Living in the Solomon Islands as a French Citizen: What the Official Sources Say

The France Diplomatie overview describes the Solomon Islands as a constitutional monarchy, independent since 1978, whose national day falls on 7 July. The country covers 28,400 km² of land, spread over a very large number of islands, within an exclusive economic zone of more than 1.5 million km². The capital is Honiara; France Diplomatie cites Honiara, Gizo and Auki as the main towns. The country is classed among the least developed countries, and the United Nations Development Programme gives it a human development index of 0.584, ranking 156th (a figure repeated by France Diplomatie).

The World Health Organization reminds readers that the country has more than 600 islands and about 620,000 inhabitants, 13% of whom live in Honiara. This geography explains the gap between the capital, where services are concentrated, and the rest of the country: France Diplomatie specifies that, outside the capital, essential services are not always provided. For a newcomer, the choice of where to live is therefore first of all a choice of access to care, to air and sea transport and to basic services. The national statistics office publishes population projections, of the order of 800,000 inhabitants.

The statistics office records a very limited number of visitor arrivals. In this context, settling suits prepared and supported profiles: a professional assignment, a humanitarian or voluntary project, local economic activity, with an employer or host organisation that knows the ground.

According to France Diplomatie (entry and stay page), French nationals receive on arrival a free 90-day visitor permit, provided they present a passport valid six months after the planned return date and a return ticket. Proof of resources covering the length of the stay may be requested. The permit is extended free of charge for up to three months by the immigration services; beyond that, a further three-month renewal requires a specific application and a tax of 30 Solomon Islands dollars a month, with variable processing times.

For settling, the country’s Immigration Division distinguishes several families of visas: visit, investment, work, residence (“migrate”), special reasons and study. For work, it shows an active long-term resident visa (US$450, two years, unlimited entries, renewable) and a short-term visa (US$300, six months, supported by the Labour Department). The long-term resident visa costs US$1,500, is valid for five years and requires five years of prior continuous stay; it does not automatically open the right to work. The detailed conditions should be confirmed with immigration (immigration.visas@immigration.gov.sb).

On the consular side, there is no French embassy in the Solomon Islands: the French embassy in Vanuatu, in Port Vila, is the competent authority (+678 28 700; +678 7777 033 in an emergency). Registration on the register of French nationals living abroad is made with this post. It should be done on arrival, as it allows the embassy to reach residents in the event of a cyclone or crisis. See also the Vanuatu page for the country where the embassy is based.

No tax identification number or resident registration specific to individuals is described in the official sources read. Employers and businesses must however register with the tax division (forms TAA 1 and TAA 1A), and employees come under the national provident fund (see working in the Solomon Islands).

France Diplomatie indicates that the official languages are Melanesian pidgin and English, Melanesian languages being the most common in daily life. The currency is the Solomon Islands dollar. The central bank publishes its exchange rate every day.

No official source consulted publishes a typical budget for an expatriate, and private comparison sites are not used here. The statistics office (SINSO) publishes the national consumer price index every month. For budget calculations, the most reliable approach is to ask the employer or host organisation for local prices for housing, water and electricity, then to plan for the items the country does not cover: health insurance with repatriation, air tickets to Brisbane or Port Vila, schooling.

France Diplomatie also points out that 45% of the urban population has no access to piped water: drinking water is part of the choice of housing, and the health recommendations advise drinking only sealed, filtered, boiled or disinfected water.

The official sources read do not describe the rental market. One tax point is however published by the tax division: the rental of land and buildings is subject to a 10% withholding tax, which the tenant deducts from the rent and pays to the tax authorities before the 15th of the following month. On arrival, it is prudent to go through the employer, a host organisation or the embassy to check the landlord and the conditions of the lease, and to prefer housing connected to water and close to a health facility, given the precarious hospital infrastructure noted by France Diplomatie.

No establishment of the French network abroad is mentioned in the Solomon Islands in the sources consulted. Families enquire with the French embassy in Port Vila about schooling solutions (local or international schools, distance learning) before committing. For a student, the Immigration Division provides a study visa category; see also insurance for students abroad.

As for transport, France Diplomatie indicates that the international driving licence is not compulsory but makes procedures easier, and that it is presented together with the national licence. Solomon Airlines operates domestic flights and links to Brisbane, Port Vila and Tarawa; Suva is served from Honiara by Air Niugini and Fiji Airways. Ferries are irregular and may be interrupted at any time. These links determine access to care as well as returns to France.

Finally, France Diplomatie recalls a few local rules: the sale of alcohol is strictly regulated, with occasional bans depending on the region; drug use is illegal and punishable by prison; insults in public are prohibited; relations between people of the same sex are illegal and punishable by imprisonment. It advises wearing covering clothing, avoiding public displays of affection and not photographing residents without permission. As dual nationality is not recognised, consular assistance may be complicated for dual nationals.

France Diplomatie (safety page) places the whole territory under heightened vigilance. It notes instability, frequent demonstrations and a rise in crime in Honiara: thefts, burglaries, assaults at night and pickpocketing near the central market. The recommendations are to avoid displaying signs of wealth, to prefer licensed taxis, to lock car doors and to keep copies of your identity documents.

Roads are in poor condition and night driving is not recommended; ferries are often overloaded and unsafe. Explosive devices from the Second World War remain in some regions, including Honiara, New Georgia, Tulagi and the Russell Islands. In the water, sharks are reported near the coast of Honiara and crocodiles in fresh and salt water. A decompression chamber is available at Tulagi Dive, in Honiara.

Natural risks are a daily reality: the country is exposed to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes, and to the cyclone season. Travellers and residents are invited to register with Fil d’Ariane (the ministry’s alert service) to receive the ministry’s alerts.

The cyclone season runs from November to May, according to France Diplomatie, with floods, landslides and possible airport closures. A resident prepares a reserve of water and medicines, follows the instructions of the local authorities and checks that their insurance covers weather events. The WHO describes a country facing a triple burden: communicable diseases such as dengue, rising non-communicable diseases and the effects of climate, with frequent floods and droughts.

On the health side, France Diplomatie describes hospital infrastructure as precarious and recommends considering medical repatriation to Brisbane in the event of a serious problem. Without an assistance contract, access to care may be refused, even in a life-threatening emergency, and the French embassy does not pay these costs. Up-to-date vaccinations, protection against mosquitoes (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika) and food hygiene precautions are detailed in the guide to the healthcare system in the Solomon Islands.

Among the strengths are a visitor permit issued free of charge on arrival for three months, a tax scale published by the tax administration, English as an official language and direct air links to Brisbane and Port Vila. Among the points to watch are the fragility of services outside the capital, compulsory medical evacuation in the event of a serious condition, the absence of a social security agreement with France and the cost of travel.

A successful move therefore combines three elements prepared before departure: a suitable residence status, international health cover including repatriation (see expat health insurance and repatriation assistance) and regular contact with the embassy. Expavy helps you compare these cover options according to your profile.