Trip checklist: Samoa

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

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Visa requirement

South Africans don't need a visa for Samoa.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 60 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Before you go

• Purpose of visit

  Free visitor or business permit on arrival. Work, study, or stays over 60 days need an entry permit from Samoa Immigration.

• Passport validity

  At least 6 months after your intended departure date.

• How to apply

  Nothing to apply for in advance. The free visitor permit is issued at the border on arrival. No fee.

• Where South Africans apply

  Not applicable for a short visit. For longer stays or work, contact Samoa Immigration in Apia (samoaimmigration.gov.ws, phone +685 20291). No Samoa mission in South Africa was found.

• Return or onward ticket

  Required: an onward or return ticket, plus a valid visa for your next destination if it needs one.

• Proof of funds

  Documented evidence of sufficient funds for self-support, for example a bank statement. No amount published.

• Accommodation or invitation

  Accommodation arrangements must be shown.

• Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

  Samoa requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if you arrive from a yellow fever risk country. South Africa's rule: you need a yellow fever certificate to enter South Africa only if you arrive from or transited a yellow-fever-risk country. Samoa is not a risk country, so a direct return needs none, but a routing through a risk country in Africa or South America would trigger it.

• Extending your stay and overstaying

  For stays beyond 60 days, apply to Samoa Immigration for an entry permit. Overstay penalties not published. Entry can be refused to people with a deportation history, a criminal sentence of one year or more, or a health risk.

• Transit

  Samoa transit rules not found. A departure tax of 40 Samoan tala applies on flights to American Samoa. Hub rules: via Australia, South Africans may use Transit Without Visa (air arrival, onward flight to a third country within 8 hours, stay airside); otherwise an Australian Transit (771) or Visitor visa is needed. Via Auckland, South Africans need a New Zealand Transit Visa (from NZD 235, up to 24 hours airside) unless they already hold a NZ visa.

• Confirm with the embassy

  Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

• Samoa High Commission, Wellington https://samoa.org.nz/visa-passport/
• Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet https://www.samoaimmigration.gov.ws/
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/samoa/entry-requirements

Research sources

1. 1. Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Official, samoaimmigration.gov.ws) https://www.samoaimmigration.gov.ws/
2. 2. Samoa High Commission, Wellington (Official, samoa.org.nz) https://samoa.org.nz/visa-passport/
3. 3. Australian Department of Home Affairs (Official, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/transit-771/travellers-eligible-to-transit-without-visa
4. 4. Immigration New Zealand (Official, immigration.govt.nz) https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/transit-visa
5. 5. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/samoa/entry-requirements
6. 6. Australian Government Smartraveller (Other government, smartraveller.gov.au) https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa
7. 7. The GSA (South African visa agency) (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2622-samoa-country-guide

From doineedavisa.co.za/samoa. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.