United Arab Emirates vs American Samoa (United States territory)
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:
United Arab Emirates
The UAE issues residence via employer-sponsored work permits, Golden Visa long-term residence for skilled professionals and investors, the Green Visa for self-sponsored skilled workers, and a remote-work visa for overseas employees.
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- UAE dirham
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
How United Arab Emirates and American Samoa (United States territory) differ
| Dimension | United Arab Emirates | American Samoa (United States territory) |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 6 | 9 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 5 | 3 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 1 | 1 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | Arrival → Golden Visa (direct for qualifying income/qualifications) → 10-year residence. Citizenship only via separate Presidential decree. | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | UAE Green Visa | Employment-Based Residency Petition |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | Green Visa self-sponsored residence typically 5–15 days end-to-end where documentation is complete. | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Arabic | English, Samoan |
| Currency | UAE dirham | United States dollar |
| Primary regulator | MOJ | DLA |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
United Arab Emirates
UAE Green Visa
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- Green Visa self-sponsored residence typically 5–15 days end-to-end where documentation is complete.
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- No
American Samoa (United States territory)
Employment-Based Residency Petition
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Routes unique to United Arab Emirates
Routes unique to American Samoa (United States territory)
Visa routes side by side
United Arab Emirates (6)
UAE Golden Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · 10 years, renewable.
UAE Green Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 5 years, renewable.
UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · 2 or 3 years, tied to employer.
UAE Virtual Working Programme
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 1 year, renewable.
UAE Investor / Partner residence visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 2 or 3 years, renewable.
UAE freelance permit with residence
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 2–5 years depending on scheme.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, United Arab Emirates or American Samoa (United States territory)?+
United Arab Emirates’s UAE Green Visa is the dominant skilled route; American Samoa (United States territory)’s Employment-Based Residency Petition is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does United Arab Emirates or American Samoa (United States territory) have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
United Arab Emirates has more: 5 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.