Moving to French Polynesia from Samoa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Samoa to French Polynesia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Samoa 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
The numbers behind daily life in French Polynesia compared to Samoa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
French Polynesia performs significantly better than Samoa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
French Polynesia performs significantly better than Samoa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Samoa performs better than French Polynesia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
share of households with internet
Samoa generally does better on infrastructure, though French Polynesia leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
French Polynesia generally does better on employment & economy, though Samoa leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
French Polynesia performs significantly better than Samoa across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), The World Factbook (2009–2022), United Nations SDG Indicators (2009–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Can you move from Samoa to French Polynesia?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Samoa 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.
Samoa passport holder visiting French Polynesia
Visa FreeData: 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?
Connectivity is usually fine (French Polynesia: 35.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does French Polynesia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is French Polynesia safe for expats?
French Polynesia performs significantly better than Samoa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in French Polynesia is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.3 in Samoa.
How is healthcare in French Polynesia compared to Samoa?
French Polynesia performs significantly better than Samoa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What language do they speak in French Polynesia?
The official language in French Polynesia is French. In Samoa, the official languages are English and Samoan.
