American Samoa Visa and Entry Permit Requirements

American Samoa runs its own immigration system, so the American Samoa visa and entry permit requirements are set by the territory’s Attorney General rather than U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. U.S. citizens and nationals do not need a visa, but they must carry either a valid U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate, plus either an onward ticket or proof of employment on the island. Everyone else needs a pre-approved entry permit — commonly called an “OK Board” — before boarding a flight to Pago Pago.¹²

What U.S. Citizens and Nationals Need

If you are a U.S. citizen or national, no visa or entry permit applies to you. You will still be asked for two things at check-in and on arrival: proof of citizenship (a valid U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate) and either a ticket for onward passage out of American Samoa or documentation of employment on the island.²³

The standard stay is up to 30 days for tourism or business, extendable once for another 30 days through the Attorney General’s office. That ceiling is firm: nothing stretches a visitor stay past 60 days on a single visit. Longer stays require a registration receipt card, which is a separate application handled by the immigration board.¹⁴

Entry Permits for Foreign Nationals

Every non-U.S. citizen or national needs an approved OK Board before arriving. The immigration office does not issue permits on arrival. Show up without one and you can be refused entry and required to leave on the same vessel that brought you in.⁵

Which permit you apply for depends on your nationality and existing U.S. immigration status. There are three tracks.⁶

Samoa Passport Holders: 10-Day Permit

Samoan-born citizens holding a passport issued by the government of Samoa apply online for a 10-day permit. The fee is $10 and non-refundable. You will need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your departure date, a round-trip ticket within the 10-day window, accommodation details (hotel booking or the name and address of a family host), and a local contact phone number. Applications must be filed at least three business days before travel. This permit cannot be extended, and the immigration office can deny an application for any reason, including a prior deportation or exclusion.⁷

U.S. Visa, Visa Waiver, or Green Card Holders: 30-Day Permit

Foreign nationals who hold a valid U.S. visa, qualify under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, or carry a U.S. green card apply online for a 30-day permit. The fee is $40 and non-refundable. Required documents are a passport valid at least six months past your departure date, a round-trip ticket within 30 days, confirmed accommodation, and a local contact number. No local sponsor is needed. The Attorney General’s office may approve one 30-day extension, but total time on a visitor permit cannot exceed 60 days.⁸²

Everyone Else: Sponsored 30-Day Permit

If you don’t hold a U.S. visa, visa-waiver status, or green card, you cannot apply on your own. A qualified local sponsor — a U.S. citizen or national residing in American Samoa — must apply in person at the Immigration Office on your behalf. The fee is $40, non-refundable.⁵

The sponsor also has to verify where you will stay. If the sponsor lives on communal land, the application must be signed by the family matai (chief) and the pulenu’u (village mayor). If the sponsor lives on individually owned or rented land, a deed or lease is required instead. From your side, you need a passport with at least six months of remaining validity, a round-trip ticket within 30 days, and a police clearance certificate from your country of origin. One 30-day extension is possible with Attorney General approval.⁵²

Transit and Cruise Ship Passengers

If you are only passing through, a transit OK Board allows up to 24 hours in the territory, with no extensions. This mostly covers airline passengers connecting through Pago Pago International Airport.⁹ Cruise ship passengers visiting for less than 24 hours generally do not need to obtain a separate permit in advance; a transit permit is generated automatically on arrival. Confirm the specifics with your cruise line before departure.

How and When to Apply

The application channel depends on the permit. Samoa 10-day applicants and U.S. visa or green card holders submit through the Office of Legal Affairs online portal. Sponsored 30-day applicants cannot use the online system; the local sponsor must appear in person at the American Samoa Immigration Office.⁶

Timing is where most travelers get tripped up. The Samoa 10-day permit needs to be filed at least three business days before travel.⁷ Sponsored 30-day applications need three to five business days, and anything filed later may not be processed at all.⁵ Once approved, you receive the OK Board by email. Print it. You will need it at airline check-in and again at immigration on arrival. Without it, expect to be refused boarding, and if you somehow arrive without approval, expect to be sent back on the same plane or ship.

If Your Application Is Denied

A denial comes with a written notice explaining the reasons. You have 15 days from receiving that notice to appeal to the immigration board.¹⁰ Grounds for denial are broad and include untimely filing and any prior exclusion or deportation.⁷

Overstays

The Attorney General’s office has run periodic crackdowns on people who remain past their authorized stay. Overstayers face deportation proceedings, and a deportation can bar you from returning. Filing an application for a registration receipt card does not extend your stay — the statute requires applicants to return to their home country and wait for the card to be allocated before re-entering.⁴

Work Is Not Covered

Visitor permits do not authorize employment. Working in American Samoa runs through the territory’s registration receipt card system under American Samoa Code 41.0303, which caps the number of cards issued each year and works through preference categories. Employers typically initiate the process on the worker’s behalf. U.S. citizens and nationals can live and work in American Samoa without any immigration authorization.⁴¹¹

Customs Items to Know Before You Pack

American Samoa runs its own customs regime, and some of the restrictions catch mainland travelers off guard. Meat and meat products (including dried and canned) are prohibited, along with fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, and soil. Prescription medications should stay in their original labeled packaging and be limited to what you need for the trip; medications containing prohibited substances cannot be brought in. Firearms require advance approval through the ATF import process, and fully automatic weapons are banned outright. Pets must travel with a health certificate and rabies vaccination documentation. If you are flying in from the U.S. mainland, treat the agricultural and biosecurity rules as closer to international entry than to domestic travel.

1
U.S. Department of the Interior. American Samoa
2
American Samoa Bar Association. American Samoa Code 41.0502 – Entry Requirements
3
National Park Service. National Park of American Samoa – Know Before You Go
4
International Labour Organization. American Samoa Code Title 41 – Citizenship, Alienage and Immigration
5
Office of Legal Affairs, American Samoa. Non-US 30-Day Visitor Permit
6
Office of Legal Affairs, American Samoa. Visitor Permits
7
Office of Legal Affairs, American Samoa. Samoa 10-Day Visitor Permit
8
Office of Legal Affairs, American Samoa. US Visa / Waiver 30-Day Visitor Permit
9
Office of Legal Affairs, American Samoa. Transit OK Board
10
American Samoa Bar Association. American Samoa Code 41.0405 – Denial and Appeals
11
American Samoa Bar Association. American Samoa Immigration