Organization : Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI)
Facility : Cook Islands Status
Country : Cook Islands
Website : https://mfai.gov.ck/cook-islands-status
What is Cook Islands Status?
Cook Islands Status is a passport endorsement that recognizes you as a Cook Islander by descent. Your passport reflects your citizenship status for the country it was issued in. Per Section 24 of the Cook Islands Immigration Act 2021, all Cook Islanders need to verify their descent and have their passport endorsed.
Related / Similar Facility : MFAI Visa & Permit Factsheet Cook Islands
How To Apply For Cook Islands Status?
Birthplace alone isn’t sufficient evidence of Cook Islands heritage as non-Cook Islanders can also be born in the Cook Islands. All Cook Islanders, however, have the right to travel freely and reside in the Cook Islands. It is recommended that Cook Islanders apply for the Cook Islands Status stamp in their passport, as required under Section 24 of the Cook Islands Immigration Act 2021, to verify their status as a Cook Islander by descent and ensure their right to travel freely and reside in the Cook Islands.
Apply Here : https://form.jotform.com/232576718743870
Requirements For Cook Islands Status
** Copy of passport biodata page
** Copy of birth certificate
** Birth certificate of Cook Islands-born parent(s)
** Birth certificate of Cook Islands-born grandparent(s) if parent was born outside the Cook Islands
** Evidence of name change, such as marriage certificate or statutory declaration
Note:
Documents must be originals or certified color copies. For non-English documents, a certified English translation is required.
Application Fee For Cook Islands Status
$30.00 per application, valid for the duration of the passport. A new application is required when the passport expires to transfer the stamp to a new passport. Alternatively, you can submit your application in person at our customer service office in Avarua, directly opposite the Ministry of Justice. Click on this link to download a copy of the application form Cook Islands Status Application form.
Note:
** Section 24 of the Cook Islands Immigration Act 2021 requires that Cook Islanders prove their status as a Cook Islander by descent and have their passports endorsed.
** Cook Islands status is a stamp in your passport to recognise that you are a Cook Islander by descent.
** The Cook Islands does not issue passports and the passport that you currently hold is citizenship for that country. This means that a Cook Islander holding a New Zealand passport is a New Zealand citizen.
** Cook Islanders generally will refer to their birthplace as adequate evidence of Cook Islands heritage. However non Cook Islanders are also born in the Cook Islands, so it is insufficient to rely on evidence of birth place alone.
** All Cook Islanders have continuing rights to travel in and out of the Cook Islands and reside at will, it is ideal that all Cook Islanders seek to have their status recognised and apply to have the Cook Islands status stamp endorsed in their passport.
Contact:
For additional information, email immigration.status [at] cookislands.gov.ck.