Moving to New Caledonia: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

4 facts — expand for details.

Population

290,009

Population Growth Rate

1.45%

Urban Population

61.700000

Population in Major Urban Areas

NOUMEA (capital) 157,000

6 facts — expand for details.

Age Structure

22.780000

Median Age

30.700000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

16

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

5.39

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.02

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.050000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

4.12

Ethnic Groups

Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Nationality Noun

New Caledonian(s)

5 facts — expand for details.

Literacy - total population

96.2%

Literacy - male

92%

Literacy - female

90%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

0.000000

5 facts — expand for details.

Life Expectancy at Birth

77.130000

Infant Mortality Rate

5.540000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

5.540000

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

98.500000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

100.000000

4 facts — expand for details.

Economic Overview

New Caledonia has 11% of the world's nickel reserves, representing the second largest reserves on the planet.

Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports.

In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.

With the gradual increase in the production of two new nickel plants in 2015, average production of metallurgical goods stood at a record level of 94 thousand tons.

However, the sector is exposed to the high volatility of nickel prices, which have been in decline since 2016.

In 2017, one of the three major mining firms on the island, Vale, put its operations up for sale, triggering concerns of layoffs ahead of the 2018 independence referendum.

Industries

nickel mining and smelting

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$38,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.8%

8 facts — expand for details.

GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$11,100,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$38,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.8%

GDP - official exchange rate

$11,100,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 62.8% government
• consumption: 25% investment in fixed
• capital: 43.1% investment in
• inventories: 0% exports of goods and
• services: 21.9% imports of goods and
• services: -52.8%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

1.4%

GDP by Sector- Industry

26.4%

GDP by Sector- services

72.2%

4 facts — expand for details.

Inflation Rate

1.4%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003

Currency Name and Code

CFP Franc (XPF)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

4 facts — expand for details.

Labor Force

102,600

Unemployment Rate

17.1%

Major Industries

nickel mining and smelting

Agriculture Products

vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products

3 facts — expand for details.

Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

20%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

20%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

60%

Annual Budget

$996,000,000 (USD)

7 facts — expand for details.

Full Country Name

Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

Country Name

New Caledonia

Local - Long

Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances

Local - Short

Nouvelle-Caledonie

Etymology- history of name

British explorer Captain James COOK discovered and named New Caledonia in 1774; he used the appellation because the northeast of the island reminded him of Scotland (Caledonia is the Latin designation for Scotland)

Independence

• none (overseas collectivity of France)
• note - in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo
• an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place

National Holiday

Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)

10 facts — expand for details.

Government Type

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France

Constitution

• history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in the Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998)
• amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply

Legal System:

civil law system based on French civil law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Louise LEFRANC (since 6 February 2023)
• head of government: President of the Government Louis MAPOU (since 22 July 2021); Vice President Isabelle CHAMPMOREAU (since 22 July 2021)
• cabinet: Cabinet elected from and by the Territorial Congress
• elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of New Caledonia elected by Territorial Congress for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 8 July 2021 (next to be held in 2026)
• election results: 2021: Louis MAPOU (PALIKA) elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 of 11 votes 2019: Thierry SANTA (The Republicans) elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 of 11 votes

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congrès du Territoire (54 seats; members indirectly selected proportionally by the partisan makeup of the 3 Provincial Assemblies or Assemblés Provinciales; members of the 3 Provincial Assemblies directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms);
• Note: the Customary Senate is the assembly of the various traditional councils of the Kanaks, the indigenous population, which rules on laws affecting the indigenous population New Caledonia indirectly elects 2 members to the French Senate by an electoral colleges for a 6-year term with one seat renewed every 3 years and directly elects 2 members to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term
• Elections: Territorial Congress - last held on 12 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024) French Senate - election last held on 24 September 2023 (next to be held on 30 September 2026) French National Assembly - election last held on 12 and 19 June 2022 (next to be held by June 2027)
• election results: Territorial Congress - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party - Future With Confidence 18, UNI 9, UC 9, CE 7, FLNKS 6, Oceanic Awakening 3, PT 1, LKS 1 (Anti-Independence 28, Pro-Independence 26); French
• Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2 French
• National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CE 2

Judicial Branch:

• office: judge appointment and tenure based on France's judicial system
• subordinate courts: Courts of First Instance
• include: civil, juvenile, commercial, labor, police, criminal, assizes, and also a pre-trial investigation chamber; Joint Commerce Tribunal; administrative courts

Regions or States:

• Summary: 3 provinces
• Province Iles (Islands Province)
• Province Nord (North Province)
• and Province Sud (South Province)

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Caledonia Together or CE [Philippe GOMES]
• Caledonian Union or UC [Daniel GOA]
• Future With Confidence or AEC [Virginie RUFFENACH]
• Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM) [Victor TUTUGORO]
• Labor Party or PT [Louis Kotra UREGEI]
• National Union for Independence or UNI [Louis MAPOU]
• Oceanian Awakening [Milakulo TUKUMULI]
• Party of Kanak Liberation or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE]
• Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Basile CITRE]
• The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP) [Sonia BACKES]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

see France

Capital Name

Noumea

Capital - geographic coordinate

22 16 S, 166 27 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

4 facts — expand for details.

