Relocation intelligence
🇵🇫 Moving to French Polynesia: tax, residency and cost of living
French Polynesia levies no classic income tax; instead there is a solidarity contribution (CST) on salaries and a social contribution (CPS). The effective burden on an income worth roughly EUR 54,000 is therefore around 9%, low by Western standards. Corporate tax is about 25% and there is a VAT of about 16%. The currency is the CFP franc, pegged to the euro. The French territory offers tropical islands and French services, but is remote with high import costs.
Thinking of moving to French Polynesia? Here is the tax, residency, property and quality-of-life picture in plain numbers, with sources.
Key facts
- Top income tax
- 7%
- Corporate tax
- 25%
- Capital gains
- 0%
- Wealth tax
- No
- Inheritance tax
- No
- Cost of living index
- 58
- Safety
- 8/10
- Internet quality
- 6/10
- Visa-free destinations
- 150
- Foreigners can own property
- No
- Residency in
- 6 months
- Citizenship in
- 5 years
Taxes
No classic income tax; instead a solidarity contribution (CST) and social contribution (CPS), effectively around 9% at EUR 54,000. Corporate tax about 25%, VAT about 16%.
Residency and visas
Residence and work run via French and territorial frameworks, with opportunities in tourism, pearls and public service.
Property ownership
Foreigners can generally acquire property, though the market is small and prices on the main islands are high.
Cost of living and quality of life
French Polynesia offers tropical lagoons and French services with a low tax burden, but is remote with high import costs.
Passport and mobility
Residents are French citizens and travel on a French passport, with visa-free access to about 150 destinations.
Why people move to French Polynesia
No classic income tax
There is no ordinary income tax, only a solidarity contribution and social contribution, keeping the effective burden around 9%.
Euro-pegged CFP franc
The CFP franc is pegged to the euro, so there is no exchange-rate risk for those coming from the eurozone.
Honest trade-offs
- Frans-Polynesië is afgelegen, met hoge invoerkosten en een kleine, van toerisme afhankelijke economie.
- Hoewel er geen klassieke inkomstenbelasting is, gelden een solidariteitsbijdrage (CST) op salarissen en een sociale premie (CPS), samen effectief rond de 9%.
- De vastgoedmarkt is klein en de prijzen op de hoofdeilanden zijn hoog.
See how French Polynesia scores for your situation
Get your personal Freedom Score and a full relocation comparison based on your income, family and goals.
Calculate my score