Length of stay in French Polynesia: new duration?

Several sailors of passage in French Polynesia announced us awkward situations in which they were recently put by the services of customs, in touch with the length of stay: sometimes very heavy fines, some were even the object of threat of seizure of their boat.

Indeed, since the middle 2012, customs decided to enforce the decree appeared on December 30th, 1998 which had never been applied, and whose question it is not either in the customs declaration form handed to ship owners in their entry to French Polynesia by the authorities.

This form specified well the possibility of staying 24 months, but without specifying the condition of maximal residence of 185 days per civil year.

Many sailors being sudden in the illegality according to these new criteria, the AVP asked to Minister of Finance, as well as to director of customs, for an audience.

Three working meetings were necessary to reach the writing of a project of decree which modifies the length of stay in French Polynesia: from 185 days maximum a civil year, the new duration could be widened to 18 months, renewable after an exit of the Territory of 6 months minimum.