Increase in requests for travel movements records to support applications for NZ aged and veteran's pension
RAROTONGA, 08 FEBRUARY 2019 (COOK ISLANDS GOVT)---Cook Islands Ministry of foreign affairs and Immigration continue to process requests for records of travel movements for Cook Islanders applying for their New Zealand aged pension and veteran's pension who are currently residing in or visiting the Cook Islands.
"There's been an increase in the number of requests for confirmation of permit types and travel movement in and out of the Cook Islands over the last 2 weeks," said Principal Immigration Officer Kairangi Samuela.
Samuela said MFAI is pleased to help people understand the application process "but our role is a support one to the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in NZ who are ultimately responsible for management of aged pension and veteran's pension applications".
The MSD process requires the MFAI official in Rarotonga processing the movements check to sight the person and match them to their passports before signing off the movements check letter which applicants attach to their aged/veteran's pension application.
Movement confirmation letters issued by MFAI cost $25 (US$16) and take up to 10 days to process. MFAI's Immigration Office services are available from its offices on the ground floor of the New Zealand High Commission building, open 9am-3pm Monday-Friday.
Cook Islanders living overseas will have to get their movement confirmation letters from the immigration authorities of the countries they are resident in as the MSD process requires the immigration official to sight the person requesting the movements confirmation.....PACNEWS