A license called “Grande Plaisance” must be obtained prior to chartering your yacht in French Polynesian waters. Licenses are granted for six month, to be renewed. Obtaining the license is free. Allow 7/8 weeks for processing when all documents are received.

Current conditions to obtain license

• Yacht value over € 833,000
• Charter tariffs over € 1,650 per day
• Permanent professional crew of 3 and over

Documents to provide for the license application

• Application form provided by TAHITI OCEAN
• Yacht registration, Navigation & Class certificates if any (All pages incl annual endorsements)
• yacht safety certificate and annual survey reports for rafts, fire extinguishers, radio surveys
• Liability Insurance certificate valid for French Polynesian waters
• Captain’s license and Crew licenses (complete copy with all pages)
• Charter advertisements, brochure or pictures of the yacht
• Plan of the yacht showing accommodation and tender/toy list

Current taxes

• Taxes and service fees are set at 5% of gross charter rate, to be collected before each charter.

Fuel management

• All visiting yachts can obtain duty free fuel in Tahiti, however, fuel used when chartering is fully taxed.
• The charterer should be invoiced fuel at current full tax rate.
• Fuel used during commercial charter must be declared after charter and is subject to taxation of the difference between duty free price and full tax price, making it even for the yacht.

Apa and charter tax management

• TAHITI OCEAN can receive and deliver APA to the yacht according to captain’s instructions or use it to cover expenses.
• All expenses in French Polynesia occur in Pacific francs (XFP) and must be covered in XFP at the time they occur.