CHARTER · FRENCH POLYNESIA

Chartering a boat in French Polynesia: licence, rules and safety

Last verified:

EMERGENCY AT SEACall JRCC Tahiti on 16. MAYDAY on VHF 16 · DSC 70.

Arriving by boat

Yachts arriving from abroad must first berth at a designated 'first-touch' port, bay or roadstead for customs, immigration and biosecurity formalities, and must send a maritime health declaration (DMS) at least 48 hours before arrival. After entry, a yacht may stay under duty-free temporary admission for up to 12 months (36 months if over 24 m).

Direction polynésienne des affaires maritimes (DPAM) · Direction polynésienne des affaires maritimes (DPAM) · Direction régionale des douanes de Polynésie française ▾
service-public.pf (2026-10-14): “Les navires de plaisance arrivant par la mer de l’étranger doivent impérativement accoster dans les ports, baies ou rades, dits de « première touchée » pour y effectuer les formalités d’entrée sur le territoire polynésien : Douane, immigration et biosécurité.”
service-public.pf (2026-10-14): “Tous les navires (croisières, yachts ou de plaisance) doivent transmettre une déclaration maritime de santé (DMS) a minima quarante-huit (48) heures avant l’arrivée.”
service-public.pf (2026-10-14): “pour une durée maximale de 12 mois (navires de moins de 24m) ou 36 mois (navires de plus de 24m)”

Season and weather

In the southern hemisphere the cyclone season runs from November to April, sometimes into May (Météo-France); the UK FCDO says tropical storms can occur in French Polynesia from November to April.

Météo-France Polynésie française · UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾
meteo.pf (2026-10-14): “la saison cyclonique s'étend de NOVEMBRE à AVRIL , voire MAI.”
gov.uk (2026-10-14): “Tropical storms including cyclones can happen from November to April.”

Forecast: Météo-France Polynésie française publishes the official marine forecast bulletin by sea zone, with special bulletins (BMS) when mean wind reaches 28 knots or more.

Météo-France Polynésie française · Météo-France Polynésie française ▾
meteo.pf (2026-10-14): “ZONE BMS: VENT MOYEN A 10M >= 28KT”
meteo.pf (2026-10-14): “Bulletin de prévision marine”

Rules on the water

Life jackets: French Polynesia's maritime affairs directorate publishes Division 224 as the pleasure-boat safety rule: there must be as many approved lifejackets on board as there are people.

Direction polynésienne des affaires maritimes (DPAM) ▾
service-public.pf (2026-10-14): “Il doit y avoir à bord de tous les navires de plaisance visés au présent chapitre, autant de brassières de sauvetage approuvées que de personnes à bord”

Tahiti & Raiatea: Off Faa'a and Punaauia (Tahiti west coast, around Marina Taina and Motu Tahiri) boats may only stay on a proper mooring in zones P0, P1, P3, P4 and P5; anchoring on your own anchor is strictly forbidden there, and mooring or anchoring anywhere else (including zone P6 and Vairai) is prohibited. Offenders face fines and removal of the boat at their own cost.

Port autonome de Papeete · Port autonome de Papeete ▾
portdepapeete.pf (2026-10-14): “Le mouillage et le stationnement des navires ne sont autorisés que sur une installation d’ancrage appropriée (corps-mort) uniquement dans les zones suivantes”
portdepapeete.pf (2026-10-14): “Le mouillage sur ancre y est strictement interdit.”

Hazards and warnings

Beaches are not patrolled and there may be strong currents, even in the lagoons.

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (SafeTravel) ▾
safetravel.govt.nz (2026-10-14): “Beaches in French Polynesia are not patrolled and there may be strong currents, even in the lagoons.”

Tahiti & Raiatea: The tropical cyclone season in the south-west Pacific runs from November to April, peaking January to March. Météo-France Polynésie issues cyclone pre-alerts and orange, red and purple cyclone alerts.

Fiji Meteorological Service (RSMC Nadi) · Météo-France Polynésie française ▾
met.gov.fj (2026-10-14): “The TC season in the southwest Pacific extend from November to April, with the peak TC activities normally experienced from January to March.”
meteo.pf (2026-10-14): “Pré-alerte cyclonique en cours”

Divers

French Polynesia's only hyperbaric chamber is in Papeete (Tahiti).

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾
gov.uk (2026-10-14): “ask about safety precautions, including the ability to transfer divers to the only hyperbaric chamber in French Polynesia, which is in Papeete”

Charter bases in French Polynesia

Tahiti & Raiatea

Before you sail

All rescue numbers for French Polynesia Print an emergency card Person overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose powerThunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to doRan aground? What to do

Frequently asked

When is the best time to sail in French Polynesia, and when is storm season?

In the southern hemisphere the cyclone season runs from November to April, sometimes into May (Météo-France); the UK FCDO says tropical storms can occur in French Polynesia from November to April.

How do I clear in when arriving in French Polynesia by boat?

Yachts arriving from abroad must first berth at a designated 'first-touch' port, bay or roadstead for customs, immigration and biosecurity formalities, and must send a maritime health declaration (DMS) at least 48 hours before arrival. After entry, a yacht may stay under duty-free temporary admission for up to 12 months (36 months if over 24 m).

What is the emergency number at sea in French Polynesia?

Call JRCC Tahiti on 16. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

Other charter countries

CroatiaGreeceTürkiyeItalySpainFranceMaltaPortugalBritish Virgin IslandsSaint-MartinSint MaartenSt Vincent & the GrenadinesGrenadaSt LuciaMartiniqueGuadeloupeBahamasThailandMalaysiaSeychellesNew CaledoniaFijiSwedenNorwayDenmark

Every line above is a plain-English summary of an official source — open “▾” for the exact wording. Rules change: confirm with your charter company and the local authority.