In a bid to make travel more convenient, the Cook Islands have introduced an online electronic visa and permit application system, which will be implemented by the middle of September.
According to a press release published by the Cook Islands’ Foreign Ministry, the new system aims to reduce the need for office appointments, VisaGuide.World reports.
The inevitable shift to an online platform will enhance the user experience and convenience for submitting both sponsorship and visa applications. In addition to the streamlined application process, there is a user-friendly dashboard where applicants can monitor their pending applications, download visa approvals, receipts, and invoices.
The System Remains Under Trial Until Its Final Launch in Mid-September
The immigration system in the Cook Islands is currently under testing, with Immigration Officers taking feedback or suggestions to assist until the final development of the program.
Similar tests from both the public and private sectors will be running in the coming days, which aim to collect feedback in order to improve the final system.
It has been an exciting journey and we are elated to reach this point. The system’s current functionality is almost two years of development and we are pleased with the outcome. We look forward to sitting down with our stakeholders and capturing feedback as part of any potential enhancements.
The Cook Islands as a country is open to all the world except for Nepalese citizens. There is a visa requirement for Nepalese citizens who want to enter the country for tourism purposes.
Cook Islands Welcomed Over 17,000 Visitors in July
According to statistics published by the Cook Islands Statistics Office, a total of 18,400 people entered the Cook Islands in July, which is the highest number recorded for 2023 and 2024 so far.
More than 94 percent (17,346) were visitors, while the rest (1,054) were locals who returned to the country as well as some work permit holders. In general, the number of visitor arrivals in July was up by 7.1 percent compared to the previous month.
The main countries of origin for visitors were New Zealand, with 72.9 per cent of arrivals coming from there, followed by Australia (17.9 percent), the US (3.5 percent) and Europe (three percent). On the other hand, the total number of residents leaving the country in 2024 was 1,388.