Suwarrow - Clearance
Pre-Application 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 authorization from the Controller of Customs in advance.
Complete the form: Cook Island border agencies application for marine craft to arrive at or depart from a place outside of a designated Customs port and email to [email protected] or fax to (+682) 29465.
Cook Islands Customs will consult with the Ministry of Agriculture, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport, the Cook Islands Police and the National Environment Service before granting an authorization to arrive at Suwarrow Island, and has the right to deny the application.
Failure to arrive at a nominated Customs Port of Entry without authorization is a criminal offense 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.
Note: Reports from cruisers 2023 are that many requests are being denied.
Pre-Arrival:
Suwarrow Island is free of rats. Yachts are requested to be very vigilant that they do not bring any rats or mice to Suwarrow. The island is a key biodiversity area and a very important bird breeding ground for the Pacific Islands. It is also requested that boats are sprayed for other invasives, such as fire ants, before travelling to the island.
Clearance Process:
The Suwarrow officers are able to provide official Cook Islands border clearance papers if permission has first been obtained from Customs and Immigration to visit Suwarrow first.
See Cook Islands Formalities for complete clearance information, plus details of the latest fees.
The caretaker usually comes out to your boat for the entrance papers in the morning between 8am and midday, so if you arrive in the afternoon you can expect them the next morning.
Boats are requested to ensure that they do not introduce rats, mice, fire ants, or any other invasive species. Also to fumigate the boat before arrival. This is a pristine environment, and it is important to keep it this way.
Fees:
All vessels entering the island of Suwarrow are required to pay an entry fee of $50 USD for up to 2 people per vessel, staying no more than 10 days. Other Suwarrow fees include $10 USD per person per 7 days for any additional person on the vessel. Children 15 years of age and under are free of charge.
Park Rules:
Suwarrow is a national marine park and visitors are urged to preserve its environment. In order to keep the park as pristine as possible and to keep visitors safe, some rules have been put in place. These include:
- Spear fishing is not permitted
- Scuba diving is not permitted
- The taking of coconut crabs is not permitted
- Permission must be sought from the caretaker before visiting other islands in the atoll.
- Using drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)
The caretakers maybe able to take visitors to other motus and snorkeling sites, however, this will depend on their availability. Charges maybe imposed by the Rangers and this may vary from cash payment to gas etc.
For the current rules on visiting Suwarrow National Park, download this document – Suwarrow Rules 2022 or contact the National Environment Service at: [email protected]
Last updated: July 2023
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at [email protected]. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
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Related to following destinations: Cook Islands, Northern Group (Cook Islands), Suwarrow
Port Navigation
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We asked as requested customs in advance with the form for permession to enter Suwarrow and it was denied without a reason. Two weeks earlier a friend of us sailed directy to Suwarrow and had no problems to clear in and out with the park ranger without the pre-permission of cutoms.
Thank you for this feedback, however, Suwarrow Island is NOT a nominated Customs Port of Entry and authorization to go there MUST be obtained from the Controller of Customs in advance. Failure to arrive without authorization is a criminal offense 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. As far as Noonsite is aware the rules have not changed, however, we are seeking an official response from the Controller of Customs.
The correct link for the customs form for permission to visit Suwarrow is http://www.mfem.gov.ck/images/Form_27_-_Cook_Island_Border_Agencies_application_for_marine_craft_to_arrive_at_or_depart_from_a_place_outside_of_a_designated_Customs_Port.pdf
Please note that we undertook a rat eradication exercise on Suwarrow 2 years ago, with help from the Critical Ecosystem Protection Fund and the European Union. We ask all yachts to be very vigilant that they do not bring any rats or mice to Suwarrow.
This is a very important bird breeding ground for the Pacific Islands, and we need to keep it rat-free. We also ask that boats are sprayed for other invasives, such as fire ants, or anything else that could destroy our paradise!
If you have any suggestions about how to spread this message out to all yachts that visit Suwarrow, please let us know at [email protected] (Te Ipukarea Society, Birdlife International partner in the Cook Islands)
Lisa was in Suwarrow in August 2014 – her blog has some useful info: http://lisadorenfest.com/2014/09/17/suwarrow/