Leaving French Guiana: the end-of-posting departure checklist

After two, three or four years spent in French Guiana, the time eventually comes to head back to mainland France or move on to a new posting. Civil servant, military personnel, hospital staff, local government employee or private-sector worker: whatever your status, leaving French Guiana is not something you improvise. Between the shipping container that takes several weeks to cross the Atlantic, cancelling local contracts, selling or shipping your vehicle, handing back your home and completing the last administrative formalities, the to-do list is long. And in a territory where everything depends on very particular logistics timelines, starting too late is expensive.

This guide offers a chronological checklist, designed around the realities of French Guiana, so you can leave Cayenne, Kourou, Rémire-Montjoly, Matoury or Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni with peace of mind. The timeframes and costs given here are indicative only: they vary depending on your situation, your employer, the season and the service providers. Always check with the relevant organisations.

Three months out: setting the framework

The biggest trap when leaving French Guiana is underestimating shipping times. A container leaving the port of Dégrad-des-Cannes (Rémire-Montjoly) does not reach Le Havre or Fort-de-France overnight. As a rough guide, allow several weeks of transit, on top of booking, packing and customs clearance times. In other words, your belongings may well leave long before you do.

So start by setting three key dates:

The date your contract, posting or return actually ends.
The date you hand back your home (respecting the notice period).
The date your container or groupage shipment is collected.

Notify your employer and check your entitlements

If you are a public-sector employee on transfer, your administration often covers all or part of the move and the return trip (change-of-residence expenses). The conditions depend on your status and the length of your stay. Ask early for:

Your transfer order or certificate.
Any coverage of the move (volume, ceiling).
Reimbursement of flights for you and your family.
The payment schedule for end-of-posting bonuses, where applicable.

In the private sector, re-read your contract and any expatriation or mobility agreements: allowances, notice period, final settlement.

Choosing how to move

Three main options coexist in French Guiana:

A full container (20 foot): appropriate for a family with a lot of furniture. As a rough guide, it is the most expensive option but the simplest if your volume is significant.
Groupage shipping: you only pay for the space you occupy, ideal for a studio or a small volume.
Air freight: fast, but reserved for small urgent volumes, as the cost per kilo is high.

Ask several locally based movers for quotes and compare timeframes, insurance and packing services. Check what is prohibited or regulated for shipping (wood, plants, products subject to health controls).

Cartons de déménagement dont un marqué « kitchen » dans un logement en cours de vidage, une personne debout au milieu des affaires empaquetées — Faire ses cartons pièce par pièce : le cœur de la checklist de départ en fin de mutation. — © cottonbro studio (Pexels, Pexels License)

Two months out: housing, container and sorting

Give notice and prepare the handover

For an unfurnished rental, the notice period is generally three months, reducible to one month in certain cases (job transfer, redundancy, first job). For furnished rentals it is most often one month. Send your notice by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt and keep proof of posting.

Plan ahead for the check-out inspection: in French Guiana, damp, mould and air-conditioning marks are classic points of scrutiny. Budget for a thorough clean and, if needed, a fresh coat of paint to get your deposit back.

Handover checklist:

Notice sent by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt.
Check-out inspection date agreed with the landlord or agency.
Home cleaned (anti-mould, seals, air-conditioning units, filters).
Small repairs done (holes, paint, light bulbs).
Meter readings photographed.
Forwarding contact details left for the return of your deposit.

Sort, sell, donate

A transatlantic move is billed by volume: every box counts. This is the moment to sort ruthlessly. In French Guiana, peer-to-peer sales groups, end-of-posting house clearances and local charities are constantly active. White goods, furniture, air-conditioning units and above all equipment suited to the tropical climate sell well to newcomers.

Sell bulky items early (furniture, appliances).
Donate what does not sell rather than paying to ship it.
Keep only what has genuine practical or sentimental value.

The vehicle question: sell or ship?

Your vehicle is one of the most structuring decisions when leaving French Guiana. There are two strategies.

Selling locally

This is often the simplest choice. The second-hand market is active in French Guiana, driven by the constant flow of postings. Vehicles in good condition, well maintained and with an up-to-date service book sell quickly, especially as the big posting waves approach (summer in particular). Plan for the transfer declaration, a valid roadworthiness test and the administrative status certificate (proof of no outstanding finance).

Shipping your vehicle home

Shipping a car by sea mainly makes sense for a recent vehicle in good condition with a strong resale value in mainland France. Sea transport of a vehicle represents, as a rough guide, a significant cost, on top of transit times and formalities. Compare that cost with the loss you would take by selling locally. Remember to cancel your local car insurance on the right date.

One month out: cancellations and paperwork

As departure approaches, the priority shifts to methodically closing all your contracts and subscriptions. A forgotten contract keeps taking payments once you are back in mainland France.

Cancellation checklist:

Electricity (EDF meter): cancellation request with date and reading.
Water: cancellation with your municipality’s supplier.
Internet and router: notice period and return of equipment (plan ahead, shipping times for the hardware count).
Mobile phone: number portability if you are keeping it.
Insurance (home, car): cancellation on the exact departure date.
Miscellaneous subscriptions (gym, associations, press).

Bank, mail and government bodies

You are not obliged to close your bank account, but update your address and check that your payment methods will work in mainland France. Points to deal with:

Mail forwarding to your new address (a paid service from the postal operator).
Address update with the tax office, social security and the family allowance fund.
Informing your health insurer and top-up health cover.
Transferring your medical file if you are changing GP.

Schools and children’s education

If you are leaving with children, ask their school for the deregistration certificate and their school records. Plan the enrolment at their new school in advance: depending on the time of year, places can be scarce. Collect report cards, records and certificates before leaving French Guiana, because obtaining them remotely afterwards is a hassle.

Remise d'un trousseau de clés d'une main à une autre au-dessus d'un bureau, symbolisant la restitution du logement à la fin du bail — Restitution des clés et état des lieux de sortie : la dernière étape avant de quitter la Guyane. — © Pavel Danilyuk (Pexels, Pexels License)

The home straight: between handing back your home and the flight

This is often the most uncomfortable period. The container has left or is about to, the home has been handed back, but your flight is still days or even weeks away. You find yourself without furniture, without bedding, sometimes without electricity in your former home.

This is precisely where transitional accommodation makes all the difference. Rather than sleeping on a mattress on the floor of an emptied apartment, or racking up expensive hotel nights as a family, a temporary furnished rental in Cayenne, Rémire-Montjoly or Matoury gives you real comfort for this in-between period: fully equipped kitchen, linen, air conditioning, wifi. You can calmly handle your last administrative appointments, the check-out inspection, handing over the vehicle and the goodbyes.

If you are looking for that kind of turnkey solution, take a look at our rentals, furnished and designed for stays of a few nights to several weeks. For a tailored duration or a specific question, just get in touch.

What to keep with you (hand and hold luggage)

Some of your belongings should never go in the container: your essential documents and items, to be kept on you throughout the journey.

ID papers, passports, family record book.
Transfer orders, employment contracts, employer certificates.
Health and vaccination records (including yellow fever, required in French Guiana).
School records and deregistration certificates.
Vehicle documents (registration certificate, transfer, no-finance certificate).
Moving receipts and insurance documents.
Personal medication and prescriptions.
Keys, chargers, laptop and backup drives.

Timeline at a glance

To picture the sequence, here is an indicative countdown plan. Adapt it to your situation, as real timeframes depend on your employer, the provider and the season.

3 months out: key dates set, removal quotes obtained, employer entitlements checked.
2 months out: housing notice sent, sorting and sales under way, vehicle decision made.
1 month out: cancellations scheduled, schools and government bodies notified, container booked.
2 to 3 weeks out: packing, container collection, vehicle sale finalised.
Final days: check-out inspection, transitional accommodation, verification of the documents to take with you.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a shipping container take between French Guiana and mainland France?

As a rough guide, allow several weeks of sea transit, on top of packing, booking and customs clearance. The total time, from collection to delivery, can therefore stretch over one to two months depending on the provider and the season. Plan ahead so you are not left without your belongings for too long.

Is it better to sell or ship my car?

It depends on the age and condition of the vehicle. For a recent car with a good resale value in mainland France, shipping can be worth it despite the transport cost. For an older vehicle, selling locally, where the second-hand market is buoyant, is often more advantageous once depreciation and fees are taken into account.

What notice period applies when leaving my home in French Guiana?

For an unfurnished rental, the notice period is generally three months, reducible to one month in the event of a job transfer, redundancy or first job. For furnished rentals it is most often one month. Always send your notice by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt and keep the proof.

Where can I stay between handing back my home and my flight?

A temporary furnished rental is the most comfortable solution once your home has been handed back and your furniture shipped. You keep a kitchen, linen and air conditioning so you can handle your final formalities stress-free. You can browse our rentals suited to short, flexible stays.

Will my employer cover my move?

For public-sector employees on transfer, partial or full coverage of change-of-residence expenses and flights is common, subject to conditions of status and length of stay. In the private sector, it all depends on your contract. In both cases, request the certificates and the detail of the ceilings as early as possible.

Leave with peace of mind

A well-prepared departure from French Guiana comes down above all to anticipation: shipping times, notice periods and administrative formalities cannot be made up at the last minute. By following this countdown plan and these checklists, you turn a stressful deadline into a transition you control.

And for that tricky period between handing back your home and your return flight, don’t sleep in an empty apartment: book comfortable temporary accommodation through our rentals. A question about availability or the ideal duration? Contact us — it’s the first step towards a smooth departure. And if you are instead preparing an arrival in French Guiana, or becoming the owner of a property to manage remotely, discover our concierge service as well as other practical guides on the blog.