🇵🇫 Travel facts French Polynesia
✓ Last checked:The most important practical answers for your trip to French Polynesia — entry, tipping, plug type, customs and more. Compactly verified, with source references.
| Capital | Papeete |
|---|---|
| Language | French, Tahitian |
| Currency | CFP Franc (XPF) |
| Timezone | UTC-10 |
| Flight time from Germany | approx. 22–26 hours (with layover) |
| Emergency number | 112 · Police 17 · Emergency 15 |
| Plug | Type C/E · 220 V / 60 Hz |
| EU / Schengen | not an EU country · not Schengen |
Do I need a visa for French Polynesia?
French overseas territory (non-EU territory): no visa required for up to 90 days — passport required.
Passport must be valid for 6 months; if arriving via the USA, ESTA is also required. For binding information: German Federal Foreign Office.
How much should I tip in French Polynesia?
Not customary — service is included; rounding up is appreciated.
Taxi: No tip expected.
Which plug adapter do I need in French Polynesia?
No adapter needed — Type C / E (220 V / 60 Hz), German plugs fit.
Sockets are like in France — no adapter needed for EU plugs.
Can you drink tap water in French Polynesia?
Partly — varies regionally, bottled water recommended if in doubt.
In Papeete and on Moorea, usually drinkable; on remote islands, bottled water.
What can I bring back from French Polynesia to Germany?
Third country: On return to Germany, goods up to €430 (by air travel), 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits are duty-free. (Overseas territory outside the EU customs area.)
Will my mobile phone work in French Polynesia?
No EU roaming (overseas territory outside the roaming regulation) — roaming is expensive; use a local SIM or eSIM.
Card or cash — how do you pay in French Polynesia?
Pacific Franc (XPF, fixed to the Euro); card accepted in hotels and resorts, cash on small islands.
What should I know about health in French Polynesia?
Travel health insurance with repatriation recommended; check vaccination/health advice with the German Federal Foreign Office or tropical medicine institute.
Sources & Note
Information from the perspective of German citizens, as of August 2026, without guarantee. Entry and security information may change at short notice — the binding source is the German Federal Foreign Office (Travel Information for French Polynesia) . Health information does not replace medical travel advice.
