Entry and travel notices

TE KAUONO TUTARA E TE MANA TIAKI – MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND IMMIGRATION

10 June 2023

Public Notice

The Cook Islands Immigration Regulations 2023 are in force. There are changes to the current visa and permit regime that will affect all current permit holders and new applications for residence, work, investment, study and visit.

If you are a person, business, entity that require employees, volunteers, students from abroad it is important you review the criteria to be a sponsor.

Cook Islands Immigration will be reaching out to permit holders, employer groups and other relevant organisations with information and assistance for migrating to the new visa and permit regime.

Regulations and more information is available on our website www.mfai.gov.ck from 1 June 2023

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TE KAUONO TUTARA E TE MANA TIAKI – MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND IMMIGRATION

09 September 2022

Notice of Amended travel Advisory as at 06 September 2022

The Cook Islands current Section 9A Notice for refusal of Entry under the Entry, Residence and Departure Act 1971-72, signed into effect from 12 May 2020 and still active is as follows:

All persons are denied entry into the Cook Islands unless there is an exemption provided (in writing) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI).

Effective from 12:01am 06 September 2022 (CKT) the entry criteria specified in the notice dated 29 July 2022 as relates to COVID-19 vaccination requirements have been removed and no longer apply for travel and entry to the Cook Islands by Aircraft and Sea vessel.

Sea vessels must enquire with Cook Islands Customs regarding any restrictions for the Maritime border.

All travellers must meet all other Cook Islands Immigration Entry requirements

All queries regarding this travel advisory can be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Te Kauono Tutara e te Mana Tiaki on email: immigration2@mfai.gov.ck.

Meitaki maata

Kairangi J. Samuela

Principal Immigration Officer

Review Official Advisory

TE KAUONO TUTARA E TE MANA TIAKI – MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND IMMIGRATION

29 July 2022

Notice of Amended travel Advisory as at 29 July 2022

The Cook Islands current Section 9A Notice for refusal of Entry under the Entry, Residence and Departure Act 1971-72, signed into effect from 12 May 2020 and still active is as follows:

All persons are denied entry into the Cook Islands unless there is an exemption provided (in writing) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI).

Effective from 12.01am 1 August 2022 (CKT) persons are exempted for entry into the Cook Islands, provided they meet the entry criteria specified in this notice, including the Schedule.

1. Entry requirements to enter Cook Islands by Aircraft and by Sea vessel
   1. A person may enter the Cook Islands by aircraft and by sea vessel only if the person is vaccinated and provides evidence of vaccination
2. Persons not required to comply with vaccination requirements

   The following persons are not required to comply with vaccination requirements to enter the Cook Islands:

   1. a Cook Islander or permanent resident:
   2. a person under the age of 16 years:
   3. a person who holds—
      1. a medical exemption granted by the Secretary under regulation 19; or
      2. a COVID-19 vaccination exemption granted by the New Zealand Director-General of Health.

Details of the entry requirements relating to COVID-19 are set out in the Schedule attached to this notice. Sea vessels must enquire with Customs regarding any further restrictions to the maritime border.

All travellers must meet all other Cook Islands Immigration Entry requirements

All queries regarding this travel advisory can be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Te Kauono Tutara e te Mana Tiaki on email: immigration2@mfai.gov.ck.

Meitaki maata

Kairangi J. Samuela

Principal Immigration Officer

Review Official Advisory

TE KAUONO TUTARA E TE MANA TIAKI – MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND IMMIGRATION

29 April 2022

Notice of Amended travel Advisory as at 29 April 2022

The Cook Islands current Section 9A Notice for refusal of Entry under the Entry, Residence and Departure Act 1971-72, signed into effect from 12 May 2020 and still active is as follows:

All persons are denied entry into the Cook Islands unless there is an exemption provided (in writing) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI).

Effective from 11.59pm 30 April 2022 (CKT) the following persons are exempted for entry into the Cook Islands, provided they meet the entry criteria specified in the COVID-19 Border Entry Requirements) Regulations dated 29 April 2022, summarised below

1. Entry requirements to enter Cook Islands by Aircraft and by Sea vessel
   1. A person may enter the Cook Islands by aircraft and by sea vessel only if the person—
      1. is vaccinated and provides evidence of vaccination and
      2. has completed the online COVID-19 information form no earlier than 96 hours before the scheduled departure time of their flight to the Cook Islands.
   2. If the person’s flight does not leave for the Cook Islands at its scheduled departure time, the requirement in subclause (1)(b) applies in relation to any new scheduled departure time.

2. Persons not required to comply with vaccination requirements

The following persons are not required to comply with vaccination requirements to enter the Cook Islands:

1. 1. 1. a Cook Islander or permanent resident:
      2. a person under the age of 16 years:
      3. a person who holds—
         1. a medical exemption granted by the Secretary under regulation 19; or
         2. a COVID-19 vaccination exemption granted by the New Zealand Director-General of Health.

All travellers must meet all other Cook Islands Immigration Entry requirements

The Covid 19 (Border Entry Requirements) regulations 29/4/22 are available on www.mfai.gov.ck

All queries regarding this travel advisory can be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Te Kauono Tutara e te Mana Tiaki on email: immigration2@mfai.gov.ck.

Meitaki maata

Kairangi J. Samuela

Principal Immigration Officer

Review Official Advisory