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French Polynesia (French overseas collectivity) · residence general

Non-Working Visitor Residence in French Polynesia

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 14 November 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Temporary residence with sufficient resources, medical cover and a no-professional-activity undertaking, with local evidence for private or vessel accommodation.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyA temporary visitor card is for up to one year and is renewable subject to the current statutory conditions and limits. The local guidance does not give this visitor basis a generic ten-year resident-card pathway. Do not infer indefinite annual renewals, work permission or permanent residence.In flux
Processing time
The local category page instructs a card request within two months of arrival, or before long-stay visa expiry, including for VLS-TS holders. A separate timing page describes counter filing one to two months before visa expiry; the FAQ also recommends earlier renewal planning. These published instructions do not give one consistent timetable for every visa. Contact the High Commission promptly after arrival with your actual endorsement, confirm the required local procedure and deadline, and do not postpone action solely on the basis of the later-expiry guidance. The category page puts renewal in the two months before card expiry; start checking requirements earlier. Current R445-2 extends the October 2026 R432-2 rules: generally a written residence decision within 90 days of a complete application, with a possible 30-day complexity extension, and a separate 90-day implicit-refusal period, subject to category exceptions. The local timing page gives an indicative two-to-three-month handling/fabrication estimate. Neither is a visa-appointment or approval guarantee.
Government fees
The January 2026 visitor checklist lists a XPF 9,000 fiscal stamp for first requests and renewals. Confirm the actual assessment, exemption and payment instructions with the High Commission; this is not a verified all-in immigration price. A required long-stay visa normally has a EUR 99 consular application fee subject to the published category exceptions, with other actual document/service costs separate.
Typical duration
A temporary visitor card is for up to one year and is renewable subject to the current statutory conditions and limits. The local guidance does not give this visitor basis a generic ten-year resident-card pathway. Do not infer indefinite annual renewals, work permission or permanent residence.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia ↗

In short

Temporary residence with sufficient resources, medical cover and a no-professional-activity undertaking, with local evidence for private or vessel accommodation. Guidance updated 14 November 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/french-polynesia/visitor-residence-card#answer

What is the Non-Working Visitor Residence in French Polynesia in French Polynesia (French overseas collectivity)?

Non-Working Visitor Residence in French Polynesia is an unsponsored French Polynesia route. Indicative government fees are The January 2026 visitor checklist lists a XPF 9,000 fiscal stamp for first requests and renewals. Confirm the actual assessment, exemption and payment instructions with the High Commission; this is not a verified all-in immigration price. A required long-stay visa normally has a EUR 99 consular application fee subject to the published category exceptions, with other actual document/service costs separate; indicative processing time is The local category page instructs a card request within two months of arrival, or before long-stay visa expiry, including for VLS-TS holders. A separate timing page describes counter filing one to two months before visa expiry; the FAQ also recommends earlier renewal planning. These published instructions do not give one consistent timetable for every visa. Contact the High Commission promptly after arrival with your actual endorsement, confirm the required local procedure and deadline, and do not postpone action solely on the basis of the later-expiry guidance. The category page puts renewal in the two months before card expiry; start checking requirements earlier. Current R445-2 extends the October 2026 R432-2 rules: generally a written residence decision within 90 days of a complete application, with a possible 30-day complexity extension, and a separate 90-day implicit-refusal period, subject to category exceptions. The local timing page gives an indicative two-to-three-month handling/fabrication estimate. Neither is a visa-appointment or approval guarantee; typical duration is A temporary visitor card is for up to one year and is renewable subject to the current statutory conditions and limits. The local guidance does not give this visitor basis a generic ten-year resident-card pathway. Do not infer indefinite annual renewals, work permission or permanent residence. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia on 14 November 2026.

Overview

The locally applicable L426-20 visitor category supports a non-working residence stay, distinct from short tourism. The applicant must prove sufficient resources, hold health insurance for the stay and undertake not to exercise professional activity. L445-2 removes the mainland SMIC-net resource formula; it does not remove the sufficient-means assessment. The local page also directs qualifying foreign spouses of foreign workers or students to this visitor category. This is existing statutory coverage newly added to the website, not a newly announced programme or confirmed digital-nomad permission.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm that the intended stay is non-working and prepare resources, medical-cover and accommodation evidence.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Arrange the appropriate French Polynesia-valid long-stay visa before travel where required, checking the actual nationality/status exception.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Contact the High Commission promptly about the published filing timetable, prepare the current visitor checklist and submit through the confirmed local channel.

  4. After approval

    Maintain the visitor conditions, check renewal requirements early and arrange collection after the authority notification.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Non-Working Visitor Residence in French Polynesia, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Non-Working Visitor Residence in French Polynesia instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to French Polynesia

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. ChecklistApplicant
    Use the current visitor residence checklist ↗

    Prepare sufficient means, health cover, no-activity and the applicable accommodation evidence.

    High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Read the local residence instructions ↗

    Choose the actual card category and confirm your filing deadline with the High Commission.

    High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia · verified

  3. ChecklistApplicant
    Download the current residence form ↗

    Use the form with the supporting list for your category.

    High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia · verified

  4. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check filing and collection instructions ↗

    The collection appointment follows notification that the title is available; it is not proof of an initial application appointment.

    High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia · verified

  5. ApplyApplicant
    Start the destination-specific visa process ↗

    Choose French Polynesia and the actual purpose and nationality/status circumstances.

    France-Visas / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Does this card authorise remote work?+

No remote-work entitlement is established. The category requires an undertaking not to exercise professional activity. Confirm an independent lawful activity basis before relying on employment or professional services during the stay.

Must resources equal mainland net SMIC?+

The territorial L445-2 adaptation removes that mainland formula from L426-20. Sufficient resources still have to be proved; the local checklist gives evidence examples and a guarantor branch, without a universal replacement number in the reviewed materials.

Can I use a pleasure vessel as accommodation evidence?+

The January 2026 checklist has a vessel-accommodation branch asking for an honour declaration and registration certificate. It does not exempt the person from entry, residence, insurance, resources or activity conditions.

Is this a route to permanent residence?+

It is a temporary non-working residence category. The local guidance does not give it a generic resident-card pathway, and continued permission remains subject to the current conditions and renewal limits.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in French Polynesia

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia

Last checked: 14 November 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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