The Pitcairn Islands is a British Overseas Territory. It includes the islands of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno. Pitcairn, the only inhabited island, is a small volcanic outcrop located in the South Pacific at latitude 25.04 south and longitude 130.06 west. It is approximately 2170 km (1350 miles) east of Tahiti and just over 6600 km (4100 miles) from Panama. The administrative headquarters of the islands are located in Auckland, New Zealand, 5310 km (3300 miles) away.
No prior entry clearance is required if your visit is 14 days or less and you intend to arrive and depart on the same vessel, and you may be granted leave to enter Pitcairn upon arrival. You must ensure that you are able to maintain and accommodate yourself properly without the use of public funds and meet the other criteria set out in Part III Para 6 of the Immigration Control Ordinance 2014.
If your visit is longer than 14 days but less than 6 months, you must complete the entry clearance application form well in advance of your visit (at least 3 months is recommended). The application form should be submitted electronically to the Pitcairn Immigration Officer at immigration@pitcairn.gov.pn and copied to the Pitcairn Islands Office at admin@pitcairn.gov.pn. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 2 weeks, please call (649) 366 0186 to confirm receipt of your request.
Pitcairn Island Office Admin will acknowledge your request and carry out initial checks. If your application appears to be non-credible at this point in time, it will be deleted.
Once you have submitted your application, you will be contacted by the Pitcairn Island Office (PIO). PIO will inform you how to pay the fee, ask for any additional documentation needed, and ask you to complete any sections of the form you missed. Before your application can be considered, you must pay the fee.
Your request will then be considered by the Island Immigration Officer and the Pitcairn Island Council. The Council will make a recommendation to the Office of the Governor.
Following these discussions, you will be advised of one of the following:
If your application proceeds to the next step, further information may be requested, including proof of funding and (if applicable) the income of your sponsor. You should send this to the Pitcairn Island Office at admin@pitcairn.gov.pn. You will be invited to an interview with the Deputy Governor based in Auckland. This can be done in person, by Skype, or by phone.
After your interview, the Governor will make a final decision on your application. You will be informed in writing of the outcome of your request. This is either going to be:
If your application is successful, you will receive a letter of formal notice from the Governor offering you entry clearance for settlement at Pitcairn. Under the Pitcairn Immigration Control Order, you must arrive at Pitcairn within 12 months of the date of this letter. If this is likely to cause difficulties, you should contact the Immigration Officer at Pitcairn at the earliest opportunity: immigration@pitcairn.gov.pn
The current fee is $500 per person (fee can vary depending on the category of visa, on your country, and nationality). This is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the request. Therefore, please make sure that you carefully consider your application before applying and include all relevant information in your form.
NOTE: Pitcairn Island welcomes applicants who wish to move to Pitcairn Island with dependent children under 18 years of age. For further information, please contact the Deputy Governor.
If you intend to stay for less than 14 days, you do not need a visitor visa. If you wish to stay longer, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa, which is valid for up to six months, or for a business visa. Applications can be downloaded from the Pitcairn Repopulation website.
No. But if you have a sponsor on Pitcairn Island, please provide details about them in the Settlement Application form.
Upon receipt of your application, if all documents are in order and you have paid the fee, you will normally be informed within six weeks whether your application has been refused, delayed for further documentation, or progressed to the next stage. If your application progresses to the next stage, you and your partner/spouse (if applying with you) will be invited to participate in an interview with the Deputy Governor. If you attend an interview, you will normally be informed in writing of the outcome of the interview within one month of the date of the interview.
You can apply for settlement at Pitcairn at any time and a visit is not required. However, moving to Pitcairn is a big step and we encourage you to find out as much as possible about Pitcairn before applying for settlement; visiting is a good way to do that. You can visit without a visa for up to 14 days, while long-stay visas are valid for up to 6 months.
Yes, you can do that. We encourage families with children to apply and there are no restrictions on families with children coming to live in Pitcairn. If you wish to settle in Pitcairn with children under 18 years of age, please contact the Deputy Governor, who will provide further information. The Child Welfare Charter is in operation to ensure the safety and well-being of children on the island.
No. Permanent residence at Pitcairn does not lead to the eligibility of the British passport.
The Government of Pitcairn Islands will charter a passenger/cargo vessel. It currently carries supplies and passengers to the island every three months. To view Passenger Travel Terms & Conditions, go to www.pitcairn.pn or contact admin@pitcairn.gov.pn
Usually six months' bank statements, savings accounts, credit card statements, or other evidence of assets in your name. You will be asked to do so by Pitcairn Island Office admin@pitcairn.gov.pn once you have submitted your settlement application and paid your fee. Please do not send this to the Immigration Officer.
All government transactions are made using New Zealand Dollar-including stores, medical centers, utility bills, etc.
Private businesses, including Pitcairn Island Accommodation and local souvenirs, are priced in US dollars. At the Government Treasury, you can access cash on credit cards and exchange currency. There is a 5% fee for credit card transactions.
You can apply for a long-stay visa. There's no compulsion to settle on the island.
Pitcairn Island offers opportunities for private enterprise, externally financed project work, and public sector work. However, there is no guarantee that government jobs will be available and that residents will be encouraged to consider private enterprises. Government jobs include manual employment, skilled trades, administrative and management work and social welfare work. Settlers are welcome to participate in private enterprise and apply for government work and project work when jobs are advertised.