American Samoa (United States territory) vs Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
American Samoa (United States territory)
American Samoa Visa Atlas coverage is based on Department of Legal Affairs visitor and residency guidance plus Title 41 of the American Samoa Code. The current packet covers U.S. citizen or national entry documents, Samoa and non-U.S. visitor-permit routes, employment and family residency petitions, permanent residence, foreign investor entry permits and guest worker permits; users should check American Samoa-specific immigration rules rather than assuming mainland U.S. visa, ESTA or admission rules automatically control the territory.
- Official portal
- American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs
- Languages
- English, Samoan
- Currency
- United States dollar
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)
Cook Islands Visa Atlas coverage is based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) immigration and visa/permit criteria pages. The current packet covers Cook Islands visitor entry, long-term visitor status, international, government and specialist worker permits, resident investor, resident spouse, special spouse, adult student, research, intern, international child, resident child and permanent residence routes; applicants should check Cook Islands MFAI guidance rather than assuming New Zealand immigration status automatically covers every Cook Islands purpose.
- Languages
- English, Cook Islands Maori
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar
How American Samoa (United States territory) and Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) differ
| Dimension | American Samoa (United States territory) | Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 9 | 15 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 3 | 6 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 1 | 1 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Employment-Based Residency Petition | International Worker Permit |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | English, Samoan | English, Cook Islands Maori |
| Currency | United States dollar | New Zealand dollar |
| Primary regulator | DLA | MFAI |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
American Samoa (United States territory)
Employment-Based Residency Petition
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)
International Worker Permit
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Routes unique to Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)
Visa routes side by side
American Samoa (United States territory) (9)
U.S. Citizen or National Entry Documents
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry and stay as allowed by American Samoa border and immigration rules for the traveller status.
Samoa 10-Day Visitor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 10 days under the Samoa visitor-permit treatment, subject to the permit granted and current entry rules.
U.S. Visa Waiver 30-Day Visitor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 30 days as allowed by the visitor permit granted under current American Samoa rules.
Non-U.S. 30-Day Sponsored Visitor Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 30 days as granted under the sponsored visitor-permit process.
Employment-Based Residency Petition
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residency or employment-authorised status as granted by the Immigration Board, Attorney General or current petition process.
Family-Based Residency Petition
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residency status as granted under the current petition or registration process.
Permanent Resident Status
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence status if granted under American Samoa immigration law and current board procedures.
Foreign Investor Entry Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Investor entry permission as granted under the statutory framework and current official process.
Guest Worker Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Guest worker status as granted under the statutory chapter and current Immigration Board process.
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) (15)
New Zealand Visitor Entry
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Visitor stay as allowed by the current Cook Islands visitor-entry criteria.
International Visitor Entry
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Visitor stay as allowed by the current MFAI visitor criteria and any approved extension.
Long-Term Visitor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Longer visitor stay as granted under current MFAI criteria.
International Worker Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work permission as granted for the approved role and employer under MFAI criteria.
Government Worker Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work permission as granted for the government-linked role.
Specialist Worker Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Specialist work permission as granted for the approved assignment or role.
Resident Investor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permission as granted under current resident-investor criteria.
Resident Spouse Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permission as granted under current resident-spouse criteria.
Special Spouse Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Spouse-related status as granted under current MFAI criteria.
Adult Student Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Study permission as granted for the approved course or study period.
Research Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Research permission as granted for the approved project or activity.
Intern Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Internship permission as granted for the approved placement.
International Child Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Child status as granted under current MFAI criteria.
Resident Child Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Resident child status as granted under current MFAI criteria.
Permanent Residence
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence status, subject to the conditions and maintenance rules set by Cook Islands law and MFAI.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, American Samoa (United States territory) or Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)?+
American Samoa (United States territory)’s Employment-Based Residency Petition is the dominant skilled route; Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)’s International Worker Permit is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does American Samoa (United States territory) or Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) has more: 6 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 3 for American Samoa (United States territory). No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.