Long stay visa for french polynesia

[chrisr]

hi all

our boat is presently in FP and we've decided that we love it so much we wish to stay for a few years. this means a long stay visa (since brexit !)

of course we cannot apply for the LSV whilst in FP so we planned to lodge this whilst visiting family in germany for christmas

french consulate in frankfurt has just advised that they cannot accept our application as we do not have german residency. we explained that we cannot apply in FP but they say we'll have to return to our country of citizenship (in the owners case = australia)

(nb : we are full time live-aboard and our only residence is the boat)

has anyone else struck the same issue ?

has anyone first hand involvement to secure a LSV for FP whilst travelling ? recall hearing cruising live-aboards previously applied for LSV whilst in eg panama or mexico or equador etc ? maybe someone has a precedent or ruling that can help us ?

trying to avoid spending thousands to fly us both papeete - sydney and back, plus 2-3 weeks accommodation, just to apply for the #$%^ visa !

cheers,

[Sailingallday]

I had read somewhere that there will be no/few long stay visas issued this year for tourist purposes. I have not researched it but that was my understanding

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by Sailingallday

I had read somewhere that there will be no/few long stay visas issued this year for tourist purposes. I have not researched it but that was my understanding

sorry : do you mean for FP specifically ?

cheers,

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by chrisr

they say we'll have to return to our country of citizenship (in the owners case = australia)

Those are the rules. Needs to be in a consulate/embassy in the country where your passport was issued.

(Forced) excuse to visit your home country.

You may want to call the embassy before you travel there.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

Those are the rules. Needs to be in a consulate/embassy in the country where your passport was issued.

(Forced) excuse to visit your home country.

You may want to call the embassy before you travel there.

perhaps this is the case...but then how do folk obtain their LSV whilst transiting through panama or mexico or ecuador ?



cheers,

[double u]

French consulate in FF probably never heard of "visa de long sejour" before...

[HeywoodJ]

Most French consulate rules require that you apply in your country of residence. For boaters, with no fixed abode, this then defaults to the country of your passport. But, the visa sections in Mexico and Panama have, from time to time, been accommodating to boaters. Whether they always will be is another question, and whether you could convince some other consulate to provide the same service would be a matter of negotiation.

We got ours as US citizens while in Panama about 5 years ago, I would guess any information is out of date. A quick review of the French visa website says that Panama is currently only working visas by mail. Whether that is good or bad is unknown. It does say the consulate in Frankfurt requires you to be a resident of Germany.

If you haven't seen it, this is the most recent write-up I know of about getting a long-stay FP visa while in Mexico, you'll note that it is a courtesy to boaters, specially arranged, and even though this was written in January this year is already out of date.
https://migrations.brucebalan.com/wp...ug-2022-v8.pdf Even with this, a "proof of residence" was required, but marginal proof was accepted.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by chrisr

perhaps this is the case...but then how do folk obtain their LSV whilst transiting through panama or mexico or ecuador ?







cheers,

By thinking about these things before you set out.

[double u]

@chrisr: if these procedures are a hassle to you maybe this leads you to knewly appreciate the hassle visiting Oz by boat has been in the past...

[goboatingnow]

In general residency ie long stay is a serious process for many countries. It’s not something you decide in between martinis at the beach bar.

[double u]

visa de long sejour for FP is TOTALLY different from residency, totally!

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by double u

visa de long sejour for FP is TOTALLY different from residency, totally!

Well yes but it’s approached via the same process and requires forethought and preparation as I said next not decided just after the second martini !!!

[Montanan]

Long-stay Visas for Non-European French Territories
Most nationalities are subject to long-stay visa requirements to stay in said territories for more than 90 days, with the exception of:

Citizens of the European Union, Monaco and Andorra, for all territories.
Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, except French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis-et-Futuna and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).

Apply for a visa in Australia to visit France
Visa applicants living in Australia and Salomon islands have to submit their application in Australia at one of the VFS GLOBAL centers regardless of their location, in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaïde by appointment only.

Visa applications submitted in Australia with VFS GLOBAL centers are examined by the Consulate General of France in sydney, which is the only administration authorized to take decisions about visas.

During our busy periods, it can take longer to secure an appointment. we recommend you to make sure your appointment is at least :

Between 3 weeks and 6 months before the scheduled date of your departure for a short-stay visa
Between 3 weeks and 3 months before your arrival in France for a long-stay visa
For all the particular case (e.g holders of service and or diplomatic passports, short-stay visa waiver for Australian citizen, Working-Holiday visa, etc...) please refer to the section Particular situations.

