BNob MacKie on sv Hedonism, posted the story below recently from Tahiti’s Radio One website regarding the policy changes put in plae by the gournment of French Polynesia. The reduction of the time allowed under a cruising visa is reduced from 24 to 12 months. This is down from 36 months in 2020. The reason for the change is the overcrowing of cruisinf faciliies and anchorages. Simply, the island nation is overwhelmed by the number of cruiisn gboats that wish to stay in their waters for extened periods.
A new provision in the Customs Code, introduced in July but previously unnoticed, reduces the temporary admission period for foreign pleasure craft under 24 meters from 24 to 12 months. In other words, visiting sailboats will have to leave Polynesian waters after one year or pay the costly “Papetization” fees. While some round-the-world sailors are expressing alarm on social media about this new restriction, the Polynesian Sailing Association calls it a “good measure,” hoping for further steps to address already overcrowded infrastructure.
The measure went unnoticed on July 28th, amidst a decree amending various articles of the Customs Code. However, it has sparked debate in recent days on social media after the Ministry of Economy and Finance issued a “note to operators.” The government has officially reduced the period of temporary admission for pleasure craft from 24 to 12 months. In practical terms, visiting sailboats, particularly those on round-the-world voyages, could previously remain in French Polynesia’s waters for up to two years before being required to pay customs duties on their vessels. This “Papetization” process, while not involving a change of flag, still costs between 7 and 8% of the boat’s value. This grace period has therefore been reduced to one year by decision of the Ministry of Finance.
The government clarifies that this change follows several discussions over the past two years with elected officials from Tarahoi, some of whom, particularly from the Tavini party, have been requesting, and even intend to propose, reducing this temporary admission period to just six months. The “twelve months” now stipulated by the Customs Code for the entry of sailboats under 24 meters after September 1st would therefore represent a “compromise” between preserving recreational boating and its associated revenue, and addressing the recurring demands of representatives and mayors on this issue.
From three to one year since 2020
This isn’t the first time the rules have changed for visiting sailboats. After fluctuating between 6 and 24 months, the permitted stay for pleasure craft was set at three years as part of the 2015-2020 tourism development strategy. The “36-Month Route,” promoted even in the European press, was intended to attract boaters to new itineraries, particularly to islands that are not particularly touristic, and was to be accompanied by investments in infrastructure for welcoming sailboats and developing the services and amenities available to them. This effort, however, has not been fully implemented by the authorities.
But in 2020, as the Covid crisis prevented many foreign vessels from leaving French Polynesia, and as tensions rose in some lagoons towards sailboats anchored for extended periods, the government reversed course . Believing that the system had been “misused” by some, it mandated customs clearance after 24 months instead of 36. The government thus continued the restrictive trend of its predecessors.
Kind regards,
Bob Mackie
sv HEDONISM