International Organization Participation:

• ITUC (NGOs)
• PIF
• SPC
• UPU
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WMO

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Embassy: none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• none (overseas territory of France)

Dependency Status

• special collectivity (or a sui generis collectivity) of France since 1998
• note - independence referenda took place on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021 with a majority voting in each case to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo
• an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place

6 facts — expand for details.

Geographic Location

Oceania

Geographic Coordinates

21 30 S, 165 30 E

Total Area

7,172 Square Miles 18,575 Square Kilometers

Land Area

7,056 Square Miles 18,275 Square Kilometers

Water Area

116 Square Miles 300 Square Kilometers

Coastline

1,401 Miles 2,254 Kilometers

6 facts — expand for details.

Terrain

coastal plains with interior mountains

Highest Point

1,628 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mont Panie 1,628 m

Lowest Point Location

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Irrigated Land

39 Square Miles 100 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

4 facts — expand for details.

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain

coastal plains with interior mountains

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Total Area

7,172 Square Miles 18,575 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

4 facts — expand for details.

Exports

$1,341,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$1,998,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

Major Imports

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Top Export Partners

France 22.8%, Japan 21.2%, Spain 8.7%, Australia 7.6%, South Korea 6.3%, Italy 5.6%

Top Import Partners

France 39.6%, Australia 12.8%, Singapore 9.9%, New Zealand 5.1%, US 4.4%

Export Partners

France 22.8%, Japan 21.2%, Spain 8.7%, Australia 7.6%, South Korea 6.3%, Italy 5.6%

Import Partners

France 39.6%, Australia 12.8%, Singapore 9.9%, New Zealand 5.1%, US 4.4%

Country Description

New Caledonia is a French overseas territory located in the Southwest Pacific near Australia.

It consists of the large island of New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, the Isle of Pines, and several smaller island groups.

The capital is Noumea.

New Caledonia's moderately developed economy is based on mining and, to a lesser degree, tourism.

Tourist facilities can be found throughout New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, and the Isle of Pines.

The French Government Tourism Office, which has a wide range of information available to travelers, can be contacted by telephone at (212) 838-7800.

Safety & Security

Marches highlighting labor or political issues take place in the greater Noumea area from time to time.

Protests and demonstrations sometimes occur and can turn violent.

You should avoid large public demonstrations at all times.

2 facts — expand for details.

Crime

The crime rate in New Caledonia is low; however, petty crime such as pick pocketing and purse-snatching does occur.

Fights and assaults sometimes occur outside discotheques and bars, especially over weekends and holidays and at closing time.

Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, you may be breaking local law too.

The import or possession of counterfeit items is a crime in New Caledonia and even having any such items in your baggage on arrival can lead to their seizure and serious fines for the person involved.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in New Caledonia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.

In New Caledonia, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you, and driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in New Caledonia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

2 facts — expand for details.

Medical Facilities

Medical treatment on the main island is generally good but is more limited on the outer islands.

The Centre Hospitalier Territorial in Noumea provides emergency and outpatient services, as does the smaller Centre Hospitalier Nord in Koumac in the northern part of the main island of New Caledonia and the Centre Hospitalier Est in Poindimie on the east coast of the main island.

Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Patients with more serious illnesses are often referred to Noumea, Australia, or France for treatment.

In the event of a medical evacuation to Australia, you need to submit a referral from a doctor in New Caledonia, proof of acceptance by an Australian doctor, and proof of the patient's ability to pay for the medical treatment to Australian visa authorities to get a visa.

Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars.

Traffic Safety

In a foreign country, road conditions may differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning New Caledonia is for general reference only and may not be accurate in each location or circumstance: Roads are generally well maintained except in remote areas.

Animals and unwary pedestrians walking in the road make night driving on unlit secondary roads hazardous.

5 facts — expand for details.

Airports - total

25

Airports with Paved Runways

12

Heliports

8

Roadways- total

3,493 Miles 5,622 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Mueo, Noumea, Thio

7 facts — expand for details.

Telephones

65,900

Cell Phones

176,400

Internet Users

80,000

Internet Country Code

.nc

Internet Hosts

22,456

Broadcast Media

the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle Caledonie TV and radio stations; a small number of privately owned radio stations also broadcast

Telephone System

• assessment: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, increased network capacity and improved high-speed connectivity and access to international networks
• domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons
• international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,697,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,825,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

13,640

Anthem History

A territory of France