Sailing in French Polynesia: procedures and "Papeetisation"

In the Pacific Ocean, French Polynesia spans an immense territory whose size could be compared to that of Europe: 2.5 million km²! This incredible destination is made up of five archipelagos: the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Islands, the Austral Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the Gambier Islands. Together, these archipelagos comprise 118 islands and an incredible diversity. From deserted atolls with white sand beaches to higher islands with steep mountains and tropical forests... magnificent landscapes that have, quite rightly, always attracted sailors from all horizons.

Are you also considering exploring this exceptional territory? Then this new article from Bateau-immatriculation.com on the administrative procedures to be carried out in French Polynesia should interest you.

Do you already have a vessel in another territory and are planning to reach French Polynesia by sea? Whether you arrive via the trade wind route, after having transited the Panama Canal, or from the West, from New Zealand or Fiji, the administrative procedures to be completed will be the same.

In the Marquesas, the Gambier Islands, or the Society Islands, upon your arrival in French Polynesia, you will need to go to a Customs office to declare your entry into Polynesian territory. Some islands do not have one. In this case, you will need to report to the Gendarmerie, where officers can handle your entry administrative procedures.

You will complete a Customs declaration and a Temporary Admission for Pleasure Craft declaration, or "Bona Fides," which will allow you to legally import your boat into the territory for a specific period.
The customs authorities will provide you with proof of your entry date into Polynesian territory, and you may be asked to sail towards Papeete, on the island of Tahiti, so that your vessel can be inspected by customs authorities.

Your admission will be granted for a period of up to 24 consecutive months. There are special cases: for vessels with a hull length equal to or greater than 24 meters, the maximum stay is extended to 36 months.

You are reaching the end of your Temporary Admission for Pleasure Craft period in French Polynesia, and you want to know if it's possible to spend more time in the Polynesian territory? Please note that Order 991 CM of 09/07/20 provides for a few exceptions.

The maximum stay duration, 24 or 36 months depending on the case, can indeed be extended in cases of force majeure. An illness or significant damage that would require your boat to be immobilized, for example, are cases in which an extension of your temporary admission could be granted. This could be for up to 3 consecutive months.

The request for a derogation must be submitted in writing to the Customs office. You will not be authorized to stay longer in the Polynesian territory before obtaining express authorization from the head of the Customs department.

If you are considering leaving French Polynesia with your vessel in order to re-enter and thus extend your stay in Polynesian waters, there are several factors to consider.

Your temporary admission may indeed be renewed, provided certain conditions are met. If your boat has a hull length of less than 24 meters, for example, you will have to remain outside the territory for at least 6 months, starting from the date of filing the declaration of departure from Polynesian territory. You will need to be able to provide proof of your departure from French Polynesia, and proof of your entry into a foreign territory during the same period.

When sailing in French Polynesia, during the temporary import period for your boat, you can request to benefit from customs and tax exemptions on certain purchases. This allows you to acquire all the parts needed to repair your vessel tax-free or duty-free. The Temporary Admission Declaration, or Bonas Fides, is the document you will use to prove that your boat is temporarily imported.

We have therefore seen that non-resident pleasure boaters in French Polynesia could benefit from a duty-free entry for two or three years, from their date of first arrival in the Polynesian territory.

Beyond this Temporary Admission for Pleasure Boats period, if he wishes to continue staying in the Polynesian territory, the pleasure boater who owns the vessel is obliged to register his boat in Papeete. This is also the case if he becomes a Polynesian resident during his stay, if he works in the territory, or if he wishes to carry out activities other than pleasure boating on board his vessel (commercial operation, loan, rental, etc.).

The Bona Fides declaration is no longer sufficient, and it is mandatory to register the motorboat or sailboat in Papeete. In other words, the vessel must be cleared through customs and the associated customs duties and taxes paid.

Papeetisation is a declaration of import for a vessel, which does not oblige the owner of a vessel to proceed with a change of flag. A papeetised vessel can absolutely retain its French or foreign flag! However, if the vessel is used commercially by its owner for professional purposes, the boat will have to be operated under a Polynesian flag.

The customs declaration for the release for consumption of your vessel, or the boat import declaration, will be carried out by a customs broker. You will need to define the declared value of your unit: this will be taken into account and will determine the duties and taxes you will have to pay to clear your boat through customs.

You can declare your vessel for import electronically. The procedure is generally carried out with the help of a freight forwarder, directly in Papeete, on the island of Tahiti. The vessel's presence is not essential, but if the vessel is absent, additional information may be requested by the authorities.

If you wish to proceed with the import declaration for your unit, you will need to assemble a papeetisation file. Among the documents to provide, you will need to prepare copies of the vessel's papers, the customs entry in French Polynesia, and the identity documents of the owner(s). To attest to the value of your vessel, you will also need to provide the customs services with a copy of the bill of sale, the conclusions of an official appraisal, or the Argus value.

If you wish to register your boat in Papeete, you are surely concerned about the processing time required for your application. Good news: unlike other administrative procedures that can be particularly long, the procedure for registering a boat in Papeete is normally very fast. Thus, once your complete file has been submitted to the competent authorities, the declaration is, as a general rule, immediate. Hence the importance of carefully gathering the various necessary documents.

The cost of "papeetisation" for a vessel depends on the boat in question. Thus, the price requested for "papeetisation" of a 3.50-meter motorboat will not be the same, for example, as for "papeetisation" of a 40-meter sailboat.
The duties and taxes to be settled include the following:

• Environmental, Agriculture and Fisheries Tax (TEAP): 2% of the vessel's value
• Statistical Tax per quintal (TS): €0.42 per quintal
• Customs IT Contribution (PID): €0.71
• Value Added Tax (VAT): 5% of the vessel's value

Please note that the "papeetisation" fees will be paid in Pacific Francs, the currency in force in French Polynesia.

As French Polynesia is an overseas territory, if you have purchased a tax-free (HT) vessel in France, you will not be charged Value Added Tax (VAT).
If you have purchased a boat in another territory, such as the United States, the Caribbean, or South America, and you wish to travel to French Polynesia, you can maintain your vessel's tax-free status by choosing a flag that is adapted, on the one hand, to your navigation program, and on the other hand, to the specific administrative situation of your boat.
The Bateau-immatriculation.com team is at your disposal to present you with the possible options and to handle all procedures, up to obtaining your new flag.

The Bateau-immatriculation.com team is at your disposal to present you with the possible options and to handle all procedures, up to obtaining your new flag.

For all administrative procedures concerning your vessel, think of Bateau-immatriculation.com

Are you planning a short or long boat trip to French Polynesia, or are you considering settling in the territory? Whatever your situation, the experts at Bateau-immatriculation.com can help you. Contact our team without delay and benefit from our advice, a referral to accredited local operators, or a complete handling of your case. Go sailing, we'll take care of your paperwork!