Cook Islands Passenger Arrival Card: What You Need to Know

On arrival in the Cook Islands, every passenger, including children, must complete a separate Passenger Arrival Card in English using a black or blue pen. The front of the green section of the Cook Islands Passenger Arrival Card collects personal and immigration details, including passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender, occupation, contact information, home address, and flight details.

You must also declare your status as a visitor, resident, Cook Islander residing overseas, or temporary resident/contract worker, as well as your purpose of visit, intended length of stay, and evidence of departure, such as your return flight number and date.

Accommodation information, including the name, address, and contact details, must also be provided. Be sure to have your passport and travel tickets on hand when completing the form. Visitors are not permitted to work or engage in commercial activity while in the Cook Islands.

Border officials can be strict about checking your travel plans, so have confirmation of all of your accommodation bookings for the entire duration of your stay, including any accommodation on the outer islands. You should also have your departure flight details ready, as you may be asked to provide evidence of your onward or return travel.

We recommend printing these confirmations or downloading them to your phone before you arrive so they are available offline. Don’t rely on airport WiFi to retrieve booking emails or travel documents once you land. During our last visit, the airport WiFi wasn’t working for three weeks, so having everything saved beforehand can save you a potentially awkward moment at the border.

At the airport, a tourism representative will be available to assist. False declarations can result in fines, prosecution, removal from the country, or imprisonment.

The back of the green section of the Cook Islands Passenger Arrival Card covers biosecurity and customs declarations, recent travel history and health and character-related questions. You must declare any countries visited in the past 40 days, as well as any items in your possession that may pose a biosecurity risk.

Food that should be declared includes packaged and processed foods such as snacks, biscuits, canned goods, spices, tea and coffee, as well as seafood and some dairy products. You should also declare animal products such as shells, feathers and souvenirs, as well as camping gear, sports equipment and footwear. Outdoor equipment and footwear must be clean and free from soil.

Some items are prohibited from entering the Cook Islands, including fresh fruit and vegetables, home-killed and game meat, fresh meat and meat products, soil and sand and seeds or planting material without a permit. Pork and chicken are also prohibited if they are not from New Zealand or Australia.

You’ll also be asked about recent visits to forests, farms or contact with wild animals. Biosecurity officers are strict in protecting the islands' fragile ecosystem. If you're unsure whether something needs to be declared, tick “Yes” and declare it. Non-declared items may result in an on-the-spot fine.

The Customs Declaration section asks you to declare any prohibited, restricted, or dutiable goods, including medicines, weapons, endangered species, illicit drugs, alcohol or tobacco over duty-free limits, business goods, items valued over NZD$750, or NZD$10,000 or more in cash. There are also questions about your health and criminal history.

Most questions are in a simple Yes/No format. If you are unsure, tick “Yes” — this won’t get you in trouble but will allow a Customs Officer to clarify. You must sign and date the form at the bottom before submitting it.

For more information on Customs, Health and Biosecurity, check out our complete guide: Arriving in Rarotonga: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & the Arrival Process and What to Declare When Arriving in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Depending on the most recent public health concerns, there may be a section of the Cook Islands Passenger Arrival Card that gives relevant health advice.

There may also be a form from the Ministry of Health that has a series of Yes/No questions about any symptoms you might have, as well as your history of exposure to viruses and diseases. You will also need to provide personal details, such as your name and passport number, and sign and date this form.

1. Pack a black- or blue-ink pen in your carry-on luggage. While pens are usually provided by the in-flight staff, it can take a while for them to give you one.
2. Passenger Arrival Cards are also available at the airport or at the port, in case you miss getting a card during your flight or cruise.
3. Arrival Cards must be completed for every passenger, so be sure to complete one for each of your children (even infants) travelling with you.
4. On question 5, simply put “unemployed” if you don’t have an occupation or job.
5. For most holidaying in the Cook Islands, crossing “Visitor” for Question 7 and then "Holiday/Vacation" for Question 9 are usually the most relevant answers.
6. Answer the Biosecurity and Customs Declaration sections truthfully. If you're unsure whether an item needs to be declared, tick “Yes”. This includes packaged food, animal products, seafood, some dairy products and outdoor equipment. Declaring an item doesn't necessarily mean you can't bring it into the Cook Islands, but failing to declare biosecurity-risk items may result in an on-the-spot fine. Find out more in Arriving in Rarotonga: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & the Arrival Process.