Cost of entry permit to Samoa for US Nationals is now reduced

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa’s reciprocal travel arrangement in answer to American Samoa’s entry permit waiver program for 7-day travel to the Territory has been welcomed by US Nationals or people born in American Samoa wanting to enter Samoa.

This was agreed to at the recent Atoa o Samoa Talks held in Samoa between the two governments.

Instead of the $20 fee they used to pay for an entry permit of 1 to 14 days in Samoa, US Nationals need to go to the Samoa Consulate Office at its new location at the Moso’oi Building in Ottoville, Tafuna to apply and pay the reduced fee of $10 to enter Samoa for 1 to 7 days.

The processing time for this 7-day OK Board is 1 day for all applicants, with an urgent fee of $10 if the applicant wants the permit on the same day. However, all travelers are encouraged to apply ahead of their departure date.

They also have to meet international travel protocol by providing a Passport or Certificate of Identity (CI) with validity of more than 6 months from the date of departure, in this case, out of Samoa, and a confirmed return ticket of 7 days or less in Samoa.

If unforeseen circumstances necessitates a stay of more than 7 days, they should inform the Immigration Office in Apia and pay an extra fee according to the duration of the prolonged stay.

In an exclusive interview with Samoa’s Consul General in American Samoa Fata Brian Kaio, his office issued a total of 10 7-day OK Boards on the first day it went into effect which was last Thursday October 19, 2023, the same day the American Samoa’s entry permit waiver program also went into effect.

The next day, October 20th, 14 were issued.

As of yesterday, Fata revealed that the average number of OK Boards they issue is 20 a day and that number will increase in the coming days, especially as the holidays happen.

“This has been a real blessing for genuine short term travelers from Samoa like business people, those who come here for family fa’alavelave, sports people and those who attend educational meetings/seminars,” the Samoa Consul General pointed out.

“For the past 20 years or so, they have had to provide police and health reports which cost about $50 Tala each, then they have to send copies of these reports plus copies of their passports and return tickets to their sponsors here in the Territory, who then have to fill and sign an Immigration form which also has to be signed by the family Sa’o and village mayor (Pulenu’u).”

On top of all that, the applicant has to pay $40 tala for a 30-day entry permit.

Fata also mentioned that he had heard criticisms from a local faipule who argued that the health and police clearances should be reinstalled.

“For 20 years, US Nationals have been traveling to Samoa without having to show police or health clearances,” he pointed out.

He stated that while many of the genuine short term travelers in Samoa complained at the stringent requirements they had to comply with for just a few days visit to the Territory, they have had to put up with it all these years, which is why the American Samoa entry permit waiver that does not require police and health reports, has been welcomed with open arms.

Fata told Samoa News that the issue had been raised in an interview he had with another local media outlet and he had reminded the reporter that the ongoing collaborative relationship between the two Samoas will not advance or bear fruit if we resort to finger-pointing.

He commended the leaders of the two governments and their cabinets for their commitment and efforts to make things easier and improve the standard of life for everyone.

He also pointed out that the inclusion of cabinet members as active participants in these talks has yielded many benefits and has gained a lot of insight and perspective in the various issues under discussion.

Fata Brian Kaio, a career service government employee of the Foreign Affairs division of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who was appointed to the post in May this year.

He had previously worked at Samoa’s Consulate General Office in Sydney, Australia in 2013 under the then Consul General, the late Lemalu Tate Simi and Hinauri Petunia who replaced him.

He returned to Samoa and was appointed as one of the Assistant Chief Executive Officers (ACEO) of the ministry and after one term, he resigned in 2020 and left for England to pursue his Masters in Diplomacy degree.

On his return, he applied and was appointed to head Samoa’s Consulate General’s Office in American Samoa replacing Fonoti Manogiamanu Etuale Ioane in May this year.

He stated that he moved the office from its previous location in Fagatogo next to the Samoa News building so that the move to their permanent location — at the piece of land that the American Samoa Government gave to the Samoa government next to the Tongan market in Tafuna — would be easier.

Fata revealed that work on the construction of their new office there will be starting sometime in the near future.