Living in Reunion Island guide for expats

Reunion Island takes up just 2,517 square kilometres of land and has the population of about 876,562 people. French is the island's official language, but Creole and Tamil are also widely used. The ethnic groups present on the island are Africans, Indians, Europeans, Malagasy, and Chinese.

Reunion's capital city is Saint-Denis, known for its Creole-style architecture. Saint-Paul is a beach town housing resorts and hotels; Saint-Leu is famous for its surf culture, while the small town of Etang-Salé is praised for its black volcanic beaches.

The economy of the region has traditionally relied on agriculture with sugar cane being the main crop. Tourism and financial aid from France are also a big help in the country's development.

Despite its small territory, Reunion enjoys a scenic landscape diversity. Here, you can find high mountains, thick green forests, dramatic waterfalls, coastal panoramas, white and black beaches, and more. Some of the country's main attractions are the volcano of Piton de la Fournaise ("Peak of the Furnace") and the Piton des Neiges, the Trou de Fer canyon, and the crater of Mafate.

Reunion is an overseas territory of France but retains its own visa policy. Residents of many countries can travel to Reunion visa-free ' this includes citizens of all European Union countries who can stay for an unlimited time. Citizens of some countries are allowed a visa-free stay for 90 days, while others will need to apply for a visa in advance.