Denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are beguiled and demoralized by the charms pleasure moment so blinded desire that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble.
Read MoreCOOK ISLANDS
Cook Island Offshore Company Incorporation Overview
(Prices below do not include Nominee Director. Please refer to our Nominee Service Price List for fees.)
| Prices in USD | |
|---|---|
| Incorporation* | USD 1,625 |
| Bank Account | USD 800 |
| *includes first year Company Secretary | |
The Cook Islands is comprised of a group of 15 islands located in the South Pacific Ocean (between Tahiti in the east, Samoa and Tonga in the west) in free association with New Zealand. The largest island and administrative centre is Rarotonga which is approximately 3,000 km north-east of Auckland, New Zealand. The township of Avarua on the north of Rarotonga is the political and commercial centre of the Cook Islands. The Islands became self-governing in 1965 but New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defence. The total population of the Island group is approximately 19,000. Although Cook Islanders are citizens of New Zealand, they have the status of Cook Islands nationals, which is not given to other New Zealand citizens.
| Key Corporate Features | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Type of Entity | IBC/LLC |
| Type of law | Common |
| Shelf Company Availability | No |
| Minimum Government Fees (Excluding Taxation) | USD 350 |
| Corporate Taxation | None on Foreign Profits |
| Double Taxation Treaty Access | No |
| Share Capital or Equivalent | |
| Standard Currency | USD |
| Permitted Currencies | Any |
| Usual Authorized | USD 100 |
| Minimum Paid-up Capital | USD 100 |
| Directors or Managers | |
| Minimum Number | One |
| Local Required | No |
| Public Access to Records | Yes |
| Location of Meetings | Anywhere |
| Members | |
| Minimum Number | One |
| Public Access to Records | No |
| Location of Meetings | Anywhere |
| Company Secretary Required | Yes |
| Local or Qualified | Not Required |
| Accounts | |
| Requirement to Prepare | No |
| Audit Requirements | No |
| Requirement to File accounts | No |
| Public Access to Accounts | No |
| Other | |
| Requirement to File Annual Return | Yes |
| Change of Domicile Permitted | Yes |
General Information
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean, in free association with New Zealand. The 15 small islands have a total land area of 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq miles), but the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1,800,000 square kilometres (690,000 sq miles) of ocean. The main population centre is on the island of Rarotonga (14,153 in 2006), where there is an international airport. There is a much larger population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand, particularly the North Island. In the 2006 census, 58,008 self-identified as being of ethnic Cook Island Māori descent.
With about 100,000 visitors travelling to the islands in the 2010-11 financial year, tourism is the country’s main industry, and the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, and marine and fruit exports.
The administrative capital of Belize is Belmopan, but the major commercial centre is Belize City, which is located on the eastern coast close to the major international airport.
Infrastructure & Economy
Rarotonga has a highly developed communication system, with satellite telephone, the Internet, e-mail and fax facilities. Direct dialling to Rarotonga is available from most countries. New Zealand Airlines fly via Rarotonga to and from Auckland, Tahiti, Hawaii, Los Angeles and Fiji, and provide direct access to the USA, South East Asia and Australia, as well as Europe.
The Cook Islands economy is primarily based on tourism and fishing. In recent years the offshore industry has expanded enormously due to the innovative and progressive legislation, which facilitates the establishment of numerous offshore structures, such as international business companies, offshore banks, offshore insurance companies and wealth preservation trusts.
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Language | The official language is English with Chinese being spoken and used widely in business context. |
| Currency | New Zealand Dollar (NZD) |
| Exchange Control | Only in relation to certain dealings in New Zealand Dollars. There are no local restrictions on the movement of funds to or from the Cook Islands in other currencies and funds may be held and business transacted in the Cook Islands in any currency. |
| Type of Law | Based on English Common Law |
| Principal Corporate Legislation | - The International Companies Act 1981-1982. - Limited Liability Company Act 2008. |
| Company Information | |
| Type of Company for International Trade and Investment | International Business Companies, which may be limited by share or by guarantee, or which may be no liability, unlimited companies and mutual companies. |
| Restrictions on Trading | Cannot trade within the Cook Islands or undertake the business of banking or insurance unless licensed under the Offshore Banking Act or the Offshore Insurance Act. |
| Powers of Company | A Cook Islands International Company has the same powers as a natural person. |
| Language of Legislation and Corporate Documents | English |
| Shelf Companies Available | No |
| Language of Name | English |
| Registered Office Required | Yes, must be maintained in Cook Islands at the address of a licensed management company or law firm. |
| Name Restrictions | Any name that has already been incorporated in Belize, or is so similar as to cause confusion. Any name which in the opinion of the Registrar is considered undesirable, obscene or offensive. Names such as royal or imperial and any name that suggests the patronage of Belize Government. |
| Names Requiring Consent or License | Anything identical to or similar to a company already incorporated. |
| Suffixes to Denote Limited Liability | Names must end with one of the following words, or abbreviations thereof - Limited, Corporation, Incorporated, Societe Anonyme or Sociedad Anonima. |
| Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership to Authorities | No. |
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