Visit My Roots
Sign inStart planning — free

Heritage destination · PF

Plan a roots trip to French Polynesia

Trace your roots across French Polynesia's islands and colonial archives.

← All countries

French Polynesia comprises five archipelagos spread across the central and south Pacific Ocean. The islands—including Tahiti, Bora Bora, the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, and the Australs—have a rich Polynesian heritage layered with French colonial history dating to the 18th century. For family historians, the combination of indigenous genealogy, French administrative records, and missionary documentation offers a unique path to understanding ancestors in the Pacific. Genealogical research in French Polynesia centres on colonial-era civil registration, Catholic and Protestant church records, and French administrative documents. Many records are held locally in Papeete (the capital, on Tahiti) and in individual island communes, though some original documents have been transferred to archives in mainland France. Understanding your ancestor's arrival date and settlement island is crucial, as records are geographically dispersed.

French Polynesia remains a French overseas collectivity; some genealogy resources reflect French administrative perspectives on colonial settlement and indigenous populations.

Genealogy highlights

  • Civil registration records (état civil) from 1860 onwards held in commune offices and territorial archives.
  • Catholic and Protestant mission records dating to the 19th century, documenting baptisms, marriages, and burials.
  • French colonial administrative documents including census-like records and resident lists.
  • Ship manifests and passenger records relating to European settlement and Pacific labour migration.
  • Local oral history and family networks often hold documents or knowledge mainland archives lack.

Record types to know

  • Civil registration (état civil)
  • Catholic and Protestant parish registers
  • French colonial census and resident records
  • Ship manifests and passenger lists
  • Land and property registers
  • Court and notarial documents

Emigration patterns

French Polynesia was primarily a destination for European settlers, labour migrants, and deportees under French rule from the 18th century onwards, rather than a major source of emigration. However, some Polynesian-descended families emigrated to mainland France, Australia, and New Zealand in the 20th century for work and education.

Heritage trip tips

  • Plan your visit around the dry season (May–October); cyclone season is November–April.
  • Learn basic French; English is less widely spoken outside tourist areas and archives.
  • Contact the Archives de la Polynésie française in Papeete before travel to book archive time and request specific document lookups.
  • Island-hopping by inter-island ferry or small aircraft is essential; allow time for transport delays.
  • Hire a local genealogy guide or contact the Polynesian genealogy societies to locate family connections and interpret historical records.
  • Respect sacred sites and ask permission before photographing churches or cemeteries; many remain central to community life.

Practical notes

  • Archives have limited hours; email or phone ahead to confirm opening times and document availability.
  • Original documents may be fragile or restricted; microfilm or digital copies are sometimes available instead.
  • French-language skills improve archive access; consider bringing a translator or French-speaking researcher.
  • Visa requirements vary by nationality; confirm entry permissions and passport validity (typically 6 months) before travel.
  • Internet and international communication can be slow on remote islands; plan offline work and arrange calls or emails in advance.

Next steps