{"id":142,"date":"2026-11-01T23:57:32","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T23:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/?page_id=142"},"modified":"2026-11-02T23:17:50","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T23:17:50","slug":"border-services","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/border-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Border services"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"142\" class=\"elementor elementor-142\">\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ca548b2 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-section sc-page-hero\" data-id=\"5ca548b2\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"5ca548b2\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f4bbdfb e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div sc-page-hero-inner\" data-id=\"2f4bbdfb\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"2f4bbdfb\">\n    <nav class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-184b2409 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-nav sc-crumbs\" data-id=\"184b2409\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"184b2409\">\n    \t\t\t<span class=\"sc-crumb-link e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"14634374\"><a href=\"\/sm\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-paragraph-link-base e-default-a\">\n\t\tHome\n\t<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-61745c3e-4ba8 e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"248ef57a\">\u203a<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"e-2fd1faeb-7261 e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"52e87daf\">Border services<\/span>\n\t\t\n<\/nav>\n\t\t\t<h1 data-interaction-id=\"106e74dd\" class=\"sc-page-h1 e-heading-base e-default-h1\">Border services<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sc-lead e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"3ebf1097\">We aim to keep Samoa's borders secure and safe. Here's what to expect when you arrive in or leave Samoa.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35c80dc e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div sc-layout\" data-id=\"35c80dc\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"35c80dc\">\n    <main class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b31d0c1 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-main sc-main\" data-id=\"1b31d0c1\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"1b31d0c1\">\n    <section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d1a8b82 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-section sc-block\" data-id=\"4d1a8b82\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"4d1a8b82\">\n    \t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"6e652e1f\" class=\"sc-h2-sm e-heading-base e-default-h2\">At the airport or port<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sc-prose e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"550d850b\">Immigration officers meet every aircraft and vessel arriving at or leaving a regulated port to check travel documents. Queues are first come, first served, and signs above the Immigration counters show you where to go.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"3f581454\" class=\"sc-h3 e-heading-base e-default-h3\">Priority help<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-prose e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"1f0d104b\">An officer is available to assist passengers. We give priority to:<ul><li>elderly passengers<\/li><li>mothers with babies<\/li><li>passengers with medical needs or disabilities<\/li><li>members of diplomatic missions<\/li><li>special ministerial cases<\/li><\/ul><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-info e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"2eefc388\">Arrival and declaration cards are handed out by your airline or shipping agent, or by Immigration officers at the arrival booths.<\/span>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47f10840 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-section sc-block\" data-id=\"47f10840\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"47f10840\">\n    \t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"3c2d6360\" class=\"sc-h2-sm e-heading-base e-default-h2\">Entry requirements for visitors<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sc-prose e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"545b6b1d\">Foreign nationals without a valid Temporary Resident Permit or Samoan citizenship get a free 90-day Visitor Permit on arrival, as long as they meet our entry requirements. You must:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-prose e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"5aaa6892\"><ul><li>have a return or onward ticket<\/li><li>have a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Samoa<\/li><li>have a valid visa or permit for the country you're travelling to next<\/li><li>tell us where you're staying: a hotel or resort, or with family or friends (give the village and family name)<\/li><li>have documents showing enough money to support yourself, usually a copy of a bank statement<\/li><li>have no record of deportation from another country<\/li><li>have no health problems that would put Samoa at risk<\/li><li>have no criminal history resulting in a sentence of one year or more<\/li><li>not be on any alert or warning list<\/li><\/ul><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-callout e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"1dee836b\">Coming to work, study or live in Samoa? Your permit must be granted before you travel.<\/span>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-346809d8 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-section sc-block\" data-id=\"346809d8\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"346809d8\">\n    \t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"2c86538c\" class=\"sc-h2-sm e-heading-base e-default-h2\">Ship and aircraft operators<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sc-prose e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"2f029aa9\">The operator of every ship and aircraft arriving in Samoa from another country must give the officer on duty at the port or airport a list of everyone on board before arrival. The Minister may require details including each person's:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-prose e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"113ca963\"><ul><li>full name<\/li><li>date of birth<\/li><li>nationality<\/li><li>passport or other travel document number<\/li><\/ul><\/span>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25c3ed67 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-section sc-block\" data-id=\"25c3ed67\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"25c3ed67\">\n    \t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"4e474843\" class=\"sc-h2-sm e-heading-base e-default-h2\">Compliance and inspections<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sc-prose e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"2b8de5c8\">To deal with overstaying and illegal entry, officers carry out inspections and investigations at homes and boarding houses to update our records and follow up compliance. Officers must be authorised in writing by the Minister, and will show their identification.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n\n<\/main>\n<aside class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7adf67b8 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-aside sc-aside\" data-id=\"7adf67b8\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"7adf67b8\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e1bed6f e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div sc-aside-card\" data-id=\"3e1bed6f\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"3e1bed6f\">\n    \t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"e-image-base e-default-img e-290e8857-7c6a\" data-interaction-id=\"4569cd0f\" id=\"48\" src=\"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/arrivals-desk-768x513.jpg\" width=\"768\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/arrivals-desk-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/arrivals-desk-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/arrivals-desk.jpg 900w\" alt=\"\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-aside-h e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"6623341b\">Visiting Samoa?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-body e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"4ee22fe7\">Check the Visitor Permit rules, how to extend your stay, and business visits.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-more e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"4f17c00f\"><a href=\"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/permits\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-paragraph-link-base e-default-a\">\n\t\tVisitor permits \u2192\n\t<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22d4c6d e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div sc-aside-dark e-533eb5c2-1c72\" data-id=\"22d4c6d\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"22d4c6d\">\n    \t\t\t<span class=\"sf-name e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"56422b7f\">Need help?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-on-dark e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"6325392a\">Call or email the Immigration Office in Apia.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-on-dark-link e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"1002b87d\"><a href=\"tel:+68520291\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-paragraph-link-base e-default-a\">\n\t\t+685 20291\n\t<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-on-dark-link e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"478d0d1c\"><a href=\"mailto:immigration@mpmc.gov.ws\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-paragraph-link-base e-default-a\">\n\t\timmigration@mpmc.gov.ws\n\t<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sc-on-dark-link e-paragraph-base e-default-span\" data-interaction-id=\"580f9002\"><a href=\"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"e-paragraph-link-base e-default-a\">\n\t\tAll offices and missions \u2192\n\t<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/aside>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What to expect when you arrive in or leave Samoa, including entry requirements for visitors and help at the border.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-142","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":264,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/142\/revisions\/264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.gov.ws\/sm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}