UPDATE (DECEMBER 28, 2021)
ONE WEEK AFTER SENDING THE MAIL (see below) TO THE GOVERNMENT AND CUSTOMS, THEY ARE NOW AUTHORIZING EXTENSIONS UNTIL MARCH 31, 2022 !
Several boaters have received their derogation in this sense.
It would not be unimportant to think that our mail has something to do with it.
Article from December 9, 2021
Some international yachtsmen have alerted us about the feedback they have received from the Regional Customs Directorate of French Polynesia - Business Advisory Unit concerning the extension of the stay period for yachts in transit.
Here is the type of response they got:
"Hello,
As of 01/01/2022, there will no longer be any derogatory provision (decree 48 CM of 21/01/2021) concerning the extension of the period of stay for temporary admission of pleasure boats for private use registered outside of French Polynesia.
The provisions of Order 401 CM of 27/03/2013, as amended, will therefore be applicable.
This decree provides for the possibility of an exceptional extension of the stay period of 3 consecutive months maximum in case of force majeure (notably illness, major damage requiring the immobilization of the vessel) upon written request and express authorization from the Regional Director of Customs.
Also, I invite you to send us any document that can justify the case of force majeure."
The AVP has therefore made proposals to Mr. Vice-President Jean-Christophe BOUISSOU to try to solve this problem and has also proposed to finally meet him.
To the attention of Mr. Vice President Jean-Christophe BOUISSOU,
We would like to draw your attention to a recent decision of the customs authorities, concerning the end of the temporary exemption for vessels in transit in Polynesia, which will not be without consequences.
Indeed, it has been brought to our attention by international yachtsmen in transit that Customs will no longer grant them a delay on their temporary importation as of December 31, 2021.
At this date, they will be invited to :
1 - Either to leave Polynesia to go to the West Pacific in the middle of the hurricane season with the risk of safety and danger to human life that this implies, knowing on the other hand that insurance does not cover this risk and that they will do it at their own risk.
The consequences on the image of Polynesia forcing international yachtsmen (assimilated as tourists) to take this risk would be disastrous.
2 - Either import their vessel permanently and pay a tax of 7% of the value of their vessel.
Many of them, in order not to engage in a navigation that would potentially put their lives in danger, consider, under duress, paying this tax and importing their vessel permanently.
The consequences are clear: sedentarization of vessels which were only passing through Polynesia. Indeed, it is very likely that those who will choose security and invest 7% of the value of their vessel in a definitive importation, will be inclined to stay in Polynesia without limitation, to "amortize" this tax.
In conclusion, Polynesia would have an even larger resident yacht fleet, with all the consequences of saturation of the infrastructures which are already present today.
Knowing on the other hand that New Zealand and New Caledonia plan to reopen their borders in March/April, which would allow all these ships to continue their routes at the end of the cyclone season.
It would therefore be more coherent to extend their temporary importation until April so that they can leave Polynesia as planned from April.
Customs has granted waivers until now to all vessels that were "blocked" by the COVID situation.
It would be totally counterproductive to stop these waivers now, at the exact moment when the situation is clearing up and vessels will finally be able to continue their routes.
We hope to have been able to enlighten you a little more on the real situation in order to anticipate the risks and adapt your decisions accordingly,
We would be in any case and as we have proposed to you on many occasions, willing to meet you to bring you our expertise, or to bring you information.
Yours sincerely,
the A.V.P.