American Samoa Immigration Procedure for Yachts
American Samoa is considered part of the United States but has its own regulations regarding immigration.
All visitors (including US citizens) require a passport valid for 6 months.
Do I Need a Visa?
US passport holders can travel freely to and from American Samoa without any special permits or visas.
The American Samoa
Entry Permit Waiver Program (EPWP) permits citizens of
specific countries to visit American Samoa without needing an entry-permit or visa.
Note: These countries are also listed under the U.S. State Department Visa Waiver Program.
If you hold a passport from a waiver eligible country, then you are eligible to apply for a permit waiver online through the
OK Boards system.
You must apply online and receive authorization at least 3 business days prior to travel. Arriving without a previously approved OK Board will likely mean delayed or denied entry.
A citizen of a foreign country not in the list of waiver eligible countries, may enter American Samoa for an allowable purpose after the Attorney General or Chief Immigration Officer issues an
Entry Permit. See
Entry Permit Requirements for full details on this process. It is likely that you will need to have a sponsor in American Samoa and be cleared by legal and medical officials. If this applies to you, you are encouraged to reach out to the Attorney General's Office at Phone: +1 (684) 633-4163 or +1 (684) 633-4164 or email the Immigration Office at
immigration@la.as.gov to see if you can obtain permission to visit via a private vessel.
Any person or group arriving in American Samoa without the approvals required may be refused entry by an immigration officer.
Length of Stay
US passport holders can travel freely to and from American Samoa.
Visitors arriving under the
Entry Permit Waiver Program (EPWP) or an
Entry Permit authorize visits for up to 30 days.
Longer stays require an extension.
A 30 Day Permit / Permit Waiver fee costs $40 USD (non-refundable) per person. Extensions cost $50 USD per person. Note: Fees are waived for children under 4 years of age. Children under 4 must still apply in advanced.
Other Visa Information
For more details on the applications and application processes, visit the webpage of the
Department of Legal Affairs.
For OK Board inquiries, email
travel@la.as.gov.
For Entry Permit inquiries, email the Immigration Office at
immigration@la.as.gov or Contact the Attorney General's Office at Phone: +1 (684) 633-4163 or +1 (684) 633-4164.
Useful Links:
Last updated: May 2025
