Everything You Need To Know About A Samoa Visa
British
citizens holding a valid UK passport do not require a visa to enter Samoa,
provided they plan to visit the country for tourism or business activities. The
maximum allowable stay under the visa-exemption regime is up to 60 days.
Entry requirements under the visa-exemption facility
- You must hold an original British
passport that has a minimum validity of 6 months. It should contain at least 2
unused visa pages
- You should carry an onward or return
ticket and a valid visa (if required) for the next destination on your
itinerary
- You must be able to present proof of
accommodation arrangements in the country during your stay period
- You should carry the required
documents which specify that you have sufficient funds for self-support
- You should hold no records of
deportation from other countries
- You cannot have any disease that
poses a risk to Samoan citizens
- You are not allowed to have a
history of criminal charges resulting in a minimum of one year sentencing
- Your name should not feature on any
alert or warning lists
Once
you arrive in Samoa and decide to extend your stay beyond 60 days, you can
request for an extension through the local Immigration Office.
You can lodge an
application for the same at the Immigration Office in Apia before the expiry of
your allowed stay period.
If
you intend to travel to Samoa and stay there for more than 2 months, you must
obtain a visa prior to your travel dates. You also need to secure a visa
beforehand if you enter Samoa for purposes other than tourism or business.
Applications
for a Samoan visa can be made at Samoan overseas missions in Brussels,
Wellington, Auckland, Canberra or New York. You can even lodge an application
through the Immigration Office at the Prime Minister’s Department in Apia,
Samoa.
Below
are the primary types of visas offered by Samoan overseas missions to British
nationals:
- Entry Visa (Tourist and Business)
- Student Visa
- Employment Visa
Requirements for an entry visa (for tourism or business purposes)
A tourist visa allows you to enter Samoa for activities related to tourism, vacation, or recreation and leisure. A business visa is applicable if your travel plans include attending meetings, seminars, or conferences. In order to apply for a Samoan entry visa, you must have the following documents:
- A completed and signed visa application form
- 2 passport-size, recent photographs
- A passport in original with a minimum validity of 6 months and at least 2 blank pages
- Return or onward tickets
- A valid visa or entry permit if you are traveling to another country from Samoa
- Proof of accommodation such as hotel or resort bookings OR details of family and friends with whom you are staying during your visit to Samoa
- Proof of sufficient funds for self-support (cash or a recent bank statement)
- An invitation letter from the sponsoring company, in case you are traveling for business purposes
- A UK covering letter from your company in the UK if you are applying for a business visa
- Evidence that you have no criminal records which have resulted in a minimum of one year sentencing and no history of deportation from other countries
- A health certificate proving that you do not suffer from any contagious disease
General requirements for a student visa
A Samoan student visa grants you entry into the nation if you plan to enroll in any of its government or private academic institutions. In order to apply for a student visa, you shall need:
- A completed and signed Temporary Resident Application Form
- A passport with a minimum of 2 blank pages, which is valid for at least 6 months after the intended departure date from Samoa
- 2 recent, passport-size photographs
- A letter from the educational institution in Samoa which specifies that you are enrolled in the college, university or graduate school
- Proof of sufficient funds to support your stay in Samoa
- If you are enrolled in an institute under an award or scholarship, you must produce documented evidence of the said offer
- Proof of accommodation arrangements if you are a self-supporting student
- Sufficient funds to cover the processing cost of your visa
- A completed Medical Report Form and a completed Radiology Report Form
- A police report, in case your intended stay period extends beyond 1 year
General requirements for an employment visa
An employment visa grants you entry into Samoa if you wish to carry out income-generating work in the country. In order to apply for an employment visa, you shall require:
- A completely filled Temporary Resident Application Form. Once you enter all its fields, please remember to sign it
- A passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the exit date from Samoa. It should also have at least 2 blank visa pages
- A completed and signed Employer Sponsorship Form
- Enough funds to cover the visa processing cost
- A completed Medical Report Form and Radiology Report Form
- An original and certified police report (for all applicants aged 18 years or more), when your stay period is beyond 1 year
- Originals or certified copies of all the supporting documents mentioned above
NOTE: When you apply for any of the above types of visa, you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee, according to the specific visa category.
Yellow fever certificate requirements
Samoa poses no risk of yellow fever transmission. However, as per the International Health Regulations, all travelers aged above 9 months must carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate if they have arrived from or transited for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
UK Emergency Travel Documents
The government of Samoa accepts UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) at points of entry and exit from Samoa. Your ETD must hold a minimum validity of 6 months. Additionally, while departing from Samoa, all travelers above 11 years need to pay a departure tax of $ST 40.