Samoa:Visa Requirements

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Samoa Visa Requirements Map

Samoa: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa on Arrival Requirements

  • In Samoa's official terminology, the permit granted at the border is called a '90-day Visitor Permit'. The visitor must complete in full the arrival and declaration card issued upon entry. The permit is issued at the border and free of charge, provided that the entry conditions are met.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the planned departure date from Samoa. The number of blank pages required in the passport is not definitively specified in the central official source. A requirement for machine-readable or biometric passports is also not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The traveler must carry a confirmed return or onward travel ticket showing departure from Samoa. If a visa or permit is required for entry to the next country, a valid document must be presentable at the border.
  • Accommodation arrangements in Samoa must be explained. If a hotel or resort is to be used, the facility details; if staying with family or friends, the host's name, village, address and contact information must be providable.
  • The traveler must document that they can cover their stay in Samoa with their own means. A bank statement is one example of accepted evidence. The number of months the statement should cover and the minimum amount required in the account are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The visitor must not have a record of deportation from another country, must not have a health condition that could pose a public health risk for Samoa, and must not have a criminal history that resulted in a prison sentence of at least one year. The traveler must not appear on any official warning or watch list.
  • Border officials may examine the passport, the purpose of travel, the return or onward ticket, accommodation information, financial means documents, and the right to enter the next country. Meeting the required conditions does not automatically guarantee entry into the country.
  • No paid or unpaid work may be undertaken with a visitor permit. Persons employed abroad and receiving their salary from abroad may be accepted as business visitors for short-term activities such as branch office visits, commercial meetings or business conferences. For other commercial or professional activities, an appropriate temporary residence and work permit must be obtained in advance.
  • For persons attending a meeting, workshop, seminar or conference, the local organization in Samoa may be requested to inform the Immigration Division in advance, and the participant may be asked to carry a letter issued by the organizer.
  • The visitor permit is issued for a maximum stay of 90 days. Whether it is single-entry or multiple-entry is not definitively specified in the central official source. It is necessary to leave the country before the permit period expires or to have the outcome of an extension application.
  • An application for extension of the visitor permit must be made to the Samoa Immigration Office before the current permit expires. The applicant must complete and sign the MPMC100 form; submit a copy of the ticket for departure from Samoa, documents showing sufficient financial means for the extended period, and details of accommodation arrangements.
  • If the passport does not meet the six-month validity requirement, a passport validity exemption letter may be applied for through some Samoan diplomatic missions. In this application, a certified copy of the passport's biographical page and a confirmed flight ticket are submitted. The availability of the service and the fee vary depending on the mission applied to.
  • Requirements for a photograph, travel health insurance, minimum insurance coverage, vaccination certificate, fingerprints or biometric registration are not definitively specified in the central official source for the standard visitor permit issued at the border.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • For purposes of employment, investment, long-term study, academic research, cultural or religious activities, and family reunification that fall outside the scope of the visitor permit issued on arrival, the appropriate permit must be obtained before travel. On official Samoan pages, these processes are referred to as 'Temporary Resident Permit' or 'Temporary Residence Entry Permit'. Applications are assessed by the Samoa Immigration Division; designated Samoan embassies, high commissions and consulates may facilitate the receipt of applications.
  • The applicant must complete and sign all sections of the MPMC100 temporary residence form pertaining to themselves and their travel purpose. Spouses over 18 years of age and other adult dependents included in the application together with the main applicant must also sign the declaration section.
  • Two recent passport-sized photographs must be submitted for the main applicant and each family member included in the application. The exact dimensions, background color, date of taking, print standard and digital file specifications of the photographs are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • In the form, the applicant's surname, given names, sex, date and place of birth, passport number, nationality, marital status, occupation, current address, telephone number, e-mail address, intended date of entry and proposed address in Samoa are reported. Names, villages and addresses of relatives or friends in Samoa may also be asked.
  • Required supporting documents must be submitted as originals or certified copies. The requirement for translation of documents into Russian, English or another language, notarization, apostille or legalization is not definitively specified in the central official source for all applications. The diplomatic mission applied to may impose additional document format or certification requirements.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the planned departure date from Samoa. Which pages of the passport are to be copied at the time of application is not centrally determined for all application types. For short-term medical internship, exchange or practical training applications, a copy of the passport's biographical page is explicitly requested.
  • It is recommended that applications be submitted approximately 30 days before the intended travel date. Some Samoan consulates require the application to be submitted at least four weeks before travel. On the central fee page, the standard processing time for visitor and temporary residence permit applications is published as 10 business days. The nature of the application, missing documents, labour market assessment, health or security checks may extend the processing time.
  • The application fee varies according to the purpose of the application. According to the current central fee schedule, a visitor entry permit application is SAT 200. For business establishment or investment and work permits, SAT 900 is charged for applications made from outside Samoa by the main applicant, SAT 1,800 for applications made from within Samoa, and SAT 450 for each dependent.
  • For a study permit, the main applicant fee is SAT 450 and SAT 200 for each dependent. For an academic or scientific research permit, the main applicant fee is SAT 1,200 and SAT 450 for each dependent. For a cultural or religious activity permit, the main applicant fee is SAT 300 and SAT 200 for each dependent. For applications for family reunification or family support, SAT 200 is charged per person.
  • In the country where the application is made, the fee may be collected in local currency equivalent to Samoa's approved schedule. Cash should not be sent by post. Accepted methods such as bank transfer, cash, EFTPOS or online bank transfer vary depending on the mission applied to. Paid visa and permit fees are non-refundable.

