The +689 country code is for French Polynesia, a French overseas collectivity spread across 118 islands in the South Pacific. The territory covers five archipelagos — the Society Islands (including Tahiti and Bora Bora), the Tuamotus, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas, and the Austral Islands — scattered over an ocean area roughly the size of Western Europe. About 280,000 people live here, with most concentrated on Tahiti around the capital Papeete. Despite being French territory, French Polynesia has its own country code and phone system, separate from mainland France's +33.
Quick answer: French Polynesia's country code is +689. Phone numbers are 8 digits with no area codes. Landlines start with 40. Mobiles start with 87 or 89. There is no trunk prefix — dial the 8-digit number directly after +689.
How to call French Polynesia: quick reference
French Polynesia uses 8-digit numbers with no area codes or trunk prefix. Dial +689 followed by the 8-digit local number.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +689 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-689-[local number] |
| UK | 00-689-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-689-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-689-[local number] |
| France | 00-689-[local number] |
Understanding French Polynesia phone numbers
All French Polynesian phone numbers are 8 digits. In 2015, the territory switched from 6-digit to 8-digit numbers by adding a 2-digit prefix to all existing numbers. The first two digits now tell you the type of line.
Landline numbers
Landlines start with 40, followed by 6 digits. The format is 40 XX XX XX. All landlines use this prefix regardless of which island they're on — there are no geographic area codes.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 87 or 89, followed by 6 digits. The format is 87 XX XX XX or 89 XX XX XX. The 87 prefix is primarily associated with Vini (OPT's mobile brand), while 89 is used by Vodafone.
Special numbers
Numbers starting with 36 are used for certain value-added services. Emergency services use short codes (15 for ambulance, 17 for police, 18 for fire).
Mobile carriers in French Polynesia
Vini (OPT)
The territory's main mobile operator, run by OPT (Office des Postes et Télécommunications), the state-owned telecom. Vini has the widest coverage across the islands, including 4G on Tahiti and Moorea. It also handles the fixed-line network. Coverage on outer islands varies — some atolls in the Tuamotus have basic service, while the more remote Gambier and Austral islands can be patchy.
Vodafone French Polynesia
The second mobile operator (formerly Viti), rebranded under the Vodafone name. Vodafone provides competition on the main islands, particularly Tahiti and the Society Islands. Coverage is more limited on remote archipelagos compared to Vini.
Don't confuse +689 with nearby codes
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +33 | France | French Polynesia is French territory, but has its own code — +33 won't work |
| +687 | New Caledonia | Another French Pacific territory, code differs by 2 digits |
| +682 | Cook Islands | Neighboring Pacific islands, similar-sounding 68x codes |
The most common mistake is assuming French Polynesia uses France's +33 code. It does not. Despite being French territory, +689 is a completely separate phone system. You need to dial +689 to reach anyone in Tahiti, Bora Bora, or any other French Polynesian island.
Time zone considerations
Most of French Polynesia is on Tahiti Time (TAHT), UTC-10 — the same as Hawaii. The Marquesas Islands are the exception: they use UTC-9:30, one of the few half-hour time zone offsets in the world. There is no daylight saving time.
| Your time zone | Time in Tahiti (UTC-10) | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| Paris (CET, UTC+1) | -11 hours | Evening your time (morning in Tahiti) |
| London (GMT, UTC+0) | -10 hours | Evening your time |
| New York (EST, UTC-5) | -5 hours | Afternoon your time |
| Los Angeles (PST, UTC-8) | -2 hours | 9 AM - 7 PM your time |
| Sydney (AEDT, UTC+11) | -21 hours (next day) | Late morning your time |
| Auckland (NZDT, UTC+13) | -23 hours (next day) | Early afternoon your time |
The gap from Europe is large. If it's 6 PM in Paris, it's 7 AM the same day in Papeete. Calling from France to Tahiti works best in the French evening or early morning.
