American Samoa is the only United States Territory that has retained oversight of its own borders and the Department of Legal Affairs is tasked with protecting our borders and regulating travel to and from the Territory. Specifically, the Immigration Office ensures lawful entry of all travelers into and out of the Territory.
Immigration officers are stationed at all ports to ensure all travelers entering or departing American Samoa have the proper travel documents. Our office is located on the first floor of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building (also known as "EOB") in Utulei.
Ph: (684) 633 - 0135 or 1885
Email: immigration@la.as.gov
There are two (2) types of travel authorizations required of all foreign nationals who plan on visiting American Samoa: (1) Entry Permits and (2) OK Boards.
ENTRY PERMITS
Entry Permits are listed as follows:
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7 Day Permit - Applicable only to travelers from the Independent State of Samoa and only as a block permit. A minimum of ten (10) travelers is required for issuance of a block permit. Click here for more information.
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14 Day Permit - Applicable only to travelers from the Independent State of Samoa. Click here for more information.
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30 Day Permit - Applicable to all foreign travelers. Click here for more information.
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Multiple Entry Permits - Applicable only to business travelers with affiliations or ties to local businesses. Click here for more information.
Email the Immigration Office for further information at immigration@la.as.gov.
OK Boards are applicable to travelers who do not have to obtain an entry permit due to an exemption or entry permits are not at all applicable. For example, foreign nationals from countries that fall under the American Samoa Entry Permit Waiver Program are not required to get an entry permit, but they are required to get an OK Board before they travel to American Samoa. Different types of OK Boards are listed as follows:
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OK Board - for U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals who may have lost their passports or certificates of identity and are seeking entry using just their birth certificates and a government issued form of identification for travel to American Samoa. Click here for more information and to apply online.
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OK Board - for EPWP eligible travelers from specific countries only. A traveler from an EPWP eligible country must obtain an OK Board 48 hours before date of arrival. Click here for more information and to determine if your country of origin is on the list of EPWP countries in addition to apply online.
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OK Board - issued to Immigrant(s) who has received approval from the Immigration Board or the Attorney General to become a legal resident of American Samoa or Immigrant(s) who have already obtained legal residency. Click here for more information and to apply online.
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OK Board - for In-Transit Travelers: Foreign nationals who plan to visit and depart American Samoa within 24 Hours can do so without an Entry Permit. Traveler must obtain an OK Board before arriving. There is no fee for this authorization. Click here for more information and to apply online.
Email any questions or documents to okboard@la.as.gov.
The American Samoa Entry Permit Waiver Program allows citizens of select countries to travel to American Samoa without obtaining an Entry Permit for stays of 30 days or less for tourism and/or business purposes.
Click here for further details or email okboard@la.as.gov if you have any questions.
If an immigrant wishes to establish residency in the Territory, they are required to go through an application process based on one of two categories: (1) a family based petition or (2) an employment based petition described in detail below.
Foreign nationals who immigrate based upon employment are required to fill out an application under the P-45 category. This form can be picked up from the Immigration Office on the First Floor of the Executive Office Building in Utulei.
All applicants are required to post a bond that is dependent on the applicants country of origin and payable only upon approval of residency petition. Scroll down to view or click here to download the list of bonds.
Application Fee: $75 USD plus a $30 USD fee for the identification card.
Foreign nationals who immigrate based on familial ties are required to fill out and submit form P-12 to initiate the process. This form can be picked up from the Immigration Office on the First Floor of the Executive Office Building in Utulei.
All applicants are required to post a bond that is dependent on the applicants country of origin and payable only upon approval of residency petition. Scroll down to view or click here to download the list of bonds.
Application Fee: $75 USD plus a $30 USD fee for the identification card.
* Does not include the fees for identification cards.