Promote:
Invest in French Polynesia
A short guide for companies expanding into French Polynesia: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. French Polynesia at a glance
PopulationEstimate
282,465
The World Bank reports a population of 282,465 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, population, 2025 (October 2026 release) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$6.32 billion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$6.32 billion in 2024, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, GDP in current dollars, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
GDP per person
US$22,440
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$22,440 in 2024, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, GDP per person in current dollars, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Real GDP growth
1.1%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 1.1 percent in 2024.
Source: World Bank WDI, real GDP growth, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Inflation
−0.1%
Consumer prices fell 0.1 percent between September 2025 and September 2026, the ISPF reports; this is the twelve-month rate.
Source: ISPF, consumer price index note, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$11.2 million
Foreign investment inflows were US$11.24 million in 2025 in UNCTAD’s data, after negative values in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment inflows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the CFP franc (XPF), the money of French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna.
Source: IEOM, French Polynesia annual economic report 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 7, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The investment promotion agency is the Economic Development Agency (ADE), a public service under the minister for the economy.
Source: ADE, missions page, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 21, 2026
The ADE describes itself as a one-stop shop for investors; no count of agencies in it was found.
Source: ADE, foreign investor page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 31, 2025
Investors from outside the European Union need prior authorization in real estate, fishing, aquaculture, mother-of-pearl and pearls, audiovisual and telecommunications, whatever their share.
Source: DGAE, foreign investments in French Polynesia, July 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 3, 2026
No official list or count of priority development zones is published; the ADE's investor guide describes two zone types for large investment programs.
Source: ADE, investor guide, 2025 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in French Polynesia
- If the investor is from outside the European Union, check whether the project needs prior authorization (real estate, fishing, aquaculture, pearls, audiovisual, telecommunications) or only a declaration.Direction générale des affaires économiquesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DGAE, foreign investments in French Polynesia, July 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 3, 2026
- Contact the ADE, the territory’s one-stop shop for investors, for step-by-step follow-up of your files.Agence de Développement ÉconomiqueThe agency’s support is free of charge.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ADE, investor guide, 2025 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- File the authorization request on the DGAE form with a letter to the President of French Polynesia, whose Council of Ministers decides.Direction générale des affaires économiquesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DGAE, foreign investments in French Polynesia, July 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 3, 2026
- Create the company under French Polynesia’s rules: sign statutes, deposit capital in a blocked account, register the statutes, publish a legal notice and register at the CDFE.Centre de développement et de formalités des entreprises (CDFE) of the CCISMRegistration duty is 1 percent of share capital, at least 10,000 CFP francs.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ADE, investor guide, 2025 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Show 4 more set-up steps
- Register for taxes through the CDFE, then report changes of address or activity within 30 days under the territory’s tax rules.Direction des Impôts et des Contributions Publiques de Polynésie françaiseOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ADE, investor guide, 2025 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- Nationals from outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland need a residence permit beyond three months, which the High Commission issues after the Council of Ministers' view.Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie françaiseOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ADE, foreign investor page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 31, 2025
- Ask the territory’s employment service for a work authorization for employees, or a foreign trader card if you run the business yourself.Service de l’emploi, de la formation et de l’insertion professionnelles (SEFI)The trader card takes up to three months to review and is valid five years.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ADE, investor guide, 2025 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
- If the project qualifies, apply through the ADE for the territory’s local tax credit scheme or the French State’s overseas tax aid.Agence de Développement ÉconomiqueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ADE, investment incentives page, August 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of August 28, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with ADE and Customs. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment promotion agency
ADE
Agence de Développement Économique
Acts as a one-stop shop for investors and follows their files step by step; it also steers the Team Polynésie Export program.
Visit ADE (opens in a new tab)Source: ADE, missions page, October 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 21, 2026
Economic affairs directorate
DGAE
Direction générale des affaires économiques
Receives foreign investment authorization and declaration files and publishes the forms and the 1996 foreign investment rules.
Show 1 more organization
French State representation
High Commission
Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie française
Issues residence permits to foreign nationals who intend to settle or invest, after the territory’s Council of Ministers gives its view.
Visit High Commission (opens in a new tab)Source: ADE, foreign investor page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 31, 2025
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Customs
Direction régionale des douanes de Polynésie française
Runs the FENIX declaration system, approves exporter origin registrations and gives companies free advice on customs procedures.
Visit Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: Customs directorate portal home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 20, 2025
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DICP
Direction des Impôts et des Contributions Publiques de Polynésie française
Collects the territory’s taxes and offers online tax accounts, a tax information line and appointments with tax advisors.
Visit DICP (opens in a new tab)Source: DICP, tax directorate home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of December 24, 2025
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce and industry
CCISM
Chambre de commerce, d’industrie, des services et des métiers
Runs an international service that advises expanding companies on exports, European Union networks and Business France programs.
Visit CCISM (opens in a new tab)Source: CCISM, export support page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Get advice
Employers’ federation
MEDEF Polynésie
MEDEF - Polynésie
Represents employers and publishes positions on taxation, employment and the economy.
Visit MEDEF Polynésie (opens in a new tab)Source: MEDEF Polynésie home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Get advice
Small business confederation
CPME
Confédération des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises en Polynésie française
Represents small and mid-sized employers and publishes news on rules that affect them.
Visit CPME (opens in a new tab)Source: CPME Polynésie française home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Get advice
Agriculture and fishing chamber
CAPL
Chambre de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche Lagonaire
Represents and advises farmers, livestock keepers and lagoon fishers, and runs a service that helps them sell their products.
Visit CAPL (opens in a new tab)Source: CAPL home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
5. Worth knowing
New customs code
A new customs code of French Polynesia, with a law part and an order part, has applied since June 1, 2026.
What to do: Use the customs correspondence tables to find the new article numbers before you cite a rule.
Sources: Customs notice on new customs code, May 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Customs directorate, new customs code page, June 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Reserved sectors
Investors from outside the European Union need prior authorization in real estate, fishing, aquaculture, mother-of-pearl, pearls, audiovisual and telecommunications, whatever their share.
What to do: Ask the economic affairs directorate before you commit funds in these sectors.
Sources: DGAE, foreign investments in French Polynesia, July 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Assembly deliberation 96-141 on foreign investment, 1996 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Residence and work permits
The State controls residence rights, and foreign nationals, including European Union citizens, also need a work authorization.
What to do: Prepare residence and work applications before you send staff to French Polynesia.
Source: ADE, foreign investor page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Distance and living costs
The ADE’s guide says living costs are 30 to 40 percent above metropolitan France because most goods are imported across long distances.
What to do: Include freight time and import costs in project budgets.
Source: ADE, investor guide, 2025 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 1 more
Who sets the rules
Customs, taxes and investment screening are French Polynesia’s own competence, while the State keeps sovereign powers such as residence and currency.
What to do: Check which authority sets each rule before you start a project.
Sources: Customs directorate, new customs code page, June 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); ADE, investor guide, 2025 edition (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
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- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:French Polynesia is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.