High commission
High Commission of New Zealand, Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Philatelic Bureau Building, Takuvaine Rd
Cook Islands visa requirements for New Zealander citizens
New Zealander citizens do not need a visa for the Cook Islands. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Passport
NZL
New Zealand
Going to
COK
Cook Islands
No visa needed
A free arrival permit for visitors travelling on New Zealand or Australian passports.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 90 days (3 months)
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for New Zealander citizens in Cook Islands
New Zealand citizens: visa-free for up to 90 days
- Tourists can extend stays in 31-day blocks, up to six months.
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in the Cook Islands.
Ways into Cook Islands
Get a free arrival permit or apply for longer visits.
Visa not required For your passport90-day visitor permitA free arrival permit for visitors travelling on New Zealand or Australian passports.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Prepare your passport and visit documents.
- Fill in the arrival card.
- Show your documents to border staff.
Documents required
- New Zealand or Australian passport
- Passport valid 180 days after departure
- Return or onward travel plan
- Stay details
- Proof of money for your stay
- Arrival card
- Hotel booking
- You cannot take paid work or regular study.
- An extra 90 days costs 235 NZD and needs approval.
Visa not required31-day visitor permitA free arrival permit for visitors without New Zealand or Australian passports.
- Stay
- 31 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Prepare your passport and visit documents.
- Fill in the arrival card.
- Show your documents to border staff.
Documents required
- Passport valid 180 days after departure
- Return or onward travel plan
- Stay address and local contact details
- Proof of money for your stay
- Arrival card
- Hotel booking
- You cannot take paid work or regular study.
- An extra 31 days costs 115 NZD; approval and past-stay limits apply.
Other routeLong visit visaA visa for longer visits, including approved unpaid volunteer stays.
- Stay
- 180 days
- Valid for
- 180 days
- Fee
- NZ$470
- Processing
- 20 days
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Gather your documents and health insurance.
- Create an account on ASYPX, the official application website.
- Apply from inside or outside the Cook Islands.
- Upload documents and pay 470 NZD.
- Track your application and save your approval.
Documents required
- Passport valid 180 days beyond expiry
- Onward travel proof
- Proof of money
- Health insurance
- Medical clearance for 180-day stays
- Police certificate beyond 180 days
- Return ticket
- Hotel booking
- Total visit limits: about 365 days for NZ/Australian visitors; 240 days for others.
- Processing takes up to 20 working days; you cannot apply at the border.
Sources (10)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Cook Islands Immigration — Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration
- Visas and permits — official eligibility criteria
- Immigration FAQs — entry, applications and October 2026 amendments
- Immigration fees — updated 10 November 2026
- Online visa applications — official ASYPX instructions and portal link
- Immigration Amendments Introduce Greater Flexibility for Workers, Families and Visitors — 21 October 2026
- Cook Islands Immigration Regulations 2023 — read alongside October 2026 updates
- Cook Islands overseas missions — official diplomatic network
- Airport Authority Cook Islands — Border Control at Rarotonga
- Cook Islands Customs and Immigration — airport transit and clearance procedures
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from New Zealand
- Plugs INo adapter
- MoneyCKD $Same as home
- Time+1h
- DrivingOn the leftSame as home
- LanguageEnglishSpoken at home too
- Emergency999 police
Planning your Cook Islands trip
Best time to go: May to October is cooler, with average maximum temperatures of 25°C on Rarotonga. Most rain falls from November to April, and cyclone season runs from November to March.
- Cook Islands Christian Church, RarotongaThis white-coral church was built in 1853. Visitors may attend services if they dress respectfully.
- Anatakitaki Cave, AtiuAlso called Kopeka Cave, this large limestone cave is home to the rare kopeka bird, which lives only on Atiu.
- Beachcomber Gallery, RarotongaSee locally made jewellery, carvings, pearls, crafts and paintings. Sometimes visitors can watch jewellery and shell carvings being made in the workshop.
- Sir Geoffrey Henry National Culture Centre, RarotongaThe centre brings together the National Museum, National Library, National Archives and other cultural organisations.
Scams to watch for in Cook Islands
About Cook Islands
The Cook Islands are a self-governing South Pacific state of fifteen islands, linked to New Zealand.
- Capital
- Avarua
- Money
- Cook Islands dollar ($), New Zealand dollar ($)
- Languages
- English, Cook Islands Maori
- Time zone
- UTC-10:00
- Cars drive on the
- left side
- Calling code
- +682
Other Oceania passports
Going to Cook Islands
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Cook Islands with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Are there special rules for New Zealander citizens visiting Cook Islands?
New Zealand citizens can visit the Cook Islands without a visa for up to 90 days.
Do new zealander citizens need a visa for the Cook Islands?
New Zealander citizens do not need a visa for the Cook Islands. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
How long can new zealander citizens stay in the Cook Islands?
Up to 90 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do other Oceania passports get easier entry to the Cook Islands?
Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands Micronesia, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Cook Islands are easier for new zealander citizens?
French Polynesia, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, Wallis and Futuna Samoa, and 3 more let new zealander citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to the Cook Islands?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in the Cook Islands?
Cook Islands dollar ($) and New Zealand dollar ($). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in the Cook Islands?
English and Cook Islands Maori.
How strong is the New Zealand passport?
It ranks #11 and reaches 151 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck