Moving to French Polynesia from Spain

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Spain to French Polynesia, and you’d need to navigate life in French.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Spain to French Polynesia, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
80

people born in Spain live in French Polynesia · UN DESA

Who's moving to French Polynesia?

Top countries of origin for French Polynesia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ES
0.7
PF
0.3

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

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ES
4.5t
PF
3.5t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ES
36.0
PF
25.6
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

ES
94.0%
PF
72.7%

Spain performs better than French Polynesia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ES
12.1%
PF
11.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ES
$46,400
PF
$18,600

French Polynesia generally does better on employment & economy, though Spain leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ES
82.5 yrs
PF
78.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ES
2.5
PF
4.4

Spain performs better than French Polynesia across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Spain 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.

Spain passport

Spain passport holder visiting French Polynesia

Visa Free
Spain 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 25.6 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 Spain and French Polynesia.

Is French Polynesia safe for expats?

French Polynesia performs significantly better than Spain across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in French Polynesia is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Spain.

What language do they speak in French Polynesia?

The official language in French Polynesia is French. In Spain, the official languages are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish.

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At a Glance

ES PF
Population 47,163,418 299,356
Currency Euro (€) CFP Franc (CFPF)
Languages Basque, Catalan, Galician, Spanish French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +34 +689
Time zones 2 3
Emergency number 112