Applications for Business Establishment or Investment

  • The applicant must obtain an investment certificate from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour; a business license from the Ministry of Revenue; and company registration confirmation from the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration.
  • Together with these documents, the MPMC100 form and, if required, health and police reports must be submitted. The application may require an explanation of the financial resources to be used for the business or investment and the amount to cover the applicant's personal maintenance, supported by evidence such as bank statements.

Applications for Employment Purposes

  • The applicant must complete the MPMC100 form; the employer in Samoa must complete the MPMC101 Employer Sponsorship Form. The two forms must be submitted to the Samoa Immigration Division together or in conjunction with each other.
  • The employer's company name, authorized person, address, contact information, the offered position, main responsibilities, required qualifications, start date, contract duration and the employee's passport details must be reported.
  • The applicant's work experience references, educational and professional qualification documents, and originals or certified copies of other documents supporting the application must be submitted.
  • The employer assumes financial responsibility for the expenses of the employee and the family members included in the application in Samoa, including health costs if necessary, and costs of departure from Samoa.
  • The work permit must be approved before travel and before starting work. A person who enters the country with a visitor permit cannot work until the work permit is finalized. The permit may only grant the right to work for the employer and position specified in the application. If the employment relationship ends, the permit may need to be cancelled or a new permit application made.
  • The validity period of the work permit is generally determined by the duration of the employment contract. Multiple re-entry authorization may be granted; however, this is not guaranteed to be automatically granted in every application.

Applications for Study Purposes

  • A registration or acceptance letter from the educational institution must be submitted. For medical students, the required confirmation must be issued by the Samoa Ministry of Health.
  • The applicant must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial means during the study period. Scholarship students must submit a scholarship letter explaining the scope and duration of the scholarship. Students studying with private means must explain their accommodation arrangements and who will cover the educational and living expenses.
  • For internships, practical training, short-term assignments or exchange programs, a signed and stamped acceptance letter from the institution in Samoa and a signed and stamped student or program confirmation letter from the applicant's own university or educational institution may be requested.
  • In these applications, two recent passport-sized photographs, a copy of the passport's biographical page, a confirmed round-trip ticket, proof of financial sufficiency and confirmation of accommodation in Samoa may also be requested.
  • The student's right to work is not automatic. Part-time work may only be undertaken if specifically authorized in the permit document.

