Entering by boat: French Polynesia

Before you arrive

• Notify the authorities 48 hours before arrival.
• Online procedure: Déclaration d’entrée et de sortie plaisance (douane) — demarche.numerique.gouv.fr/commencer/declaration-d-entree-et-de-sortie-plaisance-au-01-09-2026
• ESCALES : déclarer le bateau (DPAM)
• Formalités d’arrivée (DPAM)

The steps

1. Before departure: register the boat on ESCALES (DPAM) and complete the online pleasure craft entry/exit declaration (customs), with a copy of each person’s passport.
2. At least 48 hours before arrival: send the maritime declaration of health to the health monitoring unit.
3. Arrive at a first port of entry (Papeete, Taiohae, Atuona, Hakahau, Rikitea, Tiputa, Uturoa…). Land nothing (food, plants, animals) before authorisation.
4. Tahiti and Moorea: customs at Papeete Port, border police at Faa’a. Elsewhere: at the gendarmerie, with passports, the certificate of registry and the declaration receipt.

Papers to have on board

• Passports for the whole crew
• Visas, if your nationality requires them
• Boat papers (registration certificate)
• Maritime declaration of health
• Biosecurity declaration
• Papers for animals on board

Good to know

• Since 1 September 2026: temporary admission is 12 months (instead of 24) for foreign boats under 24 m.
• Passports valid at least 6 months after the planned departure from French Polynesia; dogs and cats need an official permit.
• Insurance covering refloating and wreck removal is strongly recommended.

Ports of entry

The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.

Sources

• service-public.pf/dpam/formalites-arrivees-maritimes-pf/
• demarche.numerique.gouv.fr/commencer/declaration-d-entree-et-de-sortie-plaisance-au-01-09-2026

This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.