Oceania · Pakistan
Cook Islands
Cook Islands visit visa for Pakistan passport holders
VisitVisaInfo Editorial Team
Our Cook Islands guide is built from official government and embassy sources.
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Cook Islands · Aitutaki lagoon from Maungapu · Akos Kokai · CC BY 2.0
Summary
- Visa type
- International Visitor permit on arrival (no advance visa)
- Stay limit
- Up to 31 days on arrival, extendable once by 31 days
- Entries
- Per visit
The Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration states that visitors who do not hold a New Zealand or Australian passport receive an International Visitor permit on arrival for up to 31 days, with no need to apply for a visa before travelling and no fee at the border. That covers Pakistani passport holders. The permit can be extended once by 31 days for NZD 115, and longer visits of up to eight months in total need a Long-term Visitor visa and permit.
The Cook Islands, fifteen islands scattered across the South Pacific, offer Rarotonga's mountain interior and reef-fringed beaches, the turquoise lagoon of Aitutaki and a gentle Polynesian pace of life. For Pakistani travellers the entry process is light: there is no visa to arrange in advance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration says any visitor who does not hold a New Zealand or Australian passport receives an International Visitor permit at the border. It allows up to 31 days, carries no fee, and is granted when the conditions on the arrival card are met.
Those conditions are practical. Your passport must remain valid for six months after you leave, and you show a return or onward ticket, the name and location of your accommodation with a local contact, and enough money for the trip. Visitors must also be of good character and in acceptable health.
If 31 days is not enough, one extension of a further 31 days is possible; the fee fell from NZD 470 to NZD 115 under amendments approved in October 2026. Longer visits, up to eight months in total, require a Long-term Visitor permit costing NZD 470 and health insurance.
Visitors may sightsee, see family, play sport, explore business ideas or volunteer unpaid, but paid work and study need a separate permit. Travellers with a criminal record should request an exemption from Cook Islands Immigration before booking flights.
Checklist
Document requirements
- Passport valid for 6 months beyond your departure date from the Cook Islands
- Onward or return travel plan (confirmed or open-dated ticket)
- Proof of accommodation, with the property name or location and a local contact name and phone number
- Sufficient funds for the length of stay
- Completed arrival card
- Good character and an acceptable standard of health
- Travel insurance (recommended, not compulsory)
Pakistani passport holders are treated as international visitors: a free permit of up to 31 days is issued at the border when the arrival-card conditions are met.
Checklist source: mfai.gov.ck, mfai.gov.ck
Money and time
Fees and timeline
Fees
Visa fee
No visa fee
No fee applies to the International Visitor permit issued on arrival. A 31-day extension costs NZD 115 (reduced from NZD 470 under the Cook Islands Immigration Amendment Regulations 2026), and a Long-term Visitor visa and permit costs NZD 470, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
Fee source
Timeline
Processing and appointments
No advance processing for a visit of up to 31 days; the permit is issued on arrival. Applications made through the online system, such as long-term visitor permits, can take up to 20 working days.
Official links
How to apply
You will leave VisitVisaInfo for an official government or designated VAC website.
- GovernmentCook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration: visa and permit criteriamfai.gov.ck
- GovernmentCook Islands Immigration: frequently asked questionsmfai.gov.ck
- eVisaCook Islands Immigration: Asypx online visa and permit system (extensions and longer stays)mfai.gov.ck
- Eligibility checkCook Islands Immigration: schedule of feesmfai.gov.ck
Check another passport
Not travelling to Cook Islands on a Pakistani passport? Pick other countries and the flight animation takes you to that guide.
Official statistics
Visa ratio
Not officially published
The Cook Islands does not publish entry refusal figures by nationality.
A percentage is shown only when an official source published one for this route. Blog tables and estimates are left out.
Quick answers
FAQ
Do Pakistanis need a visa for the Cook Islands?
No advance visa is needed for a short holiday. Pakistani visitors receive an International Visitor permit at the border, valid for up to 31 days.
Is there a fee on arrival?
No. The ministry states there is no fee for the International Visitor permit issued at the border.
Why do New Zealanders get longer?
New Zealand and Australian passport holders receive 90 days on arrival. Since October 2026 Australians have the same 90-day arrangement as New Zealanders. All other passports, including Pakistan's, receive 31 days.
Can I extend my stay?
Yes, once, by a further 31 days. The extension fee was cut to NZD 115 in October 2026. In total, an International Visitor permit cannot run beyond two months.
What if I want to stay several months?
Apply for a Long-term Visitor visa and permit (NZD 470). Visitors without New Zealand or Australian passports can stay up to eight months in total at one time, and you need health insurance for the whole period.
How long must my passport be valid?
Six months beyond the date you leave the Cook Islands.
What do I show on arrival?
Your passport, proof of accommodation for the whole stay, an onward travel plan, evidence of sufficient funds and a completed arrival card.
What counts as an onward travel plan?
A confirmed or open-dated ticket out of the country, written confirmation from an airline or travel agent that onward travel is booked and paid, or an employer's letter guaranteeing it.
Is travel insurance compulsory?
No, it is recommended but not compulsory for a regular visit. It is required for a Long-term Visitor permit.
Can I volunteer while visiting?
Yes, as long as you receive no stipend, gain or reward. If you will be paid in any form, including accommodation, apply for a Government Worker visa and permit first.
Can I work on the visitor permit?
No. Visitors may holiday, sightsee, visit family, play sport or explore business options, but not take paid work or study.
I have a criminal conviction. Can I still travel?
Send Immigration your passport biodata page, itinerary, accommodation confirmation, travel companions, purpose of travel and a criminal record report issued within six months, and apply for an exemption via exemptions@mfai.gov.ck before you fly.
Are paper copies required?
Hard or digital copies of supporting documents are accepted. Only your passport must be the original.
Can I visit the outer islands on the same permit?
Yes. The permit lets you stay in the Cook Islands, and the ministry notes that the funds you need may differ between Rarotonga and the Pa Enua (outer islands).
Is there an official refusal rate for Pakistanis?
No. The Cook Islands does not publish such figures.
Checked against
Official sources
- Cook Islands MFAI: visa and permit criteria (International Visitor Visa and Permit)Cook Islands source: mfai.gov.ck/immigration/visa-and-permit-criteria/
- Cook Islands MFAI: immigration FAQs (entry requirements for visitors)Cook Islands source: mfai.gov.ck/immigration/faqs/
- Cook Islands MFAI: immigration feesCook Islands source: mfai.gov.ck/immigration/fees/
- Cook Islands MFAI: Immigration Amendment Regulations 2026 announcementCook Islands source: mfai.gov.ck/2026/10/immigration-amendments-introduce-greater-flexibility-for-workers-families-and-visitors/
- Cook Islands MFAI: Asypx visa and permit systemCook Islands source: mfai.gov.ck/immigration/asypx-visa-and-permit-system/
Last checked for Cook Islands visas on 26 October 2026. Rules change without notice, so confirm on the official pages before you apply or travel.
Compare Cook Islands with other countries: Visa-free, visa on arrival and eVisa countries for Pakistanis · Visa fees for Pakistani passports, country by country
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