Travel Insurance Direct

Summary

• We advise you to exercise normal safety precautions in French Polynesia.

• Exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia.

• Industrial disputes have the potential to create tensions and to lead to social unrest, including strike action. You should monitor developments and plan accordingly. You should avoid demonstrations and large public gatherings as they may turn violent.

• Cyclone season in French Polynesia is from November to April. However, tropical storms and cyclones may occur in other months. See the Natural Disasters section below for more detailed advice.

• Australia has a Consulate in French Polynesia headed by an Honorary Consul, who provides limited consular assistance. The Australian Consulate-General in New Caledonia provides full consular assistance to Australians in French Polynesia.

• Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:

  • organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy

  • register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency

  • subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.

Entry and exit

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest French Embassy or Consulate for the most up-to-date information.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Safety and security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

Civil unrest/Political tension

We advise you to exercise normal safety precautions. You should avoid demonstrations and large public gatherings as they may turn violent.

Industrial relations disputes and strikes have, in recent years, caused social unrest, violence, and disruption to the supply of essential services and transport, including international air links. In the event of strike action, travellers should check the status of flights with their airline before heading to the airport and contact their tour operator to check whether tourist services have been disrupted.

Crime

French Polynesia has a low incidence of serious crime. However, petty crime, including incidents of mugging and bag snatching, is increasing. Travellers should be aware of their personal belongings at all times and should not leave their belongings unattended or unsecured.

Money and valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

Local travel

See our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.

If you intend to hire cars, motorcycles, jet skis or any other motorised water sport equipment, talk to your insurer to check if it is covered by your insurance policy.

The safety standards you might expect of tour operators are not always met, especially for adventure sports such as diving and yachting. Sufficient life jackets and adequate safety equipment may not be provided. Recommended maintenance standards and safety precautions may not be observed. Check operators' credentials and safety equipment beforehand and ensure your travel insurance policy covers your planned activities.

Airline safety

Please refer to our travel bulletin for information about Aviation Safety and Security.

Laws

When you are in French Polynesia, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

French Polynesia is an Overseas Country within the French Republic and French law applies, including the principle of 'Garde àVue' according to which a detained person may not have immediate access to a lawyer or their consular representative. 'Garde à Vue' is a period of detention under French law that is loosely equivalent to 'assisting police with their enquiries'. Depending on the gravity of the circumstances and charges under consideration, it can vary from a few hours to three days.

Penalties for drug offences, even possession of small amounts, include fines and imprisonment.

Failing to offer assistance to 'a person in danger' is illegal. This means that if you fail to stop upon witnessing a motor accident, fail to report such an accident to emergency services, or ignore appeals for help or urgent assistance, you may be charged. Penalties include a suspended prison sentence and a fine. The law does not apply in situations where to answer an appeal for help might endanger your life or the lives of others.

You are required to carry identification at all times.

It is illegal to photograph security services, including police. Penalties may include detention and confiscation of film and/or camera.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money, laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism, child pornography, and child sex tourism, apply to Australian overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism and child pornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties for up to 25 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in child sexual exploitation while outside of Australia.

Information for dual nationals

Our Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.

Health

On 10 August 2010, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced it had moved to a post-pandemic period in response to pandemic (H1N1) 2009. The virus is expected to remain as a seasonal influenza virus and local outbreaks may occur. For more information see the WHO website.

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

Medical facilities in the capital Papeete are comparable with those of a medium-sized suburban hospital in Australia. However, facilities in the outlying rural areas and on remote islands, including Bora Bora, are basic. Medical and hospital costs in French Polynesia are extremely high.

Rescue and emergency services are of a high standard although distances between the capital, Papeete, and the outer islands could delay the response to an emergency. An air ambulance evacuation from one of the islands to Papeete will cost around $A11,000. A medical evacuation on commercial flights from Papeete to Australia would cost in excess of $A15,000.

There is only one decompression facility in French Polynesia, in Papeete. Many popular dive sites are located on other islands and it may take some time to reach the decompression facility in the event of an accident. Most registered dive companies require participants to have insurance cover for diving.

There are occasional outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever in French Polynesia. It is strongly recommended you take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes, including using an insect repellent, wearing loose fitting, light coloured clothing and ensuring your accommodation is mosquito proof. Seek medical advice if you have a fever. For further information on dengue fever see the WHO's dengue factsheet. The mosquito-borne disease filariasis also occurs, particularly in rural areas.

Tap water in Papeete is safe to drink. It is recommended, however, that you boil all drinking water or drink only bottled water in rural areas.

Where to get help

Australia has a Consulate in French Polynesia headed by an Honorary Consul. The Consulate provides limited consular assistance which does not include the issue of Australian passports.

You can obtain full consular assistance from the nearest Australian Consulate-General which is in New Caledonia:

Australian Consulate-General

Contact details for the Consulate in French Polynesia are:

Australian Consulate

If you are travelling to French Polynesia, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the above Consulate-General or Consulate, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

Additional information

Natural disasters, severe weather and climate

Cyclone season is between November to April when flooding, landslides and disruptions to services may occur. However, tropical storms and cyclones may also occur in other months. The direction and strength of cyclones can change with little warning. The French High Commission provides weather information (currently only in French) for the general public both via phone hotline (689) 367 008 and by fax (requests should be sent in French to +689 367 009 ).

You can also get detailed weather information from Meteo-France in French Polynesia, The Fiji Meteorological Service, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, US Navy.

In the event of an approaching cyclone, you should identify your nearest safe location. We encourage Australians in affected areas to follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor the media for the latest developments. Flights in and out of affected areas could be delayed or suspended. Available flights may fill quickly. The cyclone could also affect access to sea ports in the region. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe cyclone may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should familiarise yourself with your hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans. You should carry your travel documents at all times (i.e. passport, photo identification) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. We also suggest that you contact friends and family in Australia with updates about your welfare and whereabouts. For further information, see our Travel Bulletin: Severe Weather – Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons.

French Polynesia is in an active earthquake area. Further information on earthquakes and other natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service.

All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure

If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

If you are travelling during cyclone season or after a natural disaster, you should contact your tour operator to check whether tourist services at your planned destination have been affected.

Wildlife

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

For parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling with Children brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Customs

Other than the tourist islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, French Polynesia is a conservative society and you should dress and behave modestly outside tourist resorts.