The Cook Islands border is open for business to New Zealand as of today, enabling fully vaccinated Kiwis to travel freely to and from the Cook Islands with no quarantine or isolation at either end of their trip.
Graeme West, General Manager of Cook Islands Tourism Australasia, said excitement levels about today’s border opening were high as preparations were being made to welcome back New Zealand holiday makers for the first time since the borders closed in August.
Mr. West says people in New Zealand are in the very special position of being the only ones able to enjoy the unique privilege of an overseas holiday on a beautiful tropical island without having to quarantine or self-isolate at either end of their trip.
Requirements for travel to the Cook Islands from this Friday 14 January 2022 are:
- Vaccinated travellers only
- All visitors must be aged over 12 years and be fully vaccinated.
- Once children 5-11 years of age in the Cook Islands and NZ are vaccinated, they will be allowed to visit.
- COVID-19 test required before departure
Visitors must take an accredited PCR COVID-19 test no more than 48 hours before departure and show the negative result at departure and on arrival. Travel to Aitutaki is permitted with no further test required for those connecting straight through from Rarotonga, but travellers who are staying any number of days in Rarotonga prior to going to Aitutaki, will be required to undergo a Rapid Antigen Test before boarding their domestic flight.
Contact tracing and pre-arrival forms
Visitors will be required to complete a Cook Islands contact form no more than 96 hours before departing New Zealand. To assist with tracing in the Cook Islands, travellers will be required to download the Cooksafe+ Bluetooth app as well as use their personal Cooksafe QR code card given on arrival.
FAQs for travellers can be found on www.cookislands.travel & will be updated progressively as various protocols are confirmed.