A move to New Caledonia.
Today we interview Italian Viola about her move to New Caledonia. She lived in the capital, Nouméa which is also the country’s largest city.
Moving to New Caledonia?
Living in New Caledonia comes with incredible benefits. Those who move to the country often fall in love with the life offered on this island paradise. There are challenges, but for most people, the benefits of moving to New Caledonia more than makeup for the issues. The country is in the South West of the Pacific Ocean. The North-Eastern coast of Australia is the nearest mainland, and that is 1200kms away! There are several New Caledonia visa and work permit options to live and work here.
New Caledonia is still a part of France, although it has a semi-autonomous local government. Officially it a special collective, and will continue to be after a referendum on independence failed in 2018. There is a possibility of future referendums and a change in this position.
Moving to New Caledonia
There is more to New Caledonia than just an idyllic Pacific Island paradise. To be sure, it has the pristine beaches, warm ocean, and coral reefs that you imagine. There is also the stunning Grande Terre central mountain range. Natural beauty surrounds you on every trip.
Life in New Caledonia also offers excellent restaurants, stores, and recreational facilities. The population is a vibrant mix of locals and Expats. Exploration of the country, its culture, and its people is an adventure all its own.
French is the language used most often and is the official language of New Caledonia. Many of the Expat community speak English. People also commonly speak English in many tourist areas. Some of the local Kanak population also speak several indigenous languages.
The people of New Caledonia are famously welcoming and laid back. The stresses of modern city life can feel a world away. With that comes a somewhat casual approach to timekeeping and a different sense of urgency. It is also a paradise to raise kids with more freedom than is possible in big cities. For education, there are two international schools, as well as local options. There is a focus on being outdoors and participating in sports. The white-sand beaches and warm, safe tropical waters are the perfect places for kids.
Nouméa is the capital and largest city. Situated on a deep water harbour, the city is home to around 95,000 people. It has good infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and communication.
Jobs in New Caledonia
New Caledonia is one of the largest economies of Oceania. In 2019 the GDP was around USD$10 billion. Tourism is a significant part of the economy. New Caledonia also has around 11% of the world’s nickel reserves, and mining and processing also create substantial income and jobs.
Jobs in New Caledonia tend to be in these two sectors. Agriculture also offers some opportunities. There are laws in place to force an employer to offer opportunities to locals before Expats. Unemployment is still higher than the government would like, and this impacts employment opportunities for foreigners.
Having said that, there are opportunities for those moving to New Caledonia to find a job and to work. Advantages include European languages, global experience, and unique skill sets. Many Expats find a niche and a way to contribute to the economy, and there is also adequate infrastructure for location-independent jobs.
Cost of Living in New Caledonia
The cost of living is relatively high as New Caledonia imports many goods, including fuel. Choosing what you need and focusing on local products and produce, where possible, reduces costs considerably. You can find reasonably priced fresh produce and seafood sourced on the island.
New Caledonia has its own currency, the CFP franc. Two other French Overseas Collectives, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna also use this currently. Since France entered the Euro Zone, there has been a fixed exchange rate of 1,000 XPF = 8.38 EUR.
How to choose the best country to live
Is moving to New Caledonia right for you? Check out our blog on the best country in the world for everyone.
New Caledonia Visas and Permits
Although New Caledonia is an administrative part of France, it has a separate visa, work permit and immigration System. This status means that New Caledonia will not recognize any SCHENGEN visa/permit that you have.
French passport holders can live and work in New Caledonia.
EU citizens can still travel to New Caledonia without a visa, but cannot work without a valid work permit.
Visitor Visa / Tourist Visa
There are two versions of this visa. The first is a short-stay visa for a visit of 90 days or less.
If you are moving to New Caledonia for more than 90 days, you will need a valid long-stay visa. For this visa, you must also apply for a New Caledonia residence permit within two months of arrival.
If you do not have an EU passport, please use the VisaHQ tool below to check if you need a tourist visa to visit.
Your nearest French Embassy will issue your visa.
Family Visa
The spouse and dependants of a French national are eligible for a residence permit.
The spouse of the holder of “scientific” residence permit is also eligible for a residence permit.
Student Visa
If you can show registration at an upper or secondary institution, you are eligible for a student visa. The visa will be valid for the duration of your studies.
Work Permit
To work in New Caledonia, you must have a valid work permit. This restriction also applies to EU citizens. The French embassy of your home country must issue the work permit before you move to New Caledonia.
See here for more New Caledonia Work Permit details.
Permanent Residency
After five years of legally living in New Caledonia, you can apply for a ten-year permanent residence status.
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New Caledonia Citizenship
New Caledonia is still officially a part of France. As such, New Caledonia issues French Citizenship and a French passport. Your pathways to both are the same in New Caledonia. For this section, France includes New Caledonia.
See the official New Caledonia Government Immigration website for more details on French citizenship in New Caledonia.
New Caledonia/French Citizenship by Descent
If one or both of your parents were citizens of New Caledonia/France when you were born, you are probably also a citizen.
New Caledonia/French Citizenship by Birth
You parents can pass down entitlement to New Caledonia/French citizenship. If you were born in New Caledonia/France to non-French parents, you can acquire New Caledonia/French Citizenship by declaration. You need to show that you have lived in New Caledonia/France for a substantial amount of time.
New Caledonia/French Citizenship by Naturalisation
If your spouse is a citizen, you can apply for citizenship after being resident in New Caledonia/France for four years. Please note that France must recognize the status of your spouse.
You can apply for nationality by naturalization if you have lived in New Caledonia/France for at least five years. You must also be fluent in French.
These blogs on citizenship may also be of interest to you:
New Caledonia Residency by Investment and Citizenship by Investment
New Caledonia doe not currently have an RBI or CBI program. We’ll update this page if the situation changes.
In the meantime, visit our page on Citizenship by Investment and Residency by Investment for information on options in other countries.
Do you have experience being an Expat in New Caledonia? We’d love to hear from you about why you chose to move to New Caledonia and the pros and cons of living and working there. We’d be very interested in hearing about your experience with getting New Caledonia visas and residency permits, New Caledonia citizenship, New Caledonia nationality, or New Caledonia passports. Please contact us to share your Expat story here.
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A move to New Caledonia.
Today we interview Italian Viola about her move to New Caledonia. She lived in the capital, Nouméa which is also the country’s largest city.