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© 2026 Visa AtlasReviewed continuously. Last sweep: 30 June 2026
  1. Home/
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  3. American Samoa (United States territory)/
  4. Foreign Investor Entry Permit

🇦🇸 American Samoa (United States territory) · investor

Foreign Investor Entry Permit

By Sam Parks · Last reviewed: 30 June 2026

American Samoa foreign investor entry-permit framework for qualifying investment activity.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyInvestor entry permission as granted under the statutory framework and current official process.
Processing time
Confirm current investor entry permit criteria, forms, investment evidence, local approvals, fees and renewal requirements with the Immigration Office or Department of Legal Affairs.
Government fees
Confirm current investor-permit, filing, registration and renewal fees with the official process before payment.
Typical duration
Investor entry permission as granted under the statutory framework and current official process.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed 30 June 2026American Samoa Bar Association ↗
OverviewSourcesEligibilityPathwayApplyFAQ

Overview

Title 41 includes a dedicated chapter on foreign investor entry permits. Investors should confirm the current statutory criteria, business evidence, sponsorship or local authorisation, board or Attorney General handling, fees and permitted activities before committing funds or treating a visitor permit as business residence permission.

ℹ️ Who can apply?

You need an approved sponsor in American Samoa (United States territory) before applying. This route does not lead to permanent residence. Open to qualifying applicants from all countries.

Additional sources

  • Primary source

    American Samoa Code Annotated - Title 41 ↗ · American Samoa Bar Association

    Link last verified: 30 June 2026

  • Primary source

    American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs - Residency Classification ↗ · American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs

    Link last verified: 30 June 2026

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • ✓The proposed activity fits the foreign investor entry-permit framework in Title 41.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • ✓The investor can provide business, investment, local authorisation, sponsor and financial evidence requested by the current process.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • ✓The investor waits for the correct entry or residence permission before working, operating or remaining beyond visitor conditions.American Samoa Bar Association ↗

Common blockers

  • !The applicant uses a visitor permit for investment operations or long-term business residence.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • !Business, investment, licensing or sponsor evidence is incomplete.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • !The traveller assumes a United States visa, ESTA, mainland U.S. immigration status or state-side admission automatically authorises American Samoa entry or residence without checking American Samoa rules.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • !The person works, resides, invests, changes purpose or sponsors a case before the Immigration Office, Immigration Board or statute-supported process has approved the correct status.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • !The applicant uses a visitor permit for employment, long-term residence, investment operations or family sponsorship.American Samoa Bar Association ↗

Typical evidence

  • ·Valid passport or other accepted travel document.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • ·Travel dates, return or onward ticket, accommodation and local contact evidence where required.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • ·Sponsor, employer, family, investment or purpose-specific evidence requested by the Immigration Office or official petition process.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • ·Current fee and filing evidence required by the Department of Legal Affairs or Immigration Office.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
  • ·Business plan, investment evidence, licensing, registration, local partner or sponsor evidence requested by the investor permit process.American Samoa Bar Association ↗

Application pathway

  1. 01

    Check the route fit

    Check Title 41 foreign investor entry-permit provisions.

  2. 02

    Build the evidence pack

    Confirm the current filing process with the Immigration Office or Department of Legal Affairs.

  3. 03

    Submit through the official channel

    Prepare investment, business, sponsor and identity evidence.

  4. 04

    After approval

    Operate only within the permit and business conditions granted.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Check foreign investor entry permit law ↗

    Use this official American Samoa source to confirm current entry, sponsorship, petition, permit, fee, status, employment and filing requirements before travelling, applying, working, investing or relying on residence status.

    American Samoa Bar Association · verified 30 June 2026

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Open Title 41 immigration code ↗

    Use this official American Samoa source to confirm current entry, sponsorship, petition, permit, fee, status, employment and filing requirements before travelling, applying, working, investing or relying on residence status.

    American Samoa Bar Association · verified 30 June 2026

Also explored by

🇮🇳 Indian🇵🇭 Filipino🇳🇬 Nigerian

Compare American Samoa (United States territory) with

  • 🇳🇿 New Zealand
  • 🇫🇯 Republic of Fiji
  • 🇻🇺 Republic of Vanuatu

Related routes

  • Employment-Based Residency Petition

    American Samoa employment-based residency route for foreign nationals whose right to live and work depends on an approved local petition.

  • Permanent Resident Status

    American Samoa permanent resident status for people who meet the statutory and board-administered residence criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Does American Samoa have a foreign investor permit framework?+−

Yes. Title 41 contains a dedicated chapter for foreign investor entry permits.

Can an investor enter as a visitor and start operating?+−

Do not rely on visitor permission for business residence or work; confirm investor-permit handling before committing funds or operating locally.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor

This is not legal advice

We publish neutral, sourced information about immigration routes. Rules and thresholds change often — always verify details on the official government source linked on this page and consult a regulated immigration advisor before applying.

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