What Documents Do I Need to Travel to American Samoa?

One of the most essential travel documents you need for American Samoa is, of course, your passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months after the date you intend to leave American Samoa. In other words, the date that you stated on your Entry Permit application.

If you are a United States citizen, you also have the option of using a travel document or a certified birth certificate with ID to enter American Samoa, although a passport is always the most straightforward method.

Acceptable Forms of ID for Entry for U.S. Citizens

• U.S. Passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay
• U.S. Driver’s License
• U.S. Military ID card
• State ID (government-issued, with photo)
• Passport Card (if applicable)

Acceptable Forms of ID for Entry for All Other Citizens

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay

Do You Need a Visa?

Most visitors to American Samoa do, indeed, need a visa, also known as an Entry Permit or OK To Board. This can be applied for online via the Department of Legal Affairs website, no less than 72 hours before arrival.

Some travellers from select countries require a sponsor in American Samoa to apply for the Entry Permit on their behalf.

Cruise ship passengers, who are spending less than 24 hours in American Samoa, are granted a free Transit Permit upon entry.

After you receive your Entry Permit via email, you will need to save/print out the attachment and have it ready to show Passport Control upon arrival in American Samoa.

Find out more about how to apply for the Entry Permit in our guide, American Samoa Tourist Visa: Do You Need a Visa to Visit American Samoa?

Something that many people don't realise is that you need to have your return flights (or ferry tickets) booked and your accommodation booked before even applying for the Entry Permit for American Samoa. These documents will need to be attached to your entry permit application. As a backup, it is best to have these documents also available, even if just a digital copy, to show at Border Control. Either way, the information below should help.

How to Get Your Flight Ticket Details for Your Entry Permit for American Samoa

Ticket/Booking Information for Your Arrival Flight to American Samoa

After booking your flight to American Samoa, you should have received an email detailing your booking reference, departure time, etc. This is sometimes called an "E-Ticket". Attach this and your departure flight (see below) to your Entry Permit application.

Additionally, print this out and also save a digital copy so you can provide this to airport staff on check-in for your flight to American Samoa.

After check-in at the airport, you will be provided with a Boarding Pass, listing your name, seat number, etc. Don't lose it!

Ticket/Booking Information for Your Departure Flight From American Samoa

In the same email, if you have booked a return flight from American Samoa, you should also have your return flight details.

If you have booked a separate flight or travel ticket departing American Samoa, you will need to print and/or have a digital copy of this evidence, as it is a mandatory entry requirement in American Samoa to have a valid outbound travel ticket.

See American Samoa Tourist Visa: Do You Need a Visa to Visit American Samoa? to learn more about entry requirements.

Your accommodation booking confirmation is equally important for your Entry Permit application. This documentation can come in several forms:

If you've booked through online booking websites like Booking.com or Expedia, you should have received a booking confirmation email with all the necessary details, including dates, accommodation name and booking reference number.

Many accommodations also have their own online booking portals where you can access and download your booking confirmation directly from their confirmation email or website.

For accommodations that handle bookings more manually, don't hesitate to contact them directly to request a confirmation document that you can use for your Entry Permit application. Most properties understand this requirement and will be happy to provide the necessary paperwork. Ensure this proof of stay includes the dates!

Your accommodation booking information must show accommodation booked for the whole duration of your stay in American Samoa. In other words, they must match the travel dates you have provided in your Entry Permit application. If you are staying in multiple accommodations, get booking confirmations for all of them!

Make sure to have both printed and digital copies of your accommodation confirmation available, as you may need to present these at various points during your travel to American Samoa.

On or before your flight to American Samoa, airline staff will hand out the American Samoa Arrival Form for you to complete and give to Customs on arrival.

The travel documents already discussed in the guide, such as your passport and flight boarding pass, will provide you with all the information you need to complete the Arrival Form.

Learn more about the Arrival Form in our complete guide, Arriving in American Samoa: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & Arrival Process LINK#TT002.

The American Samoan Government and Department of Public Health previously required visitors to complete health declarations through online forms before travel, but there are currently no such mandates in place.

We'll keep you updated on this page if anything changes (so you won't be caught off guard).

It's worth noting that during outbreaks of influenza, dengue fever and similar health concerns, the Department of Public Health does arrange temperature screening at the border. However, from what we've experienced, this sometimes doesn't apply to early morning flights when it's simply too early for staff to be on duty.

Although you may want to ensure your routine vaccinations are up to date as per the recommendations of the World Health Organisation, there are no mandatory vaccinations required to enter American Samoa.

We keep an updated list of all the recommended and/or mandatory vaccines for a visit to American Samoa in our article, Do You Need Vaccines to Travel to American Samoa?

All of the documents detailed above are mandatory for travel to American Samoa unless stated otherwise. The following travel documents and paperwork are optional or only apply to specific situations.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance ensures financial cover in the event that travel plans need to be changed, theft or loss of personal items, or you need medical attention, etc.

Travel insurance policies cover (and don't cover) a range of circumstances where you otherwise might have significant expenses.

It is a personal decision to purchase travel insurance, so if you decide to go for it, make sure you have your policy paperwork and certificate.

Driver's License (and International Driving Permit)

If you want to hire a vehicle in American Samoa, then you're going to need your valid overseas driver's license.

Check out Can You Drive in American Samoa With an Overseas License? LINK#T040 to see what driver's licenses are accepted in American Samoa so that you can be issued a temporary driver's license by your rental provider.

Medical Prescription

If you are bringing more than 30 days’ worth of prescription medication, you are required to have a doctor’s note describing the medication and the reason for the extended supply. For travellers from non-English speaking countries, the doctor’s note must be translated into English.

Arriving in American Samoa by Personal Boat/Yacht

Those arriving in American Samoa on a personal sailing yacht need to provide additional paperwork for entering and departing American Samoa. All of this is detailed in the Sailing Guide to American Samoa: Tips for Yachting LINK#T014.