Department of
Legal Affairs
American Samoa Entry Permit Requirements
A citizen of a foreign country not in the Entry Permit Waiver Program, may enter American Samoa for an allowable purpose after the Attorney General or Chief Immigration Officer issues an entry permit for the foreign national to visit American Samoa for up to thirty days unless an extension is granted. Following are the requirements for the entry permit:
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Foreign national must have an immigration sponsor in American Samoa who is responsible for hosting foreign national during foreign national’s stay in American Samoa.
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At least three business days prior to foreign national’s arrival in American Samoa, sponsor must submit to the Immigration Office a completed application for entry permit, copies of the foreign national’s travel documents that are valid during the visit, roundtrip ticket to country of origin or onward ticket to another country authorizing entry. Medical clearance and police clearance from foreign national’s country of origin, and American Samoa court and hospital clearances for foreign national may be required before issuance of the entry permit.
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Entry permit application must be signed by the sponsor, the sponsor’s senior matai if sponsor is living on communal land, and sponsor’s village pulenu'u or District Governor.
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Payment of required fees.
IMMIGRATION OFFICE
American Samoa is the only United States Territory that has retained oversight of its own borders and the Department of Legal Affairs is tasked with protecting our borders and regulating travel to and from the Territory. Specifically, the Immigration Office ensures lawful entry of all travelers into and out of the Territory.
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Immigration officers are stationed at all ports to ensure all travelers entering or departing American Samoa have the proper travel documents. Our office is located on the first floor of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building (also known as "EOB") in Utulei.
Contact Us
Ph: (684) 633 - 4203
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Travel Authorizations: Entry Permits & OK Boards
There are two (2) types of travel authorizations required of all foreign nationals who plan on visiting American Samoa: (1) Entry Permits and (2) OK Boards.
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ENTRY PERMITS
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Entry Permits are listed as follows:
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14 Day Permit - Applicable only to travelers from the Independent State of Samoa. Click here for more information.
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30 Day Permit - Applicable to all foreign travelers. Click here for more information.
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Multiple Entry Permits - Applicable only to business travelers with affiliations or ties to local businesses. Click here for more information.
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Email the Immigration Office for further information at immigration@la.as.gov.
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OK Boards are applicable to travelers who do not have to obtain an entry permit due to an exemption or entry permits are not at all applicable. For example, foreign nationals from countries that fall under the American Samoa Entry Permit Waiver Program are not required to get an entry permit, but they are required to get an OK Board before they travel to American Samoa. Different types of OK Boards are listed as follows:
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OK Board - for U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals who may have lost their passports or certificates of identity and are seeking entry using just their birth certificates and a government issued form of identification for travel to American Samoa. Click here for more information and to apply online.
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OK Board - for EPWP eligible travelers from specific countries only. A traveler from an EPWP eligible country must obtain an OK Board 48 hours before date of arrival. Click here for more information and to determine if your country of origin is on the list of EPWP countries in addition to apply online.​
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OK Board - for Returning Residents - Foreign nationals who legally reside in American Samoa can enter using an OK Board if their travel documents are either lost or expired. Click here for more information and to apply online.
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OK Board - for In-Transit Travelers: Foreign nationals who plan to visit and depart American Samoa within 24 Hours can do so without an Entry Permit. Traveler must obtain an OK Board before arriving. There is no fee for this authorization. Click here for more information and to apply online.
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Email any questions or documents to travel@la.as.gov
Entry Permit Waiver Program
The American Samoa Entry Permit Waiver Program allows citizens of select countries to travel to American Samoa without obtaining an Entry Permit for stays of 30 days or less for tourism and/or business purposes.
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Click here for further details or email travel@la.as.gov if you have any questions.
Residency Petitions and Applications
If an immigrant wishes to establish residency in the Territory, they are required to go through an application process based on one of two categories: (1) a family based petition or (2) an employment based petition described in detail below.
Employment Based Immigration
Foreign nationals who immigrate based upon employment are required to fill out an application under the P-45 category. This form can be picked up from the Immigration Office on the First Floor of the Executive Office Building in Utulei.
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All applicants are required to post a bond that is dependent on the applicants country of origin and payable only upon approval of residency petition. Scroll down to view or click here to download the list of bonds.
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Application Fee: $75 USD plus a $30 USD fee for the identification card.
Family Based Immigration
Foreign nationals who immigrate based on familial ties are required to fill out and submit form P-12 to initiate the process. This form can be picked up from the Immigration Office on the First Floor of the Executive Office Building in Utulei.
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All applicants are required to post a bond that is dependent on the applicants country of origin and payable only upon approval of residency petition. Scroll down to view or click here to download the list of bonds.
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Application Fee: $75 USD plus a $30 USD fee for the identification card.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Both types of residency petitions must be completed, submitted, and approved before petitioner enters American Samoa!!!
Immigration Bonds and Fees*
* Does not include the fees for identification cards.