Covid restrictions are being eased but of course, the pandemic is still occurring so remains fluid: Copy of the most recent advisement below:

Temporary measures allowing the resumption of visa issuance.

The Consulate General of France in Sydney has resumed its visa activity.

The visa applicants will also have to make sure of :

The conditions for returns to their country of residence
Their right to leave australia regarding the current travel ban in force
The issuance of a visa does not guarantee entry into a French territory, which remains governed by the restrictions applicable at the borders and access to air travel. Before applying for a visa, it is thus recommended that you check whether or not you are authorized to enter France by referring to the following link : Attestation de déplacement et de voyage.

Visa are applied for and issued in your country of residence [or citizenship if you haven't established residency in another country], and must be issued before arrival in the country that grants the visa request.

Simply you will need to arrange for an appointment with the French embassy or consulate in Australia and complete the interview and application process.

I do not know what the backlog is for applications appointments for French visas; to apply for a USA visa in some countries the waiting list for and visa interview appointment can be scheduled many months or even upwards of two years from tiime of initial request. Yes, the backlog can be very extended and of course there is absolutely no guarantee that a long stay visa will be issued; the interview is just one part of the process. Immigration control does not typically provide for extended stays to migrants, and sightseers, such as yachties. FP does not wish to have an influx of long stay persons, so I very much doubt visas would be issued. The islands would become way to crowded by an influx of retires, expats, etc. Typically, the country that is issuing a long stay visa is seeking to receive something of vital importance and betterment to their society, such as, professional reason; study / attend school; family reason, whereas vacationing, retirement, are NOT of interest to a country.


Covid 19 : International travel


From the onset of the crisis, the port health control mechanism helped to protect our health system and hold back the introduction into the national territory of variants with alarming features.

Mobilising on a weekly basis up to 6,000 members of the civil security service to carry out tests, border guards to check travellers’ health documents and internal security forces to oversee the isolation or quarantine measures decreed by the prefects, this mechanism was duly adjusted in response to the changing health conditions and Community regulations.

In light of the latest developments in the pandemic, the port health control system has been discontinued, pursuant to the law terminating the emergency measures instituted to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

Accordingly, the rules previously applied to travellers to France no longer apply effective from 1 August 2022:

Travellers are now exempt from any formalities prior to entry into France, be it in mainland France or overseas, and no longer required to present a health pass, regardless of the country or place of departure;
Justification of travel (the “compelling reason”) is no longer required;
Travellers are no longer required to present a sworn statement of non-contamination and an undertaking to undergo an antigen test or screening upon arrival in the country.
The same applies to travel between mainland France and each of the overseas territories.
Similarly, the French authorities no longer require any justification for outgoing travel from France, be it from mainland France or overseas, or any exit clearance to travel to another country.

However, foreign countries may continue to apply specific entry measures and formalities.

For information on the health rules for entry into another country, travellers are invited to consult the “travel advisory” section of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs website.
Travel advisory
Lastly, the law allows the Government until 31 January 2023 to trigger “emergency brake” measures for a period not exceeding two months, acting on advice from the National Authority for Health, should a new COVID-19 variant appear and circulate that is likely to pose a serious health threat or, in the specific case of overseas territories, where there is a risk of saturation of the health system.

[valhalla360]

If you are in FP already, have you gone down and talked to them about options?

They may tell you it's Australia or nothing. They may also tell you, they aren't issuing long stay visas. Heck, they may tell you that those are the official rules but they can work something out locally in FP.

But they can speak with far more authority than random people on the internet.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by HeywoodJ

Most French consulate rules require that you apply in your country of residence. For boaters, with no fixed abode, this then defaults to the country of your passport. But, the visa sections in Mexico and Panama have, from time to time, been accommodating to boaters. Whether they always will be is another question, and whether you could convince some other consulate to provide the same service would be a matter of negotiation.

We got ours as US citizens while in Panama about 5 years ago, I would guess any information is out of date. A quick review of the French visa website says that Panama is currently only working visas by mail. Whether that is good or bad is unknown. It does say the consulate in Frankfurt requires you to be a resident of Germany.

If you haven't seen it, this is the most recent write-up I know of about getting a long-stay FP visa while in Mexico, you'll note that it is a courtesy to boaters, specially arranged, and even though this was written in January this year is already out of date.
https://migrations.brucebalan.com/wp...ug-2022-v8.pdf Even with this, a "proof of residence" was required, but marginal proof was accepted.

thanks for the only semi-useful post so far...

cheers,