Straight answer, official source, and how long it takes.
No advance visa for tourism, per the US State Department (up to 90 days) and Samoa Immigration (free 90-day permit on arrival) — but other official Samoan sources set a 60-day threshold. Not resolved; confirm before booking.
No visa application needed for United States passport holders on a short tourist or business trip. Just check your passport meets the validity rules below before you fly.
Book a travel clinic appointment 6–8 weeks before you fly.
Required only if you're travelling from — or transiting through — a country with active transmission.
Certificate required if arriving from (or transiting) a country with yellow fever transmission risk.
Not required for entry — advised by NHS / CDC for most travellers.
Recommended — food & water borne.
Recommended, especially for longer stays or rural travel.
Which countries require the certificate, timing, cost, and the 10-day validity rule.
Not medical advice. Always confirm with your GP, travel nurse, or a Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre — requirements change and can vary based on where you're arriving from.
Per the US State Department (read 8 Oct 2026), US citizens need no visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. Samoa Immigration (MPMC) and the Samoa High Commission describe a free 90-day visitor permit issued on arrival, subject to conditions. Samoa MFAT and the Samoa Tourism Authority instead say stays of less than 60 days need no advance permit and stays of more than 60 days require an application. Passport-validity rules also differ between these sources. Separately from the permit, arrival and declaration cards are provided by your airline or shipping agent or at arrival booths (MPMC). This page does not resolve the conflicts — confirm with Samoa Immigration before you travel.
For United States passport holders, tourism or short business trips.
| Passport | Regular US passport |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Tourism only (checked 8 Oct 2026); business, work, study and residence not reviewed |
| Visa required | No, not for short stays |
| Maximum stay | Sources differ (read 8 Oct 2026): Samoa Immigration (MPMC) and the High Commission describe a free 90-day visitor permit on arrival; the US State Department says no visa for tourist stays up to 90 days; Samoa MFAT and the Tourism Authority say less than 60 days needs no advance permit and more than 60 days requires an application. The exactly-60-day case is not specified. Not resolved. |
| Passport validity | Official sources differ (read 8 Oct 2026): Samoa Immigration (MPMC) and the Samoa High Commission say 6 months after departure; the US State Department says 6 months after arrival; Samoa MFAT and the Samoa Tourism Authority say 6 months at entry. Not resolved — confirm with Samoa Immigration. |
| Return/onward ticket | Return or onward ticket and permission to enter your next country are listed as conditions (Samoa Immigration MPMC / High Commission, read 8 Oct 2026). |
| Arrival form | Arrival and declaration cards, provided by your airline or shipping agent or at arrival booths (Samoa Immigration, MPMC, read 8 Oct 2026). Separate from the visitor permit. |
| Last checked | 28 June 2026 |
US citizens require an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for short tourist trips to Australia.
Read the dossierThe official US State Department page for New Zealand is currently unavailable, making it impossible to determine current visa rules directly from this source.
Read the dossierNo visa is required for US citizens traveling to Fiji for tourism for stays under four months.
Read the dossierHuman-checked
Every dossier is written from official government sources, then re-checked on 28 Jun 2026.
Auto-monitored
An hourly job re-scans official sources for changes. Anything fishy triggers a manual review.
Not legal advice
Always cross-check with the linked official source before you book. Read our methodology and disclaimer.