How Much "Duty-Free" Can You Bring into American Samoa?
What’s a holiday without a few drinks? Many of us try to get a bargain by purchasing our favourite drinks or tobacco from duty-free stores in the airports on the way to American Samoa or even from the duty-free store when landing on the islands.
Be aware, however, that American Samoa has a limit to how much duty-free goods can be brought into the country including allowances on alcohol and tobacco.
In this guide, we’ll go through the duty-free allowances for American Samoa.
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How to Declare Your Duty-Free Goods When Arriving in American Samoa
So, we’ve established there are allowances for the number of duty-free goods you can bring into American Samoa, but how do they check?
First, you will be asked to declare any duty-free goods that exceed the limit as stated on your American Samoa Passenger Arrival Card which you receive on your flight or cruise into American Samoa.
You may then be asked by an Immigration/Customs Officer on arrival how much alcohol or tobacco products you have with you.
Finally, your luggage will be x-rayed when going through Biosecurity.
Note that you only need to declare the duty-free goods that you are bringing into American Samoa if they exceed the allowance (see below for the American Samoa duty-free allowances). If you are unsure, it’s best to declare them anyway; if it turns out that your duty-free items are below the allowance, then you'll be allowed to keep them without paying duty.
Not declaring your goods that exceed the allowance could result in a fine or seizure of goods.
Duty-Free Allowances for American Samoa
Each passenger arriving in American Samoa is entitled to a certain amount of duty-free goods. Here is a quick breakdown of allowances for duty-free goods each passenger can bring into American Samoa.
American Samoa Duty-Free Allowance for Alcohol
Each passenger aged 21 and over can bring the following quantities of duty-free alcoholic beverages into American Samoa:
- Any type of alcohol (including but not limited to wine and spirits) not exceeding 1 (1 litre) bottle
- 1 case of beer (≈ 24 cans or bottles)
American Samoa Duty-Free Allowance for Tobacco and Cigarettes
Each passenger aged 21 and over can bring the following quantities of duty-free tobacco or cigarettes into American Samoa:
- Cigarette sticks not exceeding 200 (the equivalent of one carton)
Other Duty-Free Allowances
Each passenger may also bring other dutiable goods purchased from overseas into American Samoa, such as gifts, souvenirs, electronic equipment, jewellery, watches and sporting equipment, as long as the combined value of the goods does not exceed US$100.
The goods must be with you and intended for personal use. This does not include alcohol and tobacco, which have their own allowances (see above).
Duty-Free Shopping in American Samoa
Pago Pago International Airport has the one and only South Pacific Duty Free store offering alcohol, tobacco and souvenirs.
For a broader selection of tax-free goods, travellers can explore local stores in Pago Pago and Fagatogo, where imported items are sold without sales tax. Highlights include Fagatogo Market for locally made crafts and larger retailers like KS Mart and Cost-U-Less for U.S. brand items.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Duty-Free Allowances in American Samoa
What are the questions that travellers ask about duty-free allowances in American Samoa? These answers might help answer yours!
How Many Cigarettes Can You Take into American Samoa?
You can take up to 200 cigarettes into American Samoa, as per the duty-free allowance for tobacco in American Samoa.
How Many Bottles of Wine Can I Take to American Samoa?
Considering a standard bottle of wine is 750 ml (25 oz), you can bring one bottle of wine into American Samoa without paying duty. The duty-free allowance for alcohol (including wine and spirits) is 1 litre (33.8 oz).
More About Duty-Free Allowances for American Samoa
That's it for our guide to duty-free allowances for American Samoa. For more information about arrival procedures and more information about American Samoa, check out the following articles:
- Arriving in American Samoa: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & Arrival Process LINK#TT002
- Where is American Samoa Located?
- American Samoa Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to American Samoa Cost? LINK#TT008
Finally, if there's anything we've missed, you're likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to American Samoa LINK#TT038
