Can EU Peoples work in New Caledonia without a visa-like we can in France??

Hi,

I am an Dutch citizen and I was wondering if this allows me to work in New Caladonia as it is a French Territory? Does that mean EU status and no visa requirements??

Thanks

To the best of my knowledge NC s not really part of France (like Reunion in the Indian Ocean, for example) and the EU, and is subject to different regulations (also uses different currency).
When I went there, being an EU citizen, I was only given a 3 months' stay.

No idea about procedures for working legally though.

Hello

Very interesting question.

In the first place you have to distinguish between french overseas DEPARTMENTS
and TERRITORIES and COLLECTIVITIES.

Roughly speaking the DEPARTMENTS have the same laws and regulations as the
french mainland - and are part of the EU with the EURO as currency BUT are not members
of the treaty of Schengen.
Territories and Collectivities have a kind of autonomy status, have sometimes their
own currency and aren't part of the EU.

Departments as such are French Guinea / Guadeloupe / Martinique / Reunion / Mayotte
( from march 2011 ).

New Caledonia has a very unique so-called "sui generis" status amongst all french
overseas territories and collectivities - because New Caledonians are likely to hold
an independence referendum between 2014 and 20...??
EU laws and regulations are therefore NOT applicable to NC.
So the right to work for citizens of EU member states does not apply there.

hi waar,

only French passport holders can work legally in NC without any other documents incl work permits.

Other members of EU need to apply for a work permit which requires a list of documents and a payment
of approx 20000CFP per year (1 EUR = 119 CFP). It's not impossible but bear in mind authorities over here aren't too helpful with granting those as they are naturally trying to protect jobs for local people. I'd imagine if you have the patience to collect all needed documents and have an employer in NC that is willing to help you with obtaining the work permit, I don't see a problem with getting one.

As for staying in NC as a EU member other than French, there seem to be a slight lack of communication as I have learnt on the way here (very painfully and costly). Officially, other than French EU passport holders can stay in NC for a period of 3 months on some sort of tourist visa. However after entering NC you'll find out that same EU members can stay in NC for an unlimited period of time, that is without working of course. But this obviously will require you to have enough funds to sustain yourself without working.

hope this helps.
:)

Hello Ragecat, may i ask you where you got your information from o,n this subject??????
I called the French Embassy in London, and they said that i could work there with my European passport....???????????
I AM SOMEWHAT CONFUSED!!!!!!!!!
I have a job there for an Australian company, so i am trying to get to the bottom of this rather challenging question!!!!!
Cheers MR CARTER.

And for a HONEYMOON, if you are still looking, even though it may be too late, go to Lifou, fantastic place!!!

Edited by: carter817