What Documents Do I Need to Travel to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands? [2024]

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Passport for Entering the Cook Islands

One of the most essential travel documents you need for the Cook Islands is, of course, your passport.

Passports from all countries are accepted for visiting the Cook Islands. Passports must be valid for at least six months (or seven days for New Zealand and Australian citizens) after the date you intend to leave the Cook Islands. In other words, the date that you state on your Passenger Arrival Card.

If your passport is valid for less than six months beyond the intended period of stay, then you need to seek authority to enter the Cook Islands from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) and bring that paperwork with you too!

Do You Need a Visa?

Note that you do not need a visa for visiting the Cook Islands, as a tourist permit is automatically granted upon entry into the Cook Islands as long as you meet the entry requirements. Find out more in Cook Islands Tourist Visa: Do You Need a Visa to Visit Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

If you are arriving in the Cook Islands on a work permit or as a permanent resident, for example, you will need evidence of these types of visas.

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Vaccination Certificate (including COVID-19)

After a series of successful border closures during the 2020-2022 COVID-19 crisis, the Cook Islands boasts one of the world’s highest COVID-19 vaccination rates. As a result, there are no current vaccination mandates to enter the Cook Islands.

We list all the recommended and/or mandatory vaccines for a visit to the Cook Islands in our article Do You Need Vaccines to Travel to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

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Arrival and Departure Flight Tickets/Booking Information

Another important travel document for the Cook Islands is, of course, the paperwork for your flights to and from the Cook Islands!

Ticket/Booking Information for Your Arrival Flight in the Cook Islands

After booking your flight to the Cook Islands, you should have received an email detailing your booking reference, departure time, etc. This is sometimes called an “E-Ticket”. Print this out and also save a digital copy so you can provide this to airport staff on check-in for your flight to the Cook Islands.

After check-in at the airport, you will be provided with a Boarding Pass, listing your name, seat number, etc. Don’t lose it!

Ticket/Booking Information for Your Departure Flight From the Cook Islands

In the same email, if you have booked a return flight to the Cook Islands, you should also have your return flight details. If you have booked a separate flight or travel ticket departing the Cook Islands, you will need to print and/or have a digital copy of this evidence, as it is a mandatory entry requirement in the Cook Islands to have a valid outbound or return ticket to your port of origin.

See Cook Islands Tourist Visa: Do You Need a Visa to Visit Rarotonga & the Cook Islands? to learn more about entry requirements.

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Passenger Arrival Card + Accommodation Details

On your flight to the Cook Islands, airline staff will hand out the Cook Islands Passenger Arrival Card for you to complete and give to Customs on arrival. The travel documents already discussed in the guide, such as your passport and flight boarding pass, will provide you with all the information you need to complete the Passenger Arrival Card. One additional piece of information that you need to provide on the card is the details of your accommodation in the Cook Islands.

The Passenger Arrival Card requires you to at least know the name of your accommodation if staying at a commercial accommodation, as well as the accommodation’s phone number. Otherwise, provide the address of your accommodation, the name of your host and their phone number. Make sure you have this information readily available to complete the Passenger Arrival Card.

For more advice on completing the Passenger Arrival Card, head to What You Need to Know About the Cook Islands Passenger Arrival Card.

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Other Travel Documents You May Need for the Cook Islands

All of the documents detailed above are mandatory for travel to the Cook Islands unless stated otherwise. The following travel documents and paperwork are optional or only apply to specific situations.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance ensures financial cover in the event that travel plans need to be changed, theft or loss of personal items, you are injured, etc. Travel insurance policies cover (and don’t cover) a range of circumstances where you otherwise might have significant expenses. It is a personal decision to purchase travel insurance, so if you decide to go for it, make sure you have your policy paperwork and certificate.

Driver’s License (and International Driving Permit)

If you want to hire a vehicle in the Cook Islands and/or apply for a Visitor’s Scooter License, then you’re going to need your valid overseas driver’s license. If your driver’s license is not in English, you need to also provide a certified translation, such as an International Driving Permit (IDP). Check out Can You Drive in the Cook Islands With an Overseas License? to see what driver’s licenses are accepted in the Cook Islands.

Medical Prescription

If you’re bringing prescribed medication to the Cook Islands, be sure that you have evidence that the medication is prescribed to you. Usually, the original packaging for the medication with your name and doctor’s name is sufficient. But if you don’t have this available, a copy of your prescription or a doctor’s letter will suffice.

Arriving in the Cook Islands by Personal Boat/Yacht

Those arriving in the Cook Islands on a personal sailing yacht need to provide additional paperwork for entering and departing the Cook Islands. All of this is detailed in the Sailing Guide to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: Tips for Yachting.