The purpose of this document is to provide a formalised process that relates to refund requests for visa and permit application fees paid to Cook Islands Immigration through in-office payments, direct deposits, or payments made through the ASYPX Visa and Permit processing system. The process was developed by considering current best-practice scenarios.
Eligibility for Refund:Requests for refunds of fees may be considered for the following reasons:
- Overpayment of application fees due to administrative or electronic payment errors.
- Applications withdrawn by the applicant before processing begins.
- Where a sponsor or applicant has paid a bond.
To request a refund, the applicant must:
- Submit a written request addressed to the Principal Immigration Officer, including a brief description/reason for the request and the amount of fee to be refunded.
- Provide all relevant documentation supporting the request for a refund:
- A copy of the payment receipt.
- Confirmation of bank account details, which should include the account holder's name, account number, and name of the bank. If payment is to an overseas bank account, please include the SWIFT/BIC code, name of the bank, and bank address for an international money transfer.
- Any other supporting documents as required.
The applicant will be notified of the decision by phone or email.
Requests for refunds will be processed within 20 working days from the date submitted to Cook Islands Immigration.
The decision of the Principal Immigration Officer (PIO) regarding refunds is final and not subject to appeal. This process does not cover fees that are non-refundable, such as those applications that have been processed and finalised, and where the relevant approval has been provided to the applicant or their authorised representative.
For further enquiries or to submit a refund request, please contact Cook Islands Immigration at either +682 29347 or by email at [email protected].