Helia's tourist eSIM kits, at 3,000 and 5,000 francs
Helia's tourist page, written in French, invites visitors to choose a Kit Prépayé Liberté as an eSIM, described as an all-in-one offer with internet, calls and texts, no commitment and same-day activation by QR code. At the time of checking, the smaller kit cost 3,000 francs including tax and gave 15 GB of mobile data, 30 minutes of calls and unlimited texts, each valid 30 days. The larger kit cost 5,000 francs and gave 30 GB, 2 hours of calls and unlimited texts, each valid 30 days, plus 2,000 francs of credit valid 90 days, and was marked as the best seller.
The tourist page says the kits can be topped up through the Helia NC app or at a point of sale, either an OPT-NC agency or an approved Helia partner store, and the operator offers recharges of internet, packaged data and calls, and credit in 1,000, 3,000 or 5,000 francs. The pages do not say what identification a visitor must supply, so check the form before you pay. A separate Pass Internet Voyage gives 10 GB or 30 GB for use abroad, which a visitor would use on a later leg.
How the eSIM is delivered, and what a replacement costs
Helia's eSIM page says an eSIM is available with all its mobile offers. The steps are to check that the device supports eSIM, choose a kit, fill in the form with eSIM as the medium, and wait for the QR code by email, which the page says arrives within two hours between 6am and 7pm or on the next day if the request is made after 7pm. You then connect to the internet, scan the code and follow the prompts. It also says an internet connection is needed to activate the eSIM and that eSIM is not yet available for smartwatches.
It says one QR code activates on one device at a time, and that a physical SIM and an eSIM can coexist on a dual-SIM phone. If a phone is lost or stolen, it advises calling 1052, a free line open 7 days a week from 6am to 9pm, and says creating a new eSIM costs 1,590 CFP francs while the number and plan are kept. Because the code can take up to a day to arrive, ask for it before you fly.
Coverage claims, the 2G switch-off and what is still planned
Helia's network page says it has more than 540 mobile sites and that its 4G coverage reaches 99 per cent of the population, adding about 30 new 3G and 4G sites a year. It said all sites would be covered by 4G by the end of 2025, that voice over 4G, VoLTE, was planned for 2026, and that studies for 5G were under way. Those are the operator's statements, the page offers an interactive coverage map, and we did not find an independent measurement.
A second page said the 2G network would switch off for good on 31 December 2025, with the first targeted shutdowns in 2022, and warned that phones that support only 2G may no longer connect. We did not find a later page confirming the closure or the VoLTE launch, so check whether your phone supports 4G calling before you rely on voice. A modern smartphone with an eSIM will normally be fine for data.
Entry rules for a 90-day stay
The UK Foreign Office says you can visit New Caledonia without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business, that a passport must have at least three months' validity after departure and two blank pages, and that a yellow fever certificate is needed if you arrive from a country listed as a transmission risk. It points to the French visa website for longer stays or other purposes.
It also says there are strict rules about goods taken into the territory, which you must declare if they may be prohibited or taxable, and tells you to check what cash and valuables you need to declare to bring them in. Rules differ by nationality, so check the French visa and customs pages for your own passport.
After the unrest: roads, restrictions and cyclone season
The UK Foreign Office says significant unrest took place in 2024, including protests and blockades, some of which turned violent, and that tensions have decreased but protests can happen with little or no warning. It names routes with a higher risk of protests, including routes to the airport, RT1 south of Nouméa past St Louis and RT1 north of Koné, and says there are still limits on buying, transporting and using weapons, alcohol and fuel, with further restrictions and curfews possible at short notice. The French High Commission is named as the place for the latest updates.
It says crime levels are low but petty theft and street crime do happen, advises avoiding isolated areas, including beaches, after dark, and says cyclones are a risk particularly from mid-December to mid-March. For a phone, that means keeping offline maps and your accommodation's number handy, and checking road news on the day you drive. For driving, it says you need both the 1968 international driving permit and your UK licence, and that the permit cannot be bought outside the UK.
Emergency numbers
The UK Foreign Office lists three numbers for New Caledonia: 15 for an ambulance, 17 for police and 18 for fire. Its health page adds 256767 as another number to call and ask for an ambulance. Our New Caledonia plan page covers data before you arrive.
Networks our New Caledonia plans use
These are the operators named on our plans for New Caledonia, taken from the plan data, so the list follows the catalogue.
- Mobilis5G