Arrival and Departure information for Marine Crafts

Displaying international Q-Flag

All Marine craft must clearly display their international Q-flag when they have entered the Cook Islands' territorial sea (12 nautical miles measured seaward from the low water mark or entrance points of a harbour).

Reporting to a Nominated Customs Port of Entry

All Marine craft arriving in the Cook Islands must first report to one of the following nominated Customs Port's of Entry:

Marine Craft Intending to Arrive at or Depart from Suwarrow Island

Suwarrow Island is not a nominated Customs Port of Entry. Marine craft intending to arrive at or depart from Suwarrow Island MUST obtain authorisation from the Comptroller of Customs. To obtain this authorisation, an application to the Comptroller of Customs must be submitted using CICS Form 27 (Cook Islands Border Agencies Application for Marine Craft to Arrive at or Depart From a Place Outsite of a Designated Customs Port)300.75 KB. 297.86 KBThis form once completed can be emailed to: customs.craft@cookislands.gov.ck or faxed to (+682) 29465.

The Comptroller of Customs will consult with the Ministry of Agriculture, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport and the Cook Islands Police before granting an authorisation to arrive at Suwarrow Island, and has the right to deny the application.

Failure to arrive at a nominated Customs Port of Entry without authorisation is a criminal offence punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding $100. Customs officers may also elect to detain/seize your craft pending prosecution.

Arrival at Nominated Customs Port of Entry or Other Authorised Place

Marine Craft will be met by Customs, Quarantine and Immigration officers upon arrival at the Nominated Customs Port of Entry or Other Authorised Place. All persons and goods must remain on board untill the craft has been entered or a Customs officer directs otherwise. The person in charge of a craft authorised to arrive at Suwarrow Island must report immediately to Customs upon arrival.

The Following documents must be presented on arrival:

1. Completed inward report Form 36 - Inward Report -Ships and boats other than small craft 236.42 KB or Form 38 - Inward Report - Small craft236.6 KB;
2. Completed Cook Islands Passenger Arrival Card for each person on board;
3. Valid passport for each person on board;
4. Completed Border Cash Report (if required);
5. Completed passenger list;
6. Completed crew list;
7. Completed controlled drugs and firearms list;
8. Completed Crew effects list (CICS Form 6)234.95 KB - this only applies to marine craft where arrival cards are not required to be completed and presented for processing; and
9. Details of the last port of clearance.

Immigration Requirements

Customs will provide immigration services on arrival in the Cook Islands under the authorisation of the Cook Islands Immigration Department. For more information relating to immigration formalities, please contact an Immigration officer on the following contacts:

Cook Islands Immigration Office

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration

Ph: (+682 ) 29347

After Hours (+682 ) 55050 or 55532

www.mfai.gov.ck

Charges and Customs Duties

Marine craft entering the Cook Islands are subject to import clearance requirements and must pay Customs duty, including import Value Added Tax ('VAT'). However, craft owned and operated by a bona fide vistor, and in the Cook Islands temporarily, may be granted a Temporary Import Entry (TIE) with Customs duty and Import VAT charges being deferred. Customs will generally align the period of the TIE with the length of your visitor's visa, or 12 months whichever is less. Applications for extensions to your visitors permit are to be made to the Cook Islands Immigration Service. If your visitors permit is extended you may apply to Customs for a similar extension to your TIE. The extension will depend on Customs being satisfied that your craft continues to meet the criteria for a temporary entry.

You should note the conditions applying to TIEs include:

• Agreement to export your craft by the expiry date of the TIE;
• An undertaking that the craft will not be sold, offered for sale otherwise disposed of in the Cook Islands;
• Immediate advice to Customs at the Port of Arrival of any change to the Masters or craft's presence in the Cook Islands; and
• Possible requirements to provide a security by way of cash deposit or letter of undertaking.

