Employer-sponsored temporary residence and work permission for a non-citizen employee in Samoa.
Eligibility: 2Report facts: 10
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Polynesia · Immigration
Samoa
Samoa sits in Polynesia. Its immigration system runs 10 distinct routes — led by short stays and visits, special cases and work, each set out in official law. All 10 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
- Immigration routes
- 10across 8 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 10 of 10cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Short stays and visits2 of the 10 routes — see them under Short stays and visits below
- Region
- Polynesia
- Capital
- Apia
- Population
- 219,306
- Official language
- English, Samoan
- Currency
- WST
- Time zone
- UTC+13:00
Source-cited pathways
Immigration routes
All 10 routes, grouped by purpose — 10 of 10 cite an official government source directly.
Work
1 route
Investment
1 route
Temporary residence for conducting business or investment in Samoa.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 2Report facts: 6
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Study
1 route
Temporary residence for study at a relevant educational institution in Samoa.
Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Family
1 route
Temporary residence for family reunion or family support in Samoa.
Documents: 1Report facts: 10
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Long-term residence
1 route
Quota-limited permanent residence assessed on personal, professional, residence, health, character and Samoa-connection factors.
Report facts: 1
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Culture, faith and volunteering
1 route
Temporary residence for cultural or religious purposes in Samoa.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Short stays and visits
2 routes
Short business visit for a person normally employed and paid offshore.
Report facts: 4
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Visitor permit available on arrival for up to 90 days.
Process & costs: 1Report facts: 6
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Special cases
2 routes
Ministerial entry permit identified by Samoa's current immigration service catalogue.
Eligibility: 1Report facts: 2
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Temporary residence for sponsored academic or scientific research in Samoa.
Eligibility: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Official sources
- Immigration DivisionGovernment
See which Samoa routes you actually qualify for.
Take the free 3-minute check for your verdict, country by country — then unlock the full report.