Samoa: visa and entry rules

Samoa's borders: every crossing point

The country has no land borders — these are islands.

All entry is by air or by sea. Faleolo International Airport near Apia.

There are few flights, and they shape a trip more than the visa rules do. Most countries in the region are reached via Fiji, Australia or New Zealand, and connections come round only once every few days.

Movement between the islands within the country is by light aircraft and boat, with no border formalities involved.

A ferry links Upolu and Savai'i — that is a domestic service. There is a separate sailing to American Samoa, which is already a different jurisdiction.

Bringing a car into Samoa

You cannot drive here overland — there are no land borders.

Tourists get around in rental cars, and the fleet is small: it is worth booking ahead.

Traffic drives on the left.

A local temporary driving permit is often required — it is issued on the spot for a small fee.

Check the temporary import rules for Samoa with customs. They change, and general figures from elsewhere do not carry over here.

Travelling to Samoa with a pet

The rules are strict: island states protect their own ecosystems, and biosecurity here is tougher than immigration control.

The import permit is arranged in advance, and the requirements depend on the country the animal is coming from.

The rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry.

Quarantine is applied.

Find out the timescales and requirements for bringing an animal into Samoa well before the trip, not just before the flight: the paperwork for an animal takes weeks.

Overstaying your visa in Samoa

A fine is charged for exceeding your permitted stay and is paid on departure.

The amount of the fine in Samoa will only be quoted to you at the border. The rates change and there is no way to work the sum out in advance — keep a cash reserve for the day you leave.

An extension is arranged in advance, before your permitted stay expires.

Infrequent flights are a risk in themselves. Overstays here happen not through bad intent but because the next plane is in four days: plan your departure with a margin.