🇵🇫 French Polynesia → 🇨🇽 Christmas Island
Do France passport holders need a visa for Christmas Island? eTA
France passport holders need an approved electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Christmas Island, but no embassy visa.
An electronic travel authorisation must be approved online before departure. No embassy visit.
French Polynesia does not issue its own passport; residents travel on a France passport. See the France passport .
Source: legislation.gov.au (checked September 4, 2026).
Travelling the other way? Australia passport holders visiting French Polynesia : Visa-free.
Christmas Island drives on the left, the opposite side to French Polynesia. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.
Frequently asked questions Do France passport holders need a visa for Christmas Island? France passport holders need an approved electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Christmas Island, but no embassy visa.
What currency is used in Christmas Island? Australian dollar (AUD).
Does Christmas Island drive on the same side of the road as French Polynesia? Christmas Island drives on the left, the opposite side to French Polynesia. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.
How many countries can enter Christmas Island without a visa? 83 of the 243 nationalities this site tracks can enter Christmas Island visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.
Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.
About French Polynesia French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole overseas country; it is classified as a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in the South Pacific Ocean. French Polynesia is associated with the European Union as an overseas country and territory (OCT). The total land area of French Polynesia is 3,521 square kilometres (1,359 sq mi), with a population of 282,596 as of September 2025 of which at least 205,000 live in the Society Islands and the remaining population lives in the rest of the archipelago.
Climate in Papeete Warmest April, coolest July, driest September, sunniest September. Best time to visit: April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Monthly climate normals for Papeete, 2020 Month High Low Rainfall Sunshine January 28.4°C 24.9°C 386mm 322h February 28.3°C 24.9°C 530mm 297h March 29.1°C 25.4°C 323mm 300h April 29.1°C 25.5°C 176mm 309h May 28.5°C 25.1°C 155mm 303h June 26.9°C 23.4°C 216mm 274h July 26.2°C 23.1°C 294mm 285h August 26.4°C 22.8°C 194mm 327h September 27.3°C 23.3°C 83mm 350h October 26.9°C 23.5°C 254mm 340h November 27.3°C 24.1°C 383mm 313h December 27.3°C 24°C 449mm 275h
Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.
Travel guide French Polynesia is a collection of over 100 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, halfway between California and Australia. It is an overseas country, the only French territory with this status.
Upcoming public holidays Full source list on About .
About Christmas Island
Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean comprising the island of the same name. It is about 350 kilometres south of Java and Sumatra and about 1,550 km north-west of the closest point on the Australian mainland. It has an area of 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi). Christmas Island's geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of endemism among its flora and fauna, which is of interest to scientists and naturalists. The territory derives its name from its discovery on Christmas Day 1643 by Captain William Mynors.
Climate in Christmas Island Warmest April, coolest August, driest September, sunniest August. Best time to visit: April, June, July, August, September, October, November.
Monthly climate normals for Christmas Island, 2020 Month High Low Rainfall Sunshine January 26.6°C 25.1°C 125mm 334h February 26.8°C 25.1°C 151mm 326h March 26.8°C 25°C 259mm 317h April 27.3°C 25.5°C 110mm 335h May 26.7°C 25.2°C 189mm 278h June 25.7°C 24.6°C 42mm 330h July 25.2°C 24°C 34mm 344h August 24.5°C 23.5°C 40mm 357h September 24.7°C 23.8°C 18mm 353h October 24.7°C 23.6°C 64mm 350h November 25.7°C 24.6°C 25mm 355h December 25.3°C 24°C 351mm 308h
Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.
Travel guide Christmas Island is one of the islands of the Indian Ocean in Southeast Asia. It is south of Indonesia and some 1,550 km northwest of Australia, of which it is a territory. It was home to about 1,800 people in 2016, a mix of Straits Chinese, Malay, Australian and other ethnic groups.
Upcoming public holidays Full source list on About .
French Polynesia
Christmas Island
