Foreign investor:
residency and work conditions

Entering French Polynesia to settle and /or to work is subject to specific conditions.

The regulations differ from those in metropolitan France and other French overseas departments and territories.

A residence permit is required for stays longer than three months, except for nationals of European Union (EU) member state, the European Economic Area (EEA), or the Swiss Confederation. Employement, wether salaried or self-employed, requires authorization.

staying…

For stays under three months, nationals from foreign countries (excluding EU, EEA, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) must obtain a visa before entering the territory. This visa must be obtain from the nearest consular authorities and must include the mandatory mention “Valid for French Polynesia”. Visa exemptions apply to individuals holding a valid residence permit or long-stay visa issued by France or another Schengen Agreement member state that fully applies the Schengen acquis, for stays not exceeding three months within a six-month period.

For long-term stays (beyond three months), residence permit must be requested within two months of arrival in French Polynesia at the High Commission of th French Republic, and before the expiration of the visa. Each residence permit request is reviewed by the Council of Ministers of French Polynesia.

There are four types of residence permit:

  • Temporary residence card valid for up to one year.

  • Multi-year residence card valid for up to four years.

  • Resident card valid for ten years.

  • Permanent resident card, valid indefinitely.

These permits are issued by the High Commission of the French Republic based on the reason for and duration of the stay.

where to apply?

High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia:
Directorate of Regulatory and Land Affairs – Office of Regulation and Electoral Matters – Foreign Nationals Division

Investing…

The general principle is freedom of foreign investments. However, foreign investors do not automatically gain residency rights, which remain under the authority of the French State.

Investments in the following strategic sectors require prior authorization: fisheries, aquaculture, mother-of-pearl, pearl farming, audiovisual and telecommunications sectors, and for real-estate acquisition (land or proprerty rights). The application for prior authorization must be submitted to the General Directorate of Economic Affairs (DGAE) and addressed to the President of French Polynesia.

Foreign investments in other sectors are subject to a declaration requirement within three months after the investment is completed. However, foreign shareholdings are exempt from this declaration if they do not exceed 20% of the share capital in publicly traded companies and do not exceed 33.3% of the share capital in private companies.

The Economic Development Agency (ADE), a public service under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Budget and Finance (MEF) of French Polynesia, acts as a “one-stop public service” for investor support.

working…

Employee: Any individual without French nationality including nationals of European Union member countries, who wishes to work as an employee in French Polynesia must obtain a work permit. The initail work authorisation request must be submitted in writing to the Minister of Employment of French Polynesia and filed by the employer at the Employement, Training and Professional Integration Service (SEFI).

Employement, Training and Professional Integration Service (SEFI):

Non-employee: Non-EU foreigners who wish to engage in self-employed commercial, industrial or artisanal must obtain a foreign trader’s card from SEFI.

Applicants must prove legal residency in French Polynesia and show they have applied for or obtained a residence permit allowing to operate a business subject to authorization.

The admnistrative examines the viability and sustainability of their business project.

Once the application is complete, processing takes up to three months. The foreign trader’s card is issued by the SEFI and is valid for five years, renewable.

The “foreign trader’s card” is required for:

  • Operating a business under a sole proprietorship;
  • Holding shares in a company where the foreign associate has unlimited liability for corporate debts or is an executive with management authority;
  • Acting as a representative of a foreign company in French Polynesia (subsidiary, branch or commercial representation).

Financial transfers

Financial transfers from French Polynesia to foreign countries are not subject to any tax or customs restrictions. There is no declaration requirement for transfers between metropolitan France and overseas territories such as French Polynesia.

However, in compliance with the articles L.721-4, L.731-5, L.751-6, L.761-5 and L.741-6 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, a declaration is required for transfers between these territories and foreign countries, whether they are EU or non-EU states.