American Samoa Immigrant Guide: US Nationals, Entry Permits and Help

American Samoa is a US territory made up of Tutuila (where the capital area, Pago Pago, is located), the Manu'a Islands, and a few small atolls. Most residents are Samoan, and Samoan and English are both widely spoken. Many residents have family ties to the independent country of Samoa, about 80 miles (130 km) away, and there are also communities from Tonga, the Philippines, and East Asia.

People born in American Samoa are US nationals, not US citizens, unless a parent is a US citizen. Congress has not extended birthright citizenship to the territory, and federal courts have left the question to Congress. Samoan culture, the family chief (matai) system, and communal family land are central to life on the islands. Cyclones are a regular risk. For the wider US system, see how US immigration works.

American Samoa is outside the federal US immigration system for entry purposes. It has its own immigration law, run by the Immigration Office of the Department of Legal Affairs under the territory's Attorney General (Legal Affairs: travel and entry). A US visa, ESTA, or green card does not by itself let you enter American Samoa.

Visitor permits (as of September 2026, per the territory's official entry guidance):

Apply at least 72 hours before you travel, not counting weekends and holidays. The territory lists a fee for each permit (about $40 for 30-day permits as of September 2026). Extensions are generally not allowed except in emergencies. Cruise passengers staying under 24 hours get a transit permit on arrival.

US citizens who don't live in American Samoa need a valid US passport or certified birth certificate and a return or onward ticket.

Living and working there: to live in American Samoa, an eligible sponsor must petition for you based on a job or a family relationship, and you need work or residency permits from the Immigration Office. Federal US work visas such as the H-1B are not used for jobs in American Samoa.

Traveling on to Hawaii or the mainland: an American Samoa permit does not let you enter the rest of the US. Foreign nationals need a US visa or ESTA and are inspected by US Customs and Border Protection on arrival in Honolulu.

US nationals from American Samoa can live and work anywhere in the United States without a visa or green card, and they travel on a US passport marked to show they are nationals. They cannot vote in federal elections and cannot hold some jobs that require US citizenship.

US nationals can become citizens through naturalization after they move to a US state. Under federal law, time they lived in American Samoa counts toward the residence requirement. They still file Form N-400, take the citizenship test, and pay the filing fee.

• Government: the American Samoa Government is the largest employer.
• Tuna canning and fishing: a large tuna cannery in Pago Pago is the biggest private employer, and many of its workers come from Samoa and other Pacific islands.
• Health care: the territory's hospital hires doctors, nurses, and technicians, including many from abroad.
• Retail, construction, and services: small businesses often hire workers from Samoa, Tonga, and Asia.

Foreign workers need a local employer to sponsor them and permits from the Immigration Office. Wages are lower than in Hawaii or the mainland, and minimum wages are set under special federal rules for the territory.

American Samoa Community College (ASCC) is the territory's main college. Because the federal F-1 visa system does not govern entry to American Samoa, foreign students should ask the college and the Immigration Office which permits they need. Many local students go to Hawaii, the mainland, or New Zealand for university (studying in the USA).

Driver's licenses are issued by the Department of Public Safety's motor vehicle office. Bring your passport, your entry or residency permit, and proof of address. For flights to Hawaii and beyond, carry your passport, since you pass through US immigration inspection on arrival in Honolulu (TSA REAL ID page).

The LBJ Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago is the territory's only hospital, and patients with serious conditions are often sent to Hawaii. Medicaid in American Samoa works differently from the states: the territory gets capped federal funding that supports the hospital and clinics, rather than enrolling people one by one, and patients usually pay set fees for care. The HealthCare.gov marketplace does not operate there.

If you plan to move to Hawaii or the mainland later, note that federal immigrant rules for Medicaid and marketplace plans apply there, and a new public charge rule took effect on September 18, 2026 (public charge guide).

The Immigration Office in the Department of Legal Affairs handles entry, work, and residency permits for American Samoa (official site). For questions about local immigration law, talk to a lawyer licensed in American Samoa.

For federal matters, such as a green card or naturalization after moving to a state, there is no USCIS office in American Samoa. The USCIS Honolulu office serves the region (USCIS field office locator). Only licensed attorneys and accredited representatives can give US immigration legal advice; check the Justice Department's roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives and avoid notarios (how to spot notario fraud).

Most goods are imported, so prices for food, fuel, and electricity are high, while local produce and fish are cheaper.

• Land: most land is communally owned by Samoan families, and American Samoa law generally allows only people with at least half Samoan ancestry to buy land. Newcomers usually rent or lease.
• Income tax: American Samoa has its own territorial income tax, filed with the American Samoa Government. Bona fide residents generally do not pay US federal income tax on American Samoa income, but rules are complex, so get tax advice.
• Other taxes: excise taxes on imported goods raise prices.