7 Day free travel entry between the two Samoas now on trial

Staff Reporters

Apia, Samoa – 20 October 2023: A new inter-Samoa entry permit is being processed to await the endorsement by the leaders of the two Samoas.

The 7 Days OK to Board Entry Permit is for inter-island travel between Samoa and American Samoa is one of the outcomes of last weeks’ Atoa Samoa Talks in Savai’i where Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa recommended for an Immigration Senior Official from the territory to be seconded to the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Apia to process the OK to Board permit application and issuance.

The American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs and the territorial Attorney Generals’ Office Wednesday announced their intention to proceed with the Pilot 7 Days Entry Permit Program for Samoa Citizens effective today.

Samoa on the other hand agreed to a reciprocal arrangement for American Samoan Nationals visiting Samoa.

The requirements for the 7 Days Entry Permit Waiver Program for Samoa citizens include:

• Valid passport or document of identity
• Confirmed roundtrip ticket
• Confirmed hotel booking or host who is owner of a home or lessee of an apartment
• Traveler not excludable under the law
• Pay a $10 USD non-refundable fee
• Traveler must apply 3 business days prior to travel date
• 400 approvals per month

Travelers entering American Samoa to board fishing vessels or other commercial vessels are not eligible for the PW7.

Travel red-tape between independent Samoa and the US American Samoa territory, had been a long standing sticky issue between the two Samoas.

Since the Atoa o Samoa Executive Meeting commenced two years ago, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa had been flagging the idea of permit free travel between the two countries.