Palmerston - Clearance

General Clearance Requirements for Palmerston

• For any queries, please contact:
• Palmerston Executive Officer – 55780 | email: palmerstonoffice@gmail.com 
• Palmerston Biosecurity Officer – 77032 | email: julianna.marsters@cookislands.gov.ck 

For vessels intending to visit Palmerston Island, the following steps must be taken:

1. Advanced Notice: The Vessel master must complete Form 29 - Advanced Notice of Arrival (Small Craft) and submit it at least 48 hours prior to arrival.
2. Arrive at a designated Customs Port – Penrhyn,  Avatiu Port, Rarotonga, or Arutanga port, Aitutaki.
3. Complete Form 27 (CI Border Agencies application for marine craft to arrive at or depart from a place outside a designated Customs Port) and submit it to customs.craft@cookislands.gov.ck. Please note this procedure requires approval from border officials and takes five working days to process. If you are arriving at a designated port to obtain clearance to a non-designated island such as Palmerston, please submit the necessary information/documents well in advance along with the Form 27 submission.

See Cook Islands Formalities for complete clearance information.

Biosecurity

Palmerston Island is currently a rat-free island in the Cook Islands. However, Biosecurity measures and procedures are essential to ensure that the Island remains rat free.

For incoming vessels, such as yachts, inspections are to take place on board by the Biosecurity Officer for all cargo and passengers’ carry-on, luggage and items. The purpose of inspection is to ensure that all cargo is sealed, completely free of pests - such as rats, mice, spiders, ants, cockroaches, etc. - and is not carried to the island. All passenger’s carry on luggage, including the pockets of suitcases and bags, will be inspected.

There are strict rules if delivering fruits and vegetables to Palmerston or any other cargo (that needs to be taken ashore). Contact the Biosecurity Officer at email: julianna.marsters@cookislands.gov.ck prior to coming to ensure goods are shipped appropriately and the correct procedures carried out. 

Arrival

On approach (maximum 15NM), all yachts must call Palmerston Island on VHF Channel 16 with an approximate time of arrival and to provide information from previous port.

Locals monitor the channel 24/7 and the community will send someone out in a skiff to assist with mooring/anchoring.

The Biosecurity officer carries out clearance on board and will also charge a landing fee of $10 per person if you wish to come ashore.

Yachts are welcome to stay for as long as their permit allows them, but still have to be checked by the Executive Officer and have to pay the local government landing fee if going ashore.

Fees

• Landing Fee: NZ$10 per person. Landing fees are compulsory for all persons coming ashore on Palmerston.
• Other currencies not accepted.
• All fees collected are used for development/services purposes on the island.

Departure

Yachts cannot be cleared out of the Cooks from Palmerston, they must return to one of the official ports of entry to clear out.

Last updated:  June 2025