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Samoa

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
3,265
Top destination, 2023
New Zealand
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
850
UK visas issued, 2025
3
NationalityWSISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<WSSAMOA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
WS8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Samoa need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 30 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Samoa move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. New Zealand2,994
  2. United States170
  3. Japan55
  4. Australia31
  5. France6
  6. Italy6
  7. Denmark2
  8. South Korea1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

1,9343,868200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,9343,8682000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20002,693
20012,529
20022,001
20032,272
20042,505
20053,868
20063,846
20073,667
20083,534
20092,649
20101,968
20112,351
20122,341
20132,154
20142,483
20152,667
20162,743
20173,046
20183,108
20193,675
20202,008
20211,782
20222,233
20233,265
Share going to the top destination
91.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
8
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Samoa who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. New Zealand63,075
  2. Australia38,964
  3. American Samoa15,931
  4. Greece483
  5. Fiji308
  6. Tonga208
  7. Tokelau202
  8. Niue44
  9. Denmark29
  10. Guinea24
  11. