Ready to Buy French Polynesia Visa? Follow This Checklist

Okay, so I’ve been planning this trip to French Polynesia for ages, and let me tell you, figuring out the visa situation was a bit of a headache at first. But I finally got it all sorted, so I thought I’d share my experience in case any of you are planning a similar trip.

First off, I started by digging around online to see if I even needed a visa. Turns out, for a lot of folks, you can just waltz into French Polynesia for up to 90 days without one. That’s pretty sweet, but I wasn’t sure if that applied to me, so I kept digging.

I found out that there’s this thing called an eVisa that pretty much anyone can apply for. It’s all done online, which is super convenient. But then I also stumbled upon something called an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), and honestly, I got a bit confused about which one I needed.

So I went down a bit of a rabbit hole, reading through all sorts of official-looking websites. Eventually, I figured out that since I was planning on staying for just a couple of weeks, I probably didn’t need a visa at all. But, to be on the safe side, I decided to apply for the ETA. Better safe than sorry, right?

The application process for the ETA was pretty straightforward. I filled out a bunch of forms online, uploaded a scan of my passport (which, by the way, needs to be valid for at least six months after your trip ends), and paid a small fee. Easy peasy.

They say it can take around 15 days to process, or even longer during busy times. My application was processed in just under two weeks.

• Started researching visa requirements online.
• Discovered the 90-day visa-free option for many tourists.
• Learned about eVisas and Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs).
• Decided to apply for an ETA to be safe.
• Completed the online application, uploaded passport scan, and paid the fee.
• My ETA application processed within two weeks.
• Ready to go.

All in all, it wasn’t as complicated as I initially thought it would be. Just make sure you do your research and give yourself enough time before your trip to get everything sorted. And now, I’m all set for my dream vacation!