French Polynesia

French Polynesia local work authorization. A U.S. citizen hired by a French Polynesia employer needs local work authorization plus French stay permission for a long assignment.

Free, with the law behind every answer

French Polynesia local work authorization

Employment in French Polynesia under the local authorization and issued stay permission; French mainland work permission does not substitute.

Who qualifies

The employer submits the initial written work-authorization request to the Minister of Employment through the Employment, Training and Professional Integration Service (SEFI).
French Polynesia Public Service: Foreign investors, residence and work
A foreign worker must also obtain authorization to stay from the French state; a stay over three months requires the relevant long-stay visa, with local-authority approval.
France-Visas: Long-stay visas for non-European French territories

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

Does it fit your family?

One question, from the program’s own rules.

Do you have a binding job offer in that country?

Not legal advice.

What it takes.

Time: Processing starts after the authority accepts a complete file; travel and work begin only after the required permission issues.
Cost: Check current government visa, permit and document fees before filing.
The hard part: Local labour authorization and a separate overseas long-stay visa.

Citizens by 2034.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

2027
First residence permit
1 year, renewable for 1 year at a time.
2032
Apply for citizenship
With a language test and a civics test.
2034
Citizenship
The decision usually takes 12–21 months.

Language: French at B2 in speaking and writing.
Civics: The 40-question civic exam and the prefecture’s assimilation interview.
Time away: French nationality law applies: 5 years of regular habitual residence in the French territory, which must remain the centre of the applicant’s working and family life through the decree.
Two passports: Yes. You keep your U.S. citizenship.

Local work authorisation and French stay permission must both remain valid; regular residence in French Polynesia counts toward French naturalisation after 5 years.

The law behind these dates

Living there.

Time you must spend there: The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax: Where you become tax resident follows the days you spend there and where your home is. We map it for your family before you move.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

Start today.

Ask the French Polynesia employer to file the written authorization request with SEFI.Open service-public.pf ↗
Gather these documents.
- The signed job offer, salary, and recognized qualifications
- Health cover for the move

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

Options open to you today →

ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

Cover