Moving to French Polynesia from Brunei

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Brunei to French Polynesia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Brunei to French Polynesia, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Brunei and French Polynesia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2013

per 100,000 people per year

BN
0.5
PF
0.3

French Polynesia performs significantly better than Brunei across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

BN
37.0%
PF
49.1%

Brunei performs better than French Polynesia across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BN
20.2t
PF
3.5t

French Polynesia performs significantly better than Brunei across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BN
21.2
PF
35.5
Internet access World Bank, 2024

share of households with internet

BN
96.3%
PF
72.7%

Brunei generally does better on infrastructure, though French Polynesia leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BN
5.3%
PF
11.7%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BN
$32,235
PF
$22,440

Brunei performs better than French Polynesia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BN
75.5 yrs
PF
84.2 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BN
8.6
PF
4.4

French Polynesia performs significantly better than Brunei across all family life metrics.

Can you move from Brunei to French Polynesia?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brunei and French Polynesia. To live, work, or study long-term in French Polynesia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check French Polynesia's immigration authority.

Brunei passport

Brunei passport holder visiting French Polynesia

Visa Free
Brunei passport holders can enter French Polynesia without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from French Polynesia?

With 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, French Polynesia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Brunei and French Polynesia.

Is French Polynesia safe for expats?

French Polynesia performs significantly better than Brunei across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in French Polynesia is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.

How is healthcare in French Polynesia compared to Brunei?

Brunei performs better than French Polynesia across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What language do they speak in French Polynesia?

The official language in French Polynesia is French. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.

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At a Glance

BN PF
Population 466,330 282,465
Currency Brunei Dollar (BND) CFP Franc (CFPF)
Languages Malay French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +673 +689
Time zones 1 3