Checking into French Polynesia in the Marquesas

We recently made the crossing from Panama to French Polynesia (Nuku Hiva, The Marquesas) and there are quite a few steps that need to happen for clearing in.  Here they are in the order in which they should be completed. These were accurate as of May 2026.

Note: This is for those with and without a Long Stay Visa - the only step that changes is Step 7.

Clearing In Steps 

1. Fill out the entry form several days before arriving. You will need to create an account.
   https://demarche.numerique.gouv.fr/commencer/declaration-unique-plaisance-polynesie-francaise
2. Fill out the bio-security form 48 hours before arriving.
   https://www.mes-demarches.gov.pf/commencer/demande_arraisonnement_voiliers 
3. Technically, you are supposed to complete and submit the Maritime Health Declaration and email it.
   https://en.pf.yellowflagguides.com/arrival/obligations-and-formalities/ 
4. Create an account on Escales for your boat so you can register for a mooring/anchorage in the areas where this is required.
   https://escales.gov.pf/home 
5. Actually Clear In
   Upon Arrival, update the actual arrive date on your entry form and print it.
   Bring this to the Gendarmerie (Police) office with your passports.
   They will stamp your passport and the first page of the form.
   
   Notes: You may need a departing flight ticket or a bond exemption letter and may be asked for it while clearing in.
   If you do not have a Visa (either required for your country or a Long Stay visa), you need one of these. You can either get one at onwardticket.com for $16 or purchase a refundable ticket and cancel before the refundable period expires or you can work with a local yascht agent to get a bond letter.
   Lastly, it appears that the officials in Hiva Oa ask everyone arriving for a ticket or bond letter.
6. Email Yann (Nuku Hiva) to schedule a Phytosecurity inspection upon arrival.
   He will visit your boat (you will have to pick him up at the dinghy dock) and check for and collect any produce that presents a hazard to local produce and needs to be destroyed. 
   He speaks okay English and is very, very nice and also very, very large so you may want to come to get him with no extra people aboard your dinghy.
   Note: You are not supposed to dispose of any plant or animal matter in their waste, so it is best to go through your trash, remove these items and throw them overboard as you are crossing.
7. Email your stamped info 
   If you have a Long Stay Visa, you should have been given the name of a person to email when you arrive in French Polynesia.  They asked us for pictures of the stamps/passports, then confirmed receipt. [email protected] 

As you travel around French Polynesia

You are supposed to return to the site in step one and update your entry form with each new place you stop and drop anchor, grab a mooring ball or tie up. Luckily it is very easy to do.

Pet Procedures 

If you are coming into French Polynesia with a pet, the process becomes a lot more complicated. 

**It is imperative that you start this permit application at least 2 months before departing**
The application can be edited with your clearance and entrance documents, etc as they are available. The FP Official Vet is very particular about every piece of documentation so it is advised to communicate with them prior to departure as much as possible and make sure they are happy. I was asked multiple times for changes and clarifications (and not given all the requirements each time I asked. It was very frustrating). I will provide the contact info at the time we worked with them.

FP Official Vet (based at the biosecurity office by the airport in Tahiti):

  Reception (ask for someone who speaks english if necessary)

Phone: +689 40 54 01 00

  Dr. Virginie Scanga (Ginny) - Official Vet (speaks fluent English) 

Office Phone:  +689 40 54 01 13

Email: [email protected] 

WhatsApp: +689 87 01 31 31

  Miranda HAAPII - Assistant (speaks some English)

Email: [email protected]

 

Here is a run-down of what you need:

• Official Identification Document
  For us, this needed to be a document that listed our cat’s name, information and his microchip ID number.
• Health Certificate from a Nationally Registered Vet
  This will include details on a lot of the following and indicate that the pet is safe to travel and enter.
• Rabies Vaccine
  They specify that it needs to be one year, but our cat has a 3 year vaccine and it was accepted. They asked me to have the issuing vet confirm it was indeed good for three years because it was not extremely clear on the certificate. I also had to ask the vet to add the Microchip ID number to the certificate. For some reason they left it blank in Grenada but I was luckily able to get a corrected certificate issued from the original vet. 
• Titer Test
  This needs to be tested 3 months after the rabies vaccine was administered.  Supposedly, if the vaccine is renewed with the same vaccine used the previous time and with no lapse, the titer test results are still accepted.  THIS IS RUMOR, VERIFY ON YOUR OWN!
• Anti-parasite (De-worming)
  This needs to be administered by a vet twice before you depart the originating country.
  1. Less than 30 days before leaving and effectively greater than 15 days before leaving, because...
  2. Less than 4 days before leaving and at least 15 days after the first round.

  Note, this can cause a severe reaction in pets (dizziness, lethargy, etc)  Chuck was very affected by this medicine and it was very troubling. He recovered within 24 hours, but we felt terrible. 

• Dogs
• Leishmaniasis Screening Test Results
  By indirect immunofluoresence or ELISA.
• Photograph of the pet 
• Owners Identification
  Photo of Passport
• Declaration of Departure from Last Country 
  Regular clearing out documents
• Declaration of Arrival in French Polynesia
  Regular clearing in documents
• Application for the Pet Entry Process 
  Use this website: https://www.mes-demarches.gov.pf/commencer/import-chien-chat-bateau
• Payment of Permit Fee by Bank Transfer or Credit Card
  Payment is accepted on the website. Currently 5500 xpf  (about $53 / €46).
• Have the pet seen by a French Polynesian National Vet
  Upon arriving into French Polynesia, your pet will need to be seen by a vet before being allowed off your vessel.  At this time there is a final payment due of 6000 xpf (about $56 / €50) for the veterinary displacement and 500 xpf (about $5 / €4) each animal for the issuance of the pass. We had to make this payment by bank transfer (or we could have gone into the office to pay by cash or card). 
  You can either bring the pet to Tahiti, or try to work with other sailors to bring a vet to The Marquesas, etc and split the cost. We anchored near the airport and picked the Vet up in our dingy to bring her to the boat. 
  For those with a pet that does not leave the boat, there does not seem to be a sense of urgency to this step. It sounded like they could also issue paperwork to bond your pet to the boat if you did not have the required paperwork. I believe this still requires a Vet visit and probably a fee. 

Failure to complete these steps can result in a fine of 450,000 XPF (which is about $4,500!) 

Disclaimer

All of the above it true and correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publishing and is provided as a guide only.  Please do you own research and make sure that none of these steps are wrong or have changed.  We assume no liabilities for any errors or omissions.