⚠ #CORONAVIRUS COVID-19: Travel updates ⚠

Visiting New Caledonia: Do you need a New Caledonia visa or not?

You are a national from a country that is not part of the European Union

Cruise ship stopover

IMPORTANT UPDATE – AS OF 8/12/23

If you are not using an New Zealand Passport, you may need to obtain a visa. The visa requirements and entry conditions that currently apply to flight passengers entering New Caledonia also now extend to cruise passengers.

Cruise passengers are urged to verify their visa requirements using the Visa Wizard tool, accessible HERE. Alternatively, you can submit your application directly at this link.

It is important to note that New Caledonia Tourism does not manage the visa process or applications. For any inquiries, please contact VFS GLOBAL, the external service provider handling visa applications for the French Government.
If you have questions about appointments, tracking your application, or any other concerns related to your visa application, please reach out to VFS GLOBAL at:

• Phone: 0282 784 160
• Email: info.fraaus@vfshelpline.com
   

Passengers are exempt from the visa requirement if they meet one of the following criteria:

• they hold a valid residence permit issued by a Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland
• or they hold a valid residence permit issued by Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Canada, Japan and the United States of America authorising readmission to these States
• or they hold a valid visa issued by a French authority for another part of the territory of France.

To check if you need a short-stay visa, please consult the visa wizard on the official visa website for France.

If the stopover in New Caledonia lasts less than 24 consecutive hours:

• The following nationalities are also exempt from the visa requirement: Bahrain, Belarus, China, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Stays of 3 months or less than 3 months

If you are using a New Zealand Passport, you do not a visa. The visa exemption also extends to nationals of the Tokelau Islands (a territory under New Zealand sovereignty), Niue (in free association with New Zealand) and the Cook Islands, who hold a New Zealand passport.

If you are not using a New Zealand Passport, you may need to obtain a visa.

• Passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the return date
• The supporting documents about:
  • Your livelihood in New Caledonia (example: bank card for international use, cash, etc.)
  • Your guarantees of return (ticket for returning to your country of origin or residence)
  • Your travel insurance certificate or health insurance (covering any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent health attention and/or emergency hospital treatment). Minimum coverage: 30,000€
  • The purpose of your stay

To check if you need a short-stay New Caledonia visa, please consult the visa wizard on the official visa website for France 

Helpful links: List of websites for French consular posts abroad (fr)

Long stays of more than 3 months

• Passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the return date
• A valid long stay visa expressly mentioning that it is valid for New Caledonia, which must be requested from the consulate or the French Embassy in your place of residence before you arrive in New Caledonia. 
• Depending on the reason for and the duration of your stay, you must attach the necessary supporting documents (accommodation, resources, medical and hospital insurance, guarantee of return to your country of origin, supporting documents relating to the nature of your stay, etc.)
• On your arrival, ask the French New Caledonian High Commission for a valid New Caledonia residence permit to be issued

Helpful links:
Go to the section headed "conditions of residence for foreign nationals in New Caledonia"/"national from a country which is not part of the European Union"
French consular posts abroad
Foreign embassies and consulates in France
Consulates general in New Caledonia
Honorary consulates in New Caledonia

For more information, contact: etrangers@nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr

New Caledonia customs formalities and plant health checks

International regulations on the importing of arms, narcotics and counterfeit goods are, of course, enforced in New Caledonia

However, specific regulations also apply to the importing of plants, animals and foodstuffs. These products must be declared when entering New Caledonia and be covered by appropriate veterinary and/or phytosanitary certificate.

• Importing cheese and processed meat is prohibited to ensure New Caledonian livestock is protected from infection.
• To preserve New Caledonia’s immense wealth of endemic plant species, one of the greatest in the world, the import of plant products (seeds, plants, flowers) is also prohibited unless you hold a phytosanitary certificate authorising such import.

Before packing your suitcase, check the list of products that do not require an import permit and certificate

Import quotas also apply to some commodities, such as tobacco, alcohol, coffee and perfume.

New Caledonia has implemented a raft of regulations protecting animal and plant species: the export of some species is strictly prohibited.

On both import and export, the parcels are subject to restrictions.

Please ensure you know exactly what restrictions apply before boarding or making purchases to avoid any hassle with New Caledonia customs!