Declarations

"When you arrive in the Cook Islands, you need to fill out a passenger arrival card.

You don’t have to declare your clothing, footwear, jewellery, and toiletries. We regard these as “personal effects”, as long as you’re not:

• selling them
• exchanging them
• giving them away as a gift.

Please have any purchase receipts available.

You must tick “Yes” on the card if you’re bringing in:

• prohibited or restricted items, such as weapons, objectionable (indecent) articles or drugs/medicines
• items that total more than NZ$750
• tobacco and alcohol over the allowance
• more than 250 cigarettes, 250 grams of tobacco products or cigars, or 250 grams of a mixture of all three
• more than 4.5 litres of beer
• more than 2 bottles (or other containers) of spirits or liqueur (each bottle or container can hold a maximum of 1.125 litres)
• more than 3 bottles (or other containers) of wine (each bottle or container can hold a maximum of 0.75 litres)
• items you want to use for business
• items you’re carrying for someone else
• NZ$10,000 or more in cash, or its foreign equivalent.

Hiding items you may have to pay duties for, or not declaring items on your arrival card, are serious offences. We will:

• seize your items
• impose substantial penalties
• prosecute you.

If you aren’t sure about whether you should declare an item, ask a Customs officer."

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$70.36 departure levy.

Cruise passengers must pay:

• NZ$57.20 arrival levy
• NZ$70.36 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: 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 (concessions)

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 $49.24 (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