Applications for Academic or Scientific Research

  • The applicant must submit a letter from the sponsoring academic institution outside Samoa explaining the nature and support of the research. A second letter from an academic institution in Samoa supporting or accepting the research is also required.
  • The financial resources to be used during the research must be evidenced by bank statements, research grants, salary, scholarships or similar documents. A return or onward ticket showing departure from Samoa must be submitted.
  • The entry permit for research purposes must be approved and granted before travel. The academic research permit does not confer the right to paid work in Samoa unless it specifically authorizes employment.

Applications for Cultural or Religious Activities

  • A letter issued by the church, religious institution or event organizer confirming the activity and participation must be submitted. The host in Samoa must provide a letter explaining the accommodation arrangements.
  • The applicant must explain how they will support themselves during the stay and provide financial evidence such as bank statements or a sponsorship document.
  • This permit does not confer the right to work in Samoa unless it specifically authorizes employment.

Applications for Family Reunification or Family Support

  • The applicant must submit a written declaration explaining the nature of the visit or family support. If there is a relevant family event or organization, an organizer confirmation letter may be requested.
  • The host or family member in Samoa must provide a letter explaining the accommodation arrangements. The applicant must demonstrate their own financial means or the support to be provided by the sponsor through bank statements, a sponsorship declaration or similar documents.
  • There is no single central checklist requiring birth certificates, marriage certificates or other documents showing family ties to be mandatory for all family applications. The immigration authority may additionally request these documents to verify the relationship.

Health and Police Clearance Documents

  • A separate medical report is required for each person over 16 years of age planning to stay in Samoa for one year or longer. The medical examination includes a physical examination, blood test and chest X-ray. The doctor must use the MPMC102 form for the physical examination and blood tests, and the MPMC103 form for the chest X-ray.
  • Persons over 18 years of age who will stay for one year or longer must submit a police clearance or police report from the competent police authority of each country where they have resided for more than one year in the last five years.
  • In the application form, information must be provided about chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, previous travel to Samoa, deportation or entry refusal from other countries, and past convictions.
  • In the checklist for some permit types, health and police reports are separately listed. If the duration of stay is shorter than one year, whether these documents are required should be confirmed according to the purpose of application and the assessment of the Immigration Division.

Children and Dependent Family Members

  • For each child included in the application, the first name, surname, sex, date and place of birth, passport number and country issuing the passport must be reported. Two recent passport-sized photographs must be attached for each child and other dependent.
  • A central rule requiring parental consent, birth certificate or custody document for children to be mandatory for all application types has not been published. Additional documents may be requested when the child is traveling with one parent, custody status needs verification, or the family relationship needs confirmation.

Other Common Conditions

  • The number of months the bank statement should cover and the minimum amount required in the account are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • Travel health insurance and minimum insurance coverage are not definitively specified in the central official source. The work sponsor may have an obligation to cover the health expenses of the employee and their dependents.
  • Fingerprints, facial biometrics or mandatory interview procedures are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • A single validity period, maximum duration of stay, or single-entry/multiple-entry rule applicable to all types of temporary residence permits is not definitively specified in the central official source. The duration and entry conditions are specified on the approved activity and permit document.
  • The immigration authority may request additional information and documents for the assessment of the application. Providing false, incomplete or misleading information may result in the rejection or cancellation of the permit or denial of entry into the country.
Population
220,528(2026 est.)
Official language
Samoan, English
Government type
Parliamentary republic
Continent
Oceania
Capital
Apia
Currency
Samoan tala
Area
2,842 km²
Phone code
+685

Samoa: Key Destinations

Apia, the capital and largest city, serves as the primary gateway to Samoa via Faleolo International Airport. Most visitors arrive here and begin their exploration of Upolu island.

Samoa offers a rich Polynesian culture, with traditional villages, volcanic landscapes, and pristine beaches. The islands of Upolu and Savai'i provide diverse experiences from lush rainforests to coral reefs.

Travel between Upolu and Savai'i is commonly done by ferry, with frequent services connecting the main ports. Many itineraries combine a few days on each island, often starting in Apia and taking a short flight or ferry to Savai'i.