Definitions and advisories

Samoa Immigration processes applications for, and issues, four principle types of travel documents for Samoan citizens. These are the:

  • Ordinary passport, for all Samoan citizens;
  • Official passport, for heads of government bodies and other senior public civil servants representing Samoa overseas;
  • Diplomatic passport, for the Head of State, Cabinet Ministers, members of the Council of Deputies, Members of Parliament, diplomatic envoys in Samoan Missions abroad and members of the Samoan Foreign Service; and
  • Document of Identity, for all Samoan citizens travelling to American Samoa for emergency, medical, funeral and cultural purposes only.

All passports are valid for a ten (10) year period. A Document of Identity is valid for a two (2) year period only. Passports issued to children 16 years of age or under, are only valid for a five (5) year period. Furthermore, children are not allowed to be included on their parents' passports.

Requirements

There are a number of key requirements that must be met before an application for travel documentation will be processed. These requirements are the same for applications for ordinary passports, official and diplomatic passports and Documents of Identity. All applicants for travel documentation must meet the following requirements:

  • two passport photos and an application form signed by a certifying individual (see below for more information);
  • an original or certified copy of a birth certificate;
  • if the birth certificate is not issued by the Samoan Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, original or certified copies of documentation that confirms Samoan citizenship of the applicant;
  • if elligible to become a Samoan citizen by descent, documented evidence of at least one parents' Samoan citizenship.

Typically there are other requirements that must be met, such as documentary proof of matai title, but these are only applicable as each individual case dictates. The application form lists all the requirements for all possible cases.

Official and Diplomatic passports are only issued once authorisation has been received from the CEO of the Ministry of Prime Minister & Cabinet. Individuals requiring such passports need to submit their complete application to the CEO of the Ministry for processing, not Samoa Immigration directly.

Certification of an application

It is absolutely critical that every application be certified. An uncertified application will not be processed by Samoa Immigration. The certification must be carried out by an individual who meets the following criteria:

  • is a Samoan citizen;
  • is not an immediate relative to the applicant (e.g. father to son);
  • has known the applicant for at least three (3) years;
  • belongs to one of the following categories:
    • Head of government Ministry or statutory body;
    • General Manager of a company registered in Samoa;
    • public servant at a senior level (e.g. Principal Officer, Senior Sergeant, etc.);
    • Member of Parliament;
    • Minister of a religion;
    • Registrar of Court or lawyer;
    • doctor.

The certifier must certify both the application form and one of the two passport photos that accompany it. The certifier must write the phrase, "This is a true likeness of [applicant's name]" on the back of the photo and sign it.

Costs

Applications for all types of travel documents attract a non-refundable processing fee. The fee structure is outlined below. Please note that anyone 16 years of age or younger is considered a child. Please note that all fees are in the currency of the country in which the application is being lodged.

Passports

  • Standard five (5) working day processing - Adult $200 / Child $100
  • Urgent two (2) working day processing - Adult $250 / Child $150
  • Replacement for lost or damaged passport - Adult $400 / Child $200
  • Urgent replacement for lost or damaged passport, two (2) working day processing - Adult $450 / Child $250

Documents of Identity

  • Standard two (2) working day processing - $80
  • Urgent same day processing - $120
  • Replacement for lost or damaged DoI - $160
  • Urgent same day replacement for lost or damaged DoI - $200
  • Renewal of DoI - $50

Forms

All applicants must fill out the Samoan Passport/DoI Application Form (PDF document). As mentioned above, the form must also be signed by the applicant's certifier. Any application form that is not certified cannot be processed.

Application checklist

Before submitting an application please review the following checklist to confirm that the application is complete. Make sure you have:

  • a completed copy of the Samoan Passport/DoI Application Form, signed by yourself and by your certifier;
  • two passport photos, one of which is signed by your certifier;
  • an original or certified copy of your birth certificate;
  • if your birth certificate is not issued by the Samoan Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, original or certified copies of documentation that confirms your Samoan citizenship;
  • original or certified copies of all other documentation as required (e.g. confirmation of matai title, marriage certificate, court order of adoption, etc.); and
  • funds to cover the processing cost for your application.
  • If you are applying for a replacement travel document for one lost or damaged, documentation confirming the status of your previously held travel documentation; and
  • if you are elligible to become a Samoan citizen by descent, documented evidence of at least one parents' Samoan citizenship.

Submitting an application

Applications for travel documents can be submitted to the Samoa Immigration office in Apia, Samoa or to any of the Government of Samoa overseas Missions. Postal addresses for these offices can be found on our contacts page. The application must be accompanied by the application fee, which must be in the currency of the country in which the application is lodged.