Visa and entry requirements in New Caledonia | New Caledonia Tourism: The official website for tourism in New Caledonia

Passport, visas and customs

Reception at the international airport of Noumea - La Tontouta

If you are using an Australian Passport

A passport issued less than 10 years ago, valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from New Caledonia, with a minimum of two blank pages is required.

You do not need a visa to enter and stay in New Caledonia for three months in any six-month period.

Except for a stay of no more than three months to carry out paid work in New Caledonia, and only if the following conditions are met simultaneously:

a work permit is required under the regulations applicable in New Caledonia to carry out this activity; and
the foreign national is unable to present this work permit when crossing the border.

In addition to Australian nationals, this visa exemption also applies to nationals of Norfolk (a territory associated with Australia) who hold an Australian passport.

If you are French or a citizen of a European Union country

Regardless of your visit’s duration, you’ll require:

A passport issued less than 10 years ago, valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from New Caledonia, with a minimum of two blank pages
Visa Exemption
If you plan to work in New Caledonia as an employee, you must obtain a work contract and apply for a work permit from the New Caledonian government.

Useful links:
Go to “Other formalities in New Caledonia”
Access the section “Conditions de séjour des étrangers en Nouvelle-Calédonie” / “ressortissant-d’un pays-de-l’Union-europeenne”

Please note: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, and the Holy See are not European Union member states, so their nationals are subject to rules applicable to other nationalities. For more information, contact: etrangers@nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr

You are not a citizen of a European Union country

You must present:

A passport issued less than 10 years ago, valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from New Caledonia, with a minimum of two blank pages.
Regulatory supporting documents related to:
– Means of subsistence in New Caledonia (e.g., an internationally accepted bank card, cash)
– Repatriation guarantees (e.g., a transport ticket to return to your home country or residence, a travel insurance certificate)
– The purpose of your stay

Examples of supporting documents for the purpose of your stay:

For a tourist stay: Any documents that confirm the purpose, conditions, and duration of your stay (e.g., hotel reservations, cruise details)
For a family or private stay: A welcome certificate signed by your accommodation host, which you must collect and validate at the town hall of the commune where your host resides.

Many nationalities benefit from short-stay visa exemptions for up to 90 days (3 months) within a 180-day (6-month) period. Find the list on the government website.

Other cases of visa exemption:

Holders of a valid residence permit or long-stay visa issued by France or a Schengen country (these documents must be presented at check-in).
Statutory refugees, stateless persons, or individuals without any nationality, residing in a member or associated state of the Schengen area. You must present your travel document issued by the member state and proof of your status as a statutory refugee or stateless person at check-in.

If you are not French or a citizen of a European Union country and need to check whether you require a short-stay visa for New Caledonia, please consult the official France visa website’s visa wizard.

Stopover on a cruise ship

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON VISAS FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS

AS OF 8/12/23

If you are not using an Australian 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 authorizing readmission to these states;
Or they hold a valid visa issued by a French authority for another part of French territory.

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, South Africa, Thailand.

If you are not French or a citizen of a European Union country and need to check whether you require a short-stay visa for New Caledonia, please consult the official France visa website’s visa wizard. For further information, please contact: etrangers@nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr.

New Caledonian Customs and biosecurity

New Caledonia adheres to international regulations concerning the importation of firearms, counterfeit goods, or narcotics, strictly prohibiting or regulating their entry.

However, New Caledonia has its own regulations regarding the importation of plants, animals, and food items, which require compulsory health declarations upon entry and may necessitate specific documents.

Imports of:

Cheese and cured meats are prohibited to protect the territory’s livestock 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 bags, check the list of products exempt from permits and certificates.

New Caledonia has regulations protecting animal or plant species, with strict bans on their export.

In both import and export, parcels are subject to restrictions. Check the applicable regulations to avoid any problems when clearing customs.

Ensure you understand the requirements before embarking on your journey or making purchases before departing or upon arrival in New Caledonia to avoid any inconveniences.

Frequently asked questions about passports, visas and customs

Do I need a passport even if I'm a French citizen?
Yes, a valid passport is required for entry into New Caledonia.
Do I need insurance to visit New Caledonia?
A travel insurance is mandatory to travel to New Caledonia and we highly recommend securing comprehensive travel insurance. Be sure to check with your insurer or travel agent to confirm that your policy covers cancellations, postponements, medical repatriation, urgent medical care, and emergency hospital treatment, as coverage can vary between providers.
Should you need to access local healthcare, rest assured that New Caledonia offers modern medical facilities on par with those in developed countries.
What products are prohibited from entering New Caledonia?
Products such as foie gras, pâtés, charcuterie, cured meats, meats, fresh fruits, vegetables, and shellfish are among those prohibited. Refer to the list of authorised products for more details.
Can I bring alcohol to New Caledonia?
Yes, you can bring alcohol, limited to 2 litres of wine plus 1 litre of alcohol over 22° or 2 litres of alcohol under 22°.
Check here for information on other allowances like cigarettes, spirits, tea, coffee, etc.