Employer-sponsored temporary residence and work permission for a non-citizen employee in Samoa.
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 stay & visit, other & special 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 stay & visit2 of the 10 routes — see them under Short stay & visit 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.
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Study
1 route
Temporary residence for study at a relevant educational institution in Samoa.
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Family
1 route
Temporary residence for family reunion or family support in Samoa.
Can bring: spouse, children, parents
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Residence-based status
1 route
Quota-limited permanent residence assessed on personal, professional, residence, health, character and Samoa-connection factors.
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Cultural, religious & volunteer
1 route
Temporary residence for cultural or religious purposes in Samoa.
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Short stay & visit
2 routes
Short business visit for a person normally employed and paid offshore.
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Visitor permit available on arrival for up to 90 days.
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Other & special
2 routes
Ministerial entry permit identified by Samoa's current immigration service catalogue.
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Temporary residence for sponsored academic or scientific research in Samoa.
Official government source: mpmc.gov.ws · checked 2026-07-26
Official sources
- Immigration DivisionGovernment
- [NSO] Samoa Bureau of StatisticsGovernment
See which Samoa routes you actually qualify for.
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