to pick up the residency card.
  5. You then need to take this to the payments office, Direction des Finances et de la Comptabilite (13 on the Papeete map) to buy a stamp that is attached to the card to validate it.
  6. The residency card can be renewed each year on presentation of a new research permit (this is all done in Papeete and can be done by mail).

Research Vessels

  1. It is our understanding that the same procedure should be followed by any foreign scientists entering the country on a research vessel
  2. Once the letter of invitation (protocole d'accueuil) has been obtained by the lead scientist, this should be attached to the application for the research vessel itself
  3. The procedure for the vessel is carried out via Paris and you should contact your national government office for advice on this procedure.