Travel from Cook Islands to United States is conditional — see requirements below
This is the generic answer for any Cook Islands citizen. Not legal or medical advice — verify with your airline and destination authorities before travel.
Confirm visa requirements for Cook Islands passport holders travelling to United States with United States's official immigration authority.
Generic country-level guidance for United States. Verify against the official source before you travel.
This page covers a direct flight to United States. If your route connects through a third country, that country may require its own transit visa — sometimes even for a short airside layover. Transit rules depend on your specific routing, so check the country you connect through separately, or analyse your full itinerary.
You're travelling to United States (US). Your home cellular plan may or may not include data abroad — check your carrier's international options before you fly. An eSIM is a low-commitment alternative if your plan doesn't cover the destination or charges high roaming rates.
United States (US) screens applicants and arriving travellers against criminal records (application declaration). If your history is clean, no action — proceed normally. If you've ever been convicted of anything, two things matter: (1) any visa or entry-permit application asks the question, and answering 'no' when the answer is 'yes' is itself grounds for refusal even if the original conviction wouldn't have been; (2) some categories trigger denial regardless — the canonical examples are DUI for Canada and drug-related convictions for Japan. Research waivers / rehabilitation routes well before booking if either applies to you.
Declare USD 10,000 or equivalent when entering or leaving United States (US). Form: FinCEN Form 105. Must declare $10,000+ in currency/monetary instruments on entry or exit
This page covers the generic case for any Cook Islands citizen. Sign in (free) to factor in your specific passport expiry, vaccinations, previous visas held, and connecting flights — and get the same analysis for your exact itinerary.
Sign in (free) to personalize →United States (US) requires every traveller to submit the US Customs Declaration for entry — best done a few days before departure rather than in the airport queue. Without it, expect to be pulled aside at the border or denied boarding. Apply at: https://www.cbp.gov/travel
United States requires proof you'll leave before they let you in. At check-in the airline often asks for this — without it, they can deny boarding because the carrier becomes liable for flying you back. Easiest fixes, in order: (1) book a refundable return or onward flight, (2) use a one-way bus / train ticket out, or (3) buy a temporary onward-ticket reservation through a service like OnwardTicket. Have whichever you choose printed or on your phone before you reach the counter.
Typical September conditions at JFK (United States (US)): mild. Typical lows around 15°C, highs around 24°C, moderate rainfall (~86mm for the month).
Your passport-to-United States pairing isn't in our verified reference yet — coverage is expanding. Before booking, confirm the requirement directly with United States's official immigration portal (linked below). If a visa is needed it usually has to be applied for in advance, so don't rely on a check-in agent's word.