Communication in French Polynesia
Business hours and culture
Business hours in French Polynesia are generally 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with some offices closing for lunch. The pace is relaxed — punctuality is valued in government and business settings, but less so in everyday life. French and Tahitian are the main languages. Most business communication is conducted in French.
Network quality
Tahiti and Moorea have good 4G coverage and reliable internet through the Honotua submarine cable connecting to Hawaii. The Society Islands generally have decent service. Remote atolls in the Tuamotus, Gambier, and parts of the Marquesas rely on satellite connections and may have slow or intermittent service. International call quality from Papeete is generally clear.
Messaging habits
WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are popular for personal communication. Messenger is particularly common in the Pacific islands. For business, email and phone calls are standard. SMS is still used, especially on outer islands where data connections can be unreliable.
The French Polynesia diaspora
Where French Polynesians live abroad
The largest overseas community is in metropolitan France, particularly the Paris region. There are also communities in New Caledonia (another French Pacific territory), New Zealand, and Australia. Many young French Polynesians move to France for university or military service and some stay permanently. The relationship between the territory and the mainland creates a steady flow of people in both directions.
Why they call
Family ties are central to Polynesian culture. Overseas Polynesians call home for birthdays, holidays (especially Heiva festival in July and Bastille Day), and family gatherings. The 11-hour time difference from France makes scheduling tricky, so weekend calls are common. The nuclear testing legacy (France conducted tests in the Tuamotus until 1996) also means some families have members receiving medical care in France who need to stay in touch.
Dialing examples
Calling a Papeete landline from France
To reach a Papeete landline like 40 50 12 34, dial: 00 689 40 50 12 34, or +689 40 50 12 34 from a mobile.
Calling a Tahiti mobile from the US
To call a Vini mobile number like 87 23 45 67, dial: 011 689 87 23 45 67 from a US landline, or +689 87 23 45 67 from a mobile phone.
Calling a Bora Bora hotel from Australia
To reach a Bora Bora landline like 40 60 78 90, dial: 0011 689 40 60 78 90, or +689 40 60 78 90 from a mobile.
Calling a Vodafone mobile from New Zealand
To call a Vodafone number like 89 12 34 56, dial: 00 689 89 12 34 56, or +689 89 12 34 56 from a mobile.
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing +33 instead of +689
French Polynesia is French territory, but it has its own country code. Dialing +33 followed by a Tahitian number will not work. Always use +689.
Using old 6-digit numbers
Before 2015, French Polynesian numbers were 6 digits. If you find an old number like 50 12 34, you need to add the 40 prefix for landlines: 40 50 12 34. Old mobile numbers similarly need 87 or 89 prepended.
Forgetting the Marquesas time offset
If you're calling the Marquesas (Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa), the time zone is UTC-9:30, which is 30 minutes ahead of Tahiti. Most of French Polynesia is UTC-10, but the Marquesas are the exception.
Expecting coverage on remote atolls
Many of the Tuamotu atolls and outer islands have limited or no mobile coverage. If you can't reach someone, they may be on an island without service. Try again later or contact them through someone on Tahiti.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country code is +689?
+689 is the country code for French Polynesia, a French overseas collectivity of 118 islands in the South Pacific. It covers all archipelagos including Tahiti, Bora Bora, and the Marquesas.
How many digits are in a French Polynesian phone number?
French Polynesian phone numbers have 8 digits. There are no area codes. The full international format is +689 followed by the 8-digit local number.
Is French Polynesia on the same phone system as France?
No. French Polynesia has its own country code (+689), separate from France (+33). You cannot reach French Polynesia by dialing a French +33 number.
What time zone is French Polynesia in?
Most of French Polynesia is in Tahiti Time (UTC-10). The Marquesas Islands use their own offset of UTC-9:30. There is no daylight saving time.
How much does it cost to call French Polynesia?
With CallSky, calls to French Polynesia start at $0.59/min on the Economy plan and $0.77/min on the Premium plan.
Looking for other Pacific dialing guides? See New Caledonia (+687), Cook Islands (+682), or browse all country codes.