·Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)·Material change·In force
Cook Islands visa and permit criteria refreshed
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Cook Islands MFAI guidance last updated 20 October 2026 confirms current visa/permit categories, fees, visitor limits, work-hour limits, dual visa-and-permit travel documents and permanent-residence criteria.
What changed
Policy claim 1
Cook Islands MFAI states that people without continuing rights need both a valid visa and permit for travel, entry and stay, and the visa must be shown when requested by an airline or immigration officer.
Claim ID: ck-2026-10-mfai-criteria-refresh#claim-1·Cite this claim
Source: Cook Islands MFAI - Visa and Permit Criteria (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands)·source verified ·page reviewed
Policy claim 2
The current criteria list visitor limits of less than 3 months for New Zealand or Australian visitors and less than 31 days for international visitors, with the published extension fees of NZD$235 and NZD$115 respectively; long-term visitor status is NZD$470 and requires health insurance.
Claim ID: ck-2026-10-mfai-criteria-refresh#claim-2·Cite this claim
Source: Cook Islands MFAI - Visa and Permit Criteria (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands)·source verified ·page reviewed
Policy claim 3
The criteria publish current fees of NZD$320/640/960 for 1/2/3-year International Worker and Government Worker permits, NZD$260 for Specialist Worker, NZD$960 for Resident Investor, NZD$470 for spouse, child, student and research categories, and NZD$960 for International Intern and Special Entrant.
Claim ID: ck-2026-10-mfai-criteria-refresh#claim-3·Cite this claim
Source: Cook Islands MFAI - Visa and Permit Criteria (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands)·source verified ·page reviewed
Policy claim 4
The separate permanent-residence page, last updated 20 October 2026, lists four categories and confirms the current 5-year New Zealand-citizen / 10-year other-national continuous-residence thresholds for the own-right and spouse routes, plus the eligible-child and descent routes.
Claim ID: ck-2026-10-mfai-criteria-refresh#claim-4·Cite this claim
Source: Cook Islands MFAI - Permanent Residence (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands)·source verified ·page reviewed
Routes affected
- New Zealand Visitor Entry
- International Visitor Entry
- Long-Term Visitor Permit
- International Worker Permit
- Government Worker Permit
- Specialist Worker Permit
- Resident Investor Permit
- Resident Spouse Permit
- Special Spouse Permit
- Adult Student Permit
- Research Permit
- Intern Permit
- International Child Permit
- Resident Child Permit
- Permanent Residence
Primary source
Primary source
Cook Islands MFAI - Visa and Permit Criteria ↗ · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands
Link last verified: