Searching your baggage

Customs and biosecurity officers can search anyone’s bags.

Prohibited and restricted imports

"You won’t be able to bring prohibited items into the Cook Islands.

You may be able be able to bring some restricted items into the Cook Islands, but only if you have a permit for them, or after they have gone through treatments like fumigation.

Note: you can’t bring pepper spray into the Cook Islands – we consider it to be a weapon."

Border clearance levy

"People coming and going over the Cook Island’s border must pay a border clearance levy on arrival and departure

Air travellers and people on private craft must pay:

• NZ$57.20 arrival levy
• NZ$71.77 departure levy.

Cruise passengers must pay:

• NZ$57.20 arrival levy
• NZ$71.77 departure levy.

These charges are included in your ticket when you book air travel or a cruise. We’ll provide an invoice to private aircraft and yachts."

Fees and charges

"We charge duties based on how much you paid for items you’re bringing into the Cook Islands. We also charge VAT (15%) on the total value, including duties.

If you don’t know how much it cost – eg it was a gift – we may have your item valued independently.

We only accept payments in NZ dollars. You can pay with cash, eftpos, or VISA/MasterCard credit cards."

Bringing money into the Cooks

"You must complete a CIFIU BCR form: Border Cash Report if you carry NZ$10,000 (or foreign equivalent) or more cash or equivalent into or out of the Cook Islands.

Cash means:

• physical currency
• travellers’ cheques
• cheques
• money orders, postal orders, or similar
• bearer bonds
• a bill of exchange
• promissory notes
• any instrument prescribed by regulations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.

It’s a criminal offence to lie on your report or to avoid making the report. If you do either, you could:

• be fined
• be imprisoned
• have your cash seized.

Learn more in Fact Sheet 13: Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (PDF 710 KB)."

Allowances (concession)

Clothing and personal effects

"You won’t have to pay VAT and duty on your clothing, toiletries, and personal jewellery (including watches). This only applies if:

• they’re for your own use or wear
• they’re not for anyone else (including gifts)
• you’re not going to sell, or exchange them.

The concession only covers new or used personal items you’re travelling with or bought on your trip."

Unaccompanied baggage

"Unaccompanied baggage doesn’t qualify for duty-free concessions and you may have to pay VAT and duties.

The exceptions are personal clothing, toiletries, and jewellery."

Temporary imports

"If you’re bringing in items you intend to take back out with you, you may not have to pay duty on them.

To qualify as “temporary imports”, the items must:

• be in the same condition as when you brought them in
• be uniquely identifiable, eg with a serial number
• be for your personal use, and not for sale, exchange, distribution or as a gift
• be non-consumable
• leave the Cook Islands within 12 months of arriving here (yachts and small craft must leave within 2 years) - in some cases, we may grant an extension. You must apply at least a month in advance.

You will need a temporary import entry (TIE) if:

• you don’t have a carnet for your items
• your items aren’t household effects that came into the Cook Islands with you.

You must arrange a TIE with us before you arrive in the Cook Islands.

There is a fee of $23.00 (including VAT) on any temporary import or TIE."

Financial security on temporary imports

"We may require financial security for temporary imports. There are three forms of financial security:

• a cash deposit
• a financial bond
• a temporary import approval and undertaking (TIA)

use Form NZCS 233A for single imports (DOC 241 KB)

use Form NZCS 233B for multiple shipments (DOC 247 KB)."

Items which qualify for temporary import

"Items which qualify for temporary import include:

• cameras (still, video, and motion picture) a supply of film, tapes, and accessories
• binoculars
• musical instruments
• sound and video devices (eg, tape recorders, CD players, mini disc players, DVD players, and dictating machines)
• portable radio receivers
• cellular or mobile telephones
• portable personal computers (laptops) and accessories
• baby carriages and strollers
• wheelchairs
• sporting equipment.

You can also bring in, as temporary imports:

• professional equipment and items for display or use at exhibitions, fairs, meetings or similar events
• items you’re importing for educational, scientific, cultural or humanitarian purposes
• tourist publicity material
• items you’re importing for sports purposes
• animals
• containers, pallets, packing and samples
• motor vehicles, private boats and aircraft."

Declaring items you owned before leaving the Cooks

"When you arrive in the Cooks, you don’t need to declare any items that you had before you left the country (including duty-free bought before leaving).

If you’re worried that items you took overseas could affect your duty-free allowance, you can ask us for a Certificate of Export. This is proof that you owned the item when you left the Cooks.

You can get the certificate from us before you leave the Cooks. We can only issue it for uniquely identifiable items, eg with serial numbers.

If the items are new video or camera equipment, we suggest you carry documents proving you already owned them before you left."

Taking items back out of the Cooks

"If you’re bringing items into the Cooks that you’ll be taking back out with you, you won’t have to pay VAT and duties on some. These include:

• still, video, and movie cameras
• a reasonable supply of films, tapes, and accessories
• binoculars
• portable musical instruments
• portable sound and video players, eg tape recorders, CD players, mini disc players, DVD player
• dictaphones and portable recorders
• portable radio receivers
• cellphones (mobile phones)
• laptops/tablets and accessories
• baby carriages and strollers
• wheelchairs
• sports equipment.

If your items don’t match this list, we may need you to give us a cash deposit to cover VAT and duties. We will refund you when you take the items out of the Cook Islands."