Samoa
WSMSamoa is an independent Polynesian island nation in the central South Pacific, comprising two main islands—Upolu and Savai'i—and several smaller islets. The country gained independence from New Zealand administration in 1962, becoming the first Pacific Island nation to do so. The economy rests on subsistence agriculture, remittances from a large diaspora concentrated in New Zealand and Australia, tourism, and fishing. Apia, the capital, is the main commercial hub.
Samoa maintains close constitutional ties with New Zealand under the Treaty of Friendship. The government operates a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy underpinned by traditional Fa'asamoa (Samoan way of life) principles. Dual citizenship is permitted, and naturalisation typically requires five years of continuous lawful residence. Healthcare infrastructure is modest, and many residents seek specialist treatment abroad.
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Samoan Tālā (WST)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Apia
- Region
- oceania
- Population
- 222,000
- Cost-of-living
- 58 /100
Passport Rank
#170
Visa-Free
112
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Samoa passport has visa-free access to 112 destinations. See the full Samoa passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Samoa without a prior visa (194)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Samoa
Current IRCC processing times for Samoa nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | No processing time available |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | No processing time available |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Apia
- Currency
- Samoan Tālā (WST)
- Languages
- Samoan, English
- Population
- 222,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical; hot and humid year-round with a wet season from November to April and a drier season from May to October
- GDP per capita
- $5,873
- Life expectancy
- 71.83 yrs
- Population growth
- 0.59%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
58
Safety
61
Healthcare
38
Quality of Life
42
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apia | — | — | — | — | — |
| Asau | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mulifanua | — | — | — | — | — |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Apia
Rainfall range: 90–400 mm/month · Daylight 11.5h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Visitor
- Work Permit
- Investor
- Student
- Family
- Residence Permit
- Authority
- Ministry of Prime Minister & Cabinet - Immigration
- Official Portal
- www.mpmc.gov.ws
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- —
- Processing
- —
Safety
GPI Rank
—
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Samoa, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Samoa Immigration
ImmigrationOfficial immigration division for Samoa border services, permits, forms, fees and citizenship services.
Samoa Immigration Permit Services
PermitsOfficial permit-services page covering visitor, temporary resident, permanent resident and ministerial entry permits.
Samoa Immigration Forms
FormsOfficial Samoa Immigration forms page for temporary residence, permanent residence, sponsorship, medical, radiology and permit-extension forms.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Samoa, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Permanent Residence Permit
ResidenceSamoa permanent residence permit route, using Samoa Immigration permanent-residence form and fee-table authority.
Temporary Residence for Research, Cultural or Religious Purposes
ResidenceSamoa temporary resident permit for academic research, scientific research, cultural activity or religious purposes.
Short-term / business
Business Visitor Permit
Short-term / businessSamoa short business visitor route for offshore-employed visitors attending short business activity.
Visitor Permit Extension
Short-term / businessSamoa visitor extension process for visitors already in Samoa seeking a further visitor stay.
Visitor Permit on Arrival
Short-term / businessSamoa 90-day visitor permit on arrival for eligible short-stay visitors who meet border-entry conditions.
Work (sponsored)
Temporary Residence for Employment
Work (sponsored)Samoa temporary resident permit for employment, with employer sponsorship and MCIL recommendation handling.
Family
Temporary Residence for Family Support or Reunion
FamilySamoa temporary resident permit for family reunion or family support purposes.
Study
Temporary Residence for Study
StudySamoa temporary resident permit for study, including school evidence and funds support.
Investor
Temporary Residence for Business or Investment
InvestorSamoa temporary resident permit for conducting business or investing in Samoa.
Citizenship by descent
Citizenship by Descent, Permanent Residence or Marriage
Citizenship by descentSamoa citizenship routes by descent, permanent residence or marriage under the official Citizenship Services page.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified