French citizens living in Canberra will be among the first to cast their ballots in the final round of voting in an election that will determine whether centrist Emmanuel Macron or far-right Marine Le Pen becomes their country's next leader.

The European nation's election has secured extra attention outside the Francosphere this year due to neither major party candidate making it through to the final two-person election.

For Australian National University student and French voter Marie Heloury, the election marked an important point in France's history.

The politics, philosophy and economics student said she thought Macron would probably win, but his supporters could become complacent before Sunday's poll.

"France is at a very difficult point, but the shift towards extreme politics is a very special event and a very unfortunate one," she said.

"A lot of my friends were quite angry about the outcome, because I think having a far-right member in the second round is a very unfortunate event and shows a problem with French society."

Canberra's French expatriates had great interest in the first round of their country's presidential election, embassy figures showed.

The polling booth at the French Embassy had a greater proportion of eligible citizens cast a vote for the first presidential election this year than in any other Australian state or territory.

Some 254 citizens, or 62.9 per cent of eligible French voters living in the ACT, made their choice at the embassy, up from 194 voters, or 41.6 per cent of those eligible, who took part in the 2012 election.

Figures from the Australian ballot booths in the first presidential election were not available, but a collation of international results showed frontrunner Macron held a more comfortable lead among French citizens living in other countries than he enjoyed in domestic polls.

Macron pulled 40.4 per cent, or almost 224,000, of the international votes, compared to his 23.8 per cent overall result.

Le Pen, who secured 21.6 per cent and came second overall, only made it to fifth place in the international vote with 6.5 per cent.

Polling booths in New Caledonia, the French special collectivity closest to Australia, recorded 31.13 per cent support for centre-right Les Republicains candidate Francois Fillon, followed closely by Le Pen on 29.09 per cent.

Macron recorded only 12.75 per cent.

An French Embassy spokesman said they expected another large turnout on Sunday for the runoff election.

The embassy will be open from 8am to 7pm for voting.

Ms Heloury said she would regular check her phone on Monday as the results came through.

"Then I might have a celebration with friends if the outcome is favourable."