Preference registration for skilled or unskilled non-temporary, non-seasonal work where a local labour shortage exists.
Polynesia · Immigration
American Samoa
American Samoa sits in Polynesia. Its immigration system runs 21 distinct routes — led by short stay & visit, family and work, each set out in official law. All 21 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
- 21across 11 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 21 of 21cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Short stay & visit6 of the 21 routes — see them under Short stay & visit below
- Region
- Polynesia
- Capital
- Pago Pago
- Population
- 46,029
- Official language
- English, Samoan
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- UTC-11:00
Source-cited pathways
Immigration routes
All 21 routes, grouped by purpose — 21 of 21 cite an official government source directly.
Work
2 routes
Statutory guest-worker permit for a Samoan-born person of Samoan ancestry employed by an eligible fish cannery or call centre.
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-28
Investment
2 routes
Renewable investor permission for a foreign investor participating in an enterprise approved for a certificate of foreign investment.
Can bring: spouse, dependants, children
Temporary special entry permission for a person who has applied or intends immediately to apply for a foreign-investment certificate.
Can bring: spouse
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-28
Talent & merit
1 route
Preference registration for a professional or person of exceptional ability in the sciences or arts whose services are sought by a local employer.
Study
1 route
Permission for an alien to enter and remain for school through an official exchange agreement or case-by-case board approval.
Can bring: parents, legal guardian
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-26
Family
3 routes
Derivative registration for the spouse or child of a principal registration applicant when accompanying or following to join.
Can bring: spouse, children, parents
Numerically limited family registration for specified relatives of American Samoans, US citizens and permanent residents.
Can bring: spouse, children, parents
Quota-exempt registration for a child, spouse or qualifying parent of an American Samoan.
Residence-based status
1 route
Downstream permanent residence for a qualifying long-term resident, adopted person or person with the specified American Samoan or US family connection.
Can bring: spouse
Free movement
1 route
Statutory right of every American Samoan to permanent residence in American Samoa.
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-28
Cultural, religious & volunteer
2 routes
Permission for an authorised minister of a recognised denomination or interdenominational organisation whose services are needed and requested locally.
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-26
Permission for a missionary worker requested by a local religious organisation where no American Samoan is available for the work.
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-26
Short stay & visit
6 routes
— No eligibility summary published for this route yet
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-26
Multiple-entry permit reserved for commercial business travellers.
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-26
Online visitor permit for a Samoan-born citizen who holds a passport issued by Samoa.
Official government source: legalaffairs.as.gov · checked 2026-07-26
Short business pass for a citizen of Samoa who has a registered business in Samoa and travels for business.
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-26
Sponsored visitor permit for a traveller without a US visa, green card or visa-waiver eligibility.
Online visitor permit for a traveller with a valid US visa or green card, or citizenship of a US visa-waiver country.
Humanitarian protection
1 route
Short statutory protection period after sponsorship or employment ends for a person subjected to domestic or family violence.
Official government source: osas.as · checked 2026-07-28
Other & special
1 route
Residual registration allocation for discretionary and other qualified applicants after higher statutory preferences.
Official sources
See which American Samoa routes you actually qualify for.
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