Moving to Cook Islands
Visas and residency, citizenship, tax, company and banking, cost of living and the places to live in the Cook Islands, in one place.
PolynesiaThinking about moving to the Cook Islands?
Here's how long you can stay, the ways to live there for good, what you'd pay in tax and what everyday life costs, each figure from an official source.
In this guide, I'll show you:
- How long you can stay, by passport
- How tax works, with the rates
- What it costs, and the internet and safety
- The basics: capital, currency and languages
Pick your passport at the top of the page, and the stay rule shows for you.
TL;DRKey takeaways
Cook Islands at a glance
How long can you stay in the Cook Islands?
It depends on the passport you hold.
For any other passport, pick yours at the top, or see every country on the visa-free countries map.
Tax in the Cook Islands
The Cook Islands taxes its tax residents on their income from anywhere.
See where it sits among every country on the territorial tax map.
The main rates:
- Lowest income tax band – 18%
- Top income tax rate – 30%
- Corporate tax – 30%
- VAT or sales tax – 15%
Where you're a tax resident usually comes down to days.
Count yours with the 183-day rule calculator.
Company and banking
Compare the banks and cards that work for people abroad in the bank account finder.
Move money for less with the money transfer comparison.
Many people who live abroad run a US LLC instead; check yours with the US LLC for non-residents checker.
Cook Islands: the basics
| What | Cook Islands |
|---|---|
| Capital | Avarua |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
| Languages | English, Māori |
| Population | about 21,388 |
From GeoNames' country data (CC BY 4.0).
More tools for the Cook Islands
- Passport index and compare passports
- Time zone overlap calculator for calls with home
- eSIM finder for data when you land
- Card fees abroad calculator before you spend
Cook Islands FAQs
It depends on your passport.
Pick yours at the top of the page to see the days, and whether you need a visa first.
Not that I've found in official sources as of 2026-09-29.
The digital nomad visa finder lists every country that has one.
The Cook Islands taxes its tax residents on their income from anywhere.
Check the details with a tax adviser before you move.
The New Zealand dollar (NZD).
The main languages are English and Māori.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist & AI OS builder
Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
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