• You may get a copy of the Application Form to obtain Permanent Residency in Cook Islands from the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration in Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
• Complete the form in writing and the applicant must be in Cook Islands at the time the application was submitted. Permanent Residency applications already lodged will not be processed while the applicant resides outside of the Cook Islands. The application may be refused if an applicant is subsequently found to be living overseas for 3 months or longer.
• Pay the application fee
• Applications are referred to the Aronga Mana in the village where the applicant resides for their consideration. The views of Aronga Mana may be taken into account in the final assessment of an application for Permanent Residency

Permanent Residency Applications will not be processed if:

• incomplete
• the applicant does not hold a permit to reside in the Cook Islands
• if the application fee is unpaid
• if the application was submitted while the applicant resides outside Cook Islands

Note: The Minister responsible for Immigration may cancel any permanent residency certificate issued if the person to whom the certificate relates is absent from the Cook Islands continuously for a period exceeding three years in circumstances indicating that the person has ceased to make his home in the Cook Islands.

• Completed application form.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration

Address:
PO Box 105
Avarua
Rarotonga
Cook Islands

Phone: +682 29 347
Fax: +682 21 247

Email
Website

Embassies and Consulates Abroad:

Cook Islands Consulate in Sydney, Australia
8/8 Lauderdale Avenue
Fairlight
New South Wales 2094
Australia
Phone: (+61) 2 9907 6567
Fax: (+61) 2 9949 6664

Cook Islands Consulate in Monaco, Monaco
Palais Majestic
23, boulevard Albert Ier
98000 Monaco
Monaco
Phone: (+377) 93.30.06.86
Fax: (+377) 93.50.42.50
E-mail: cookislconsul@unitex.mc

Cook Islands Consulate General in Auckland, New Zealand
1st Floor, 127 Symonds Street
Private Bag 92-640
Auckland 1150
New Zealand
Phone: (+64) 9-366-1100
Fax: (+64) 9-309-1876
Office Hours: 08:30am - 12:30pm , 1:30pm - 4:30pm

Cook Islands Consulate General in Oslo, Norway
Bygdy All 64 A
0265 Oslo 2
Norway
Phone: (+47) 22 43 09 10 / (+47) 22 44 67 21
Fax: (+47) 22 44 46 11

Cook Islands Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey
Yeni Parseller Sok. No.20 K Binasi
Kat:4-5 34805 Kavacik
Istanbul
Turkey
Phone: (+90) 216 538 80 00-11
Fax: (+90) 216 322 37 10

Cook Islands Consulate in Los Angeles, the United States
31 Lemon Drive
Los Angeles
California 90045
United States
Phone: (+1) (805) 322-3842

Cook Islands High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand
56 Mulgrave Street
Thorndon
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone: (+64) 4-472-5126
Telefax: (+64) 4-472-5121
E-mail: cookislands@cookhicom.org.nz

Individuals who have resided in the Cook Islands for 10 years (3 years for New Zealand citizens) may apply for permanent resident status where they have made a significant contribution to, or investment in, the Cook Islands. Reduced residency periods may be applied to persons married to Cook Islanders, or in other special circumstances.

Applicants must be able to prove that they are of good character and have made a significant positive contribution to or investment in the Cook Islands in terms of skills, expertise, community work or financial investment.

Application for Permanent Residence:

• If the applicant is married to a Cook Islander: $50
• Others: $100

Issue of Permanent Residence Certificate: $250

Endorsement of passport with the status of Permanent Resident of the Cook Islands:

• If the applicant is married to a Cook Islander:$12.50
• Others: $25

Note: The application fee must be paid when you submit your application and is not refundable.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Due to the limitations of certificates that may be awarded, applications for permanent residency are not normally given priority or processed immediately.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Permanent Residence certificates that may be in effect are limited to 650. This limitation does not apply to a person who is, at the time of making the application, married to a Cook Islander or Permanent Resident for a period of not less than 5 years.

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

A self-governing country in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands does not have any laws pertaining to the grant of Cook Islands citizenship or nationality, and does not issue passports. Cook Islands however allows permanent residency in the country. Possession of Permanent Residency in the Cook Islands does not carry any guarantee of gaining New Zealand (NZ) Citizenship.

Following are procedures on how you can apply to become a permanent resident in Cook Islands.

Enter other informations which might help

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• Cook Islands Foreign Affairs and Immigration Department:

http://www.mfai.gov.ck/index.php/immigration/pr-and-applying-for-permanent-residency/92-applying-for-permanent-residency.html

More information which might help people.