What it costs to buy property in French Guiana
A foreign buyer should budget roughly 7.5%–8.3% of the purchase price on top of the price itself. No licence or permit is required.
What you pay
- Transfer duties (droits de mutation)6.3% of the price$31,600
- Notaire's emoluments and formalities1.2%–2.0% of the price$6,000–$10,000
| On a purchase of | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer duties (droits de mutation) | $15,800 | $31,600 | $63,200 |
| Notaire's emoluments and formalities | $3,000 – $5,000 | $6,000 – $10,000 | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Total on top of the price | 7.5%–8.3% | 7.5%–8.3% | 7.5%–8.3% |
Can you buy as a foreigner?
No licence required
French territory, so French property law applies in full and there is no licence, permit or nationality test — a foreign buyer acquires exactly as a resident does. The sale completes before a notaire, a public officer whose fees are fixed by statute rather than negotiated.
No approval to wait for
With no permission to obtain, the timeline is set by conveyancing rather than by a government queue.
Take it with you
These figures as a PDF, worked out at the price you enter, with every source and the date it was checked.
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Nearby markets compared
What a foreign buyer pays on top of a $500,000 price, here and in the markets around it nearest in cost.
An estimate for budgeting, not legal or tax advice. These rates are traced to published sources but have not been reviewed by a practitioner in this jurisdiction. Confirm the current position with an attorney before you commit.
Rates are as published for 1 June 2026. Together these land at the 7–8% of price that is customarily quoted as frais de notaire on an existing property — a figure that already includes the transfer duties, which is why it looks so much larger than a Caribbean stamp duty.