Independent State of Samoa · short term business
Visitor Permit on Arrival
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 5 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Samoa 90-day visitor permit on arrival for eligible short-stay visitors who meet border-entry conditions.
- Processing time
- Handled at the border using the arrival card and immigration screening.
- Government fees
- The border-services page describes the 90-day Visitor Permit on arrival as free; the fee table separately lists SAT$200 for applications for Visitor entry permits and 10 working days for processing. Confirm which treatment applies before payment.
- Typical duration
- 90 days on arrival for visitor purposes, subject to Samoa entry requirements.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 30 June 2026, the Visitor Permit on Arrival for Independent State of Samoa is an unsponsored Samoa immigration route. Sources: official Independent State of Samoa government pages, reviewed 30 June 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/samoa/visitor-permit-on-arrival#answer
What is the Visitor Permit on Arrival in Independent State of Samoa?
Visitor Permit on Arrival is an unsponsored Samoa route. Indicative government fees are The border-services page describes the 90-day Visitor Permit on arrival as free; the fee table separately lists SAT$200 for applications for Visitor entry permits and 10 working days for processing. Confirm which treatment applies before payment; indicative processing time is Handled at the border using the arrival card and immigration screening; typical duration is 90 days on arrival for visitor purposes, subject to Samoa entry requirements. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on 30 June 2026.
Overview
Samoa coverage is based on the official Samoa Immigration pages under the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The reviewed pages publish visitor-entry conditions, permit categories, temporary-residence purposes, employment restrictions, medical and police-report triggers, citizenship routes, official forms and fee tables. Applicants should still confirm the current form, fee, filing place and supporting evidence with Samoa Immigration before travelling, working, studying, investing or relying on long-stay status. Samoa Immigration says foreign nationals who do not hold a valid Temporary Resident Permit or Samoan citizenship will be issued a free 90-day Visitor Permit on arrival, subject to entry requirements. The permit-services page also says visitors can apply for a 90-day Visitor Permit on arrival using the arrival card and that work is not permitted on a Visitor Permit.
Additional sources
Primary source
Samoa Immigration - Permit Services ↗ · Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Link last verified:
Primary source
Samoa Immigration ↗ · Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓The traveller is not a Samoan citizen and does not already hold a valid Temporary Resident Permit.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
- ✓The traveller can meet Samoa entry requirements, including passport validity, onward travel, next-country permission, accommodation/contact address and funds.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
- ✓The stay is for visitor purposes only and does not involve work.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
Common blockers
- !The traveller intends to work, study, invest, reside with family long term or undertake activity that requires a Temporary Resident Permit.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
- !The traveller cannot show onward travel, funds, accommodation/contact address or required next-country permission.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
- !The traveller has deportation, health, criminal, alert-list or warning-list issues that Samoa Immigration treats as entry concerns.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
- ·Confirmed return or onward ticket.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
- ·Visa or permit for the next country of destination where required.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
- ·Confirmed residential contact address in Samoa and evidence of sufficient funds.Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Check the Samoa Immigration border and permit pages before travel.
Build the evidence pack
Prepare passport, onward travel, next-country permission, accommodation/contact and funds evidence.
Submit through the official channel
Complete the arrival card and answer border questions truthfully.
After approval
Keep all activity within visitor status and do not work on the Visitor Permit.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- Official guidanceApplicantRead Samoa border entry requirements ↗
Use this official Samoa source to confirm the current requirements, fee, filing channel and supporting evidence before filing. Samoa coverage is based on the official Samoa Immigration pages under the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The reviewed pages publish visitor-entry conditions, permit categories, temporary-residence purposes, employment restrictions, medical and police-report triggers, citizenship routes, official forms and fee tables. Applicants should still confirm the current form, fee, filing place and supporting evidence with Samoa Immigration before travelling, working, studying, investing or relying on long-stay status.
Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet · verified
- Official guidanceApplicantRead Samoa permit services ↗
Use this official Samoa source to confirm the current requirements, fee, filing channel and supporting evidence before filing. Samoa coverage is based on the official Samoa Immigration pages under the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The reviewed pages publish visitor-entry conditions, permit categories, temporary-residence purposes, employment restrictions, medical and police-report triggers, citizenship routes, official forms and fee tables. Applicants should still confirm the current form, fee, filing place and supporting evidence with Samoa Immigration before travelling, working, studying, investing or relying on long-stay status.
Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet · verified
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Visitor Permit Extension
Samoa visitor extension process for visitors already in Samoa seeking a further visitor stay.
Temporary Residence for Employment
Samoa temporary resident permit for employment, with employer sponsorship and MCIL recommendation handling.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Samoa visitor permission on arrival?+
Samoa Immigration says visitors can apply for a 90-day Visitor Permit on arrival using the arrival card.
Can I work on a Samoa Visitor Permit?+
No. Samoa Immigration says work is not permitted on a Visitor Permit.
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 in SamoaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Last checked: 30 June 2026