VAT on purchases while in the Cook Islands

Most goods and services supplied in the Cook Islands attract VAT. However, some taxable supplies are zero rated which means VAT is charged at a rate of 0 percent rather than the standard rate of 15%. Goods supplied to a person for consumption or use outside the Cook Islands (such as repairs or maintenance on overseas marine craft) may be considered zero rate taxable supplies. All queries regarding VAT should be referred to:

Tax Division

Revenue Management Division

Ministry of Finance and Economic Management

Ph (+682 )29365

http://www.mfem.gov.ck/tax

Firearms and Weapons

The importation of firearms is strictly controlled in the Cook Islands. All Firearms must be declared to Customs on arrival of the craft from overseas. Firearms onboard a craft will be detained and placed in safe keeping by the Cook Islands Police Department who will hold them untill the crafts departure.

The importation of weapons such as flick knives, swordsticks, knuckle-dusters, and any weapon designed to give the appearance of another article, is prohibited.

The importation of prohibited goods is a criminal offence punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $100,000

Marine Craft Departures

You should advise Customs at least 72 hours before your intended departure to ensure that there is no delay.

Under no circumstances is a marine craft to depart for an overseas place without having first obtained a Certificate of Clearance from Customs.

The following documents must be presented to Customs in order to obtain a Certificate of Clearance:

• Completed Passenger Departure cards and passports for every person departing on the craft;
• Completed Form 40 - Outward report - Small Craft248.78 KB or Form 39 - Outward Report - Ships and boats other than small craft171.98 KB; and
• A copy of CICS Form 84 ( Temporary Import Entry for Yachts and Small vessels).

All marine craft departing for an overseas place from the Cook Islands must depart from a Nominateed Customs Port of Entry as specified in the previous table. A Customs officer will attend at the agreed time and place of departure. On completion of Customs and Immigration formalities, marine craft must depart immediately from the Customs Nominated Port of Entry to the intended overseas destination.

Marine craft intending to depart from Suwarrow Island to an overseas place must obtain authorisation from the Comptroller of Customs. To obtain this authorisation, an application to the Comptroller of Customs must be submitted using Form 27 - Cook Island Border Agencies application for marine craft to arrive at or depart from a place outside of a designated Customs Port403.27 KBThis Form once completed can be emailed to: customs.applications@cookislands.gov.ck or faxed to (+682) 29465.

Under no circumstances is the person in charge of a marine craft interding to depart to an overseas place to go to any other place in the Cook Islands following their departure from a nominated Customs Port of Entry or other authorised place. If, due to extenuating circumstances, you are required to do so, you must immediately advise the Cook Islands Customs Service on our 24 hour on call phone number (+682) 55368.

Duty Free Stores and Ships

Duty free stores are stores which may, under certain conditions, be shipped from the Cook Islands free of Customs duty. Prior to Departure, you can arrange for duty free stores through a duty free business which must submit a requisition form to Customs Service for approval no later than 72 hours prior to departure. Receipts must be available for inspection by Customs at the time of your departure.

Ship stores are any goods (including tabacco and alcohol) for use or consumption on board marine craft by passengers or crew, or for the service of a craft. Ships stores can be shipped duty free under the condition that they are entered for export and not removed from the craft prior to its departure. The amount of ships stores that can be loaded duty free will be determind by Customs based on the number of crew and passengers on board, the duration of the voyage and the amount of stores already on board.

Return of Firearms

If any firearms were detained on your arrival, you must contact Customs to arrange for them to be delivered to your craft prior to your departure. Make sure you allow sufficient time for the firearm(s) to be transported to your Port of Departure, particularly if this is different from your port of arrival.

To contact Cook Islands Police Phone (+682) 22499

Check List

• Arrange return of firearms;
• Purchase duty free stores (if required) for delivery;
• Confirm time and place of departure 72 hours before departure;
• Complete departure cards and have passports ready for inspection;
• Complete outward report;
• Supply relevant copy of Temporary Entry Form;
• Have any duty free goods ands receipts available for Customs inspection;
• Complete departure process at agreed time and place;
• Obtain Certificate of Clearance from a Customs officer; and
• Depart immediately for overseas destination.