Overview

French Polynesia is a semi-autonomous French territory. The French State oversees certain competencies such as defence, foreign affairs, law and order, monetary policy, certain parts of tertiary education and research. It comprises five archipelagos (Society, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Gambier and Australs). French Polynesia is spread over more than 5.3 million square kilometres, approximately the size of Europe. It is located in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 6,000 kilometres east of Australia and 7,500 kilometres west of Chile. French Polynesia’s population in 2022 was 283,147.

Political overview

French Polynesians are French citizens with the right to live in France. They are entitled to vote in local, French national and European elections.

The President of the French Republic is French Polynesia's Head of State and is represented by a High Commissioner based in French Polynesia.

French Polynesia was designated a French overseas territory in 1946 and given a Territorial Assembly on 25 October 1946. French Polynesia's constitutional status, its institutions, legal powers and relationship with France is defined by statute which has been amended several times since 1946 by the French Government, and most recently in 2004.

French Polynesia is a parliamentary democracy, with an executive headed by the President of the Government of French Polynesia, and a 57-seat Assembly, headed by the President of the Assembly (akin to a speaker), each elected by a simple majority vote within the Assembly for a five-year term. Assembly members also serve five-year terms.

French Polynesia uses its own flag, seal and anthem in conjunction with French national symbols.

On 30 April 2023, the Tavini Huira'atira party won an absolute majority in the Assembly of French Polynesia, taking 38 of the 57 seats in the Territorial elections. Tavini's presidential candidate, Moetai Brotherson, was formally elected President of the Government of French Polynesia at an Assembly meeting on 12 May 2023. Tavini's Antony Géros is the President of the Assembly.

In May 2013, French Polynesia was reinscribed on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Economic overview

French Polynesia's economy has faced a number of challenges due to factors including limited resources and options for diversification, and isolation, however it has seen increased economic activity and expansion into new sectors in recent years. The tourism industry is the mainstay of the French Polynesian economy, which has rebounded following a major contraction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Financial transfers from France have traditionally made up around 30 per cent of French Polynesia's GDP. Of these transfers, approximately half is for the delivery of the responsibilities of the Territorial Government, while the remainder is for French State-based responsibilities such as defence, justice, security and certain parts of higher education and research and disbursements to municipal governments.

Foreign relations

French Polynesia maintains close ties with other Pacific island countries and territories, particularly its Polynesian neighbours through the Polynesian Leaders' Group, trading partnerships and other links.

French Polynesia is a member of the Pacific Community (SPC), the South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), and the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO).

In 2016, French Polynesia was admitted as a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), alongside New Caledonia.

In 2024, French Polynesia was admitted as an observatory member of the Organisation of Francophonie.

Bilateral relations

Our Consulate-General in Pape'ete is one of Australia's newest diplomatic missions, having commenced operations on 4 May 2021. Australia's ties with French Polynesia centre on tourism, science, research, education and agriculture. Previously, the Australian Consul-General in Noumea was accredited to French Polynesia.

Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited French Polynesia in October 2022, where she officially opened our Consulate-General in Papeʻete. She met High Commissioner of the French Republic, Mr Éric Spitz, and then-French Polynesian President, Mr Édouard Fritch.

The Australian Defence Force has a strong relationship with the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia (FAPF), working together to bring humanitarian assistance to Pacific countries in the event of natural disasters and to counter security threats, such as illegal, unreported and undeclared fishing.

Visa waiver arrangements negotiated by Australia and France in 1998, and a working holiday-maker arrangement with France from 1 January 2004, have been beneficial in promoting two-way exchange.

Trade and Investment

More information and statistics on Australia's trade and economic relationship with French Polynesia can be found on the trade and investment factsheet.

Distance and transport costs are limiting factors for international trade between Australia and French Polynesia. An ongoing program of tax reform, involving the phased elimination of a number of French Polynesian import duties in favour of a value-added tax, should make market access conditions more attractive in the longer term. However French/EU exporters will likely continue to enjoy certain practical advantages (including existing relationships and a common language and legal system).

People-to-people links

As part of the Australia-France Roadmap's Pacific Shared Knowledge Initiative, Australia has opened its flagship Australia Awards scholarships program to New Caledonians and French Polynesians – enabling five students from the French territories to pursue postgraduate studies in Australia each year.

Australia has been a strong supporter of the International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival (FIFO) in French Polynesia for many years, with a high-level of participation from Australian entrants and guests.

High-level visits and meetings

• June 2024: Vice-President Minarii Galenon-Taupua participated in the opening of “Gauguin’s World” exhibit at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Vice-President Galenon-Taupua met with Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• February-March 2024: Canberra Fellowships Program visit by Representative of the Assembly of French Polynesia, Ms Tepuaraurii Teriitahi; Special Advisor to the Vice President on the Environment, Dr Hervé Raimana Lallemant-Moe; Member of the French National Assembly and Representative of the Assembly of French Polynesia, Mr Steve Chailloux MP; Representative of the Assembly of French Polynesia, Ms Nicole Sanquer MP.
• October 2022: Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited French Polynesia where she met French High Commissioner, Mr Eric Spitz, and then-French Polynesian President, Mr Édouard Fritch.
• October 2021: Then-French Polynesian Minister for Families and Social Welfare, Ms Isabelle Sachet, participated in the Pacific Women's Leaders meeting co-chaired by then-Foreign Minister Payne.
• August 2019: The Hon Greg Hunt MP, then-Minister for Health, visited French Polynesia for the Pacific Heads of Health Meeting.
• June 2019: Then-Minister for Public Administration, Energy and the Digital Economy, Ms Téa Frogier, visited Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra.
• July 2017: meeting between the Vice President of French Polynesia, Mr Teva Rohrfritsch, and Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, then-Minister for International Development and the Pacific, in Noumea
• March 2011: The Hon Richard Marles MP, then-Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, visited French Polynesia where he met then-French High Commissioner, Mr Richard Didier, and then-President of the Assembly, Mr Gaston Tong Sang.

Visitor information

Australians travelling to French Polynesia are advised to consult the Smartraveller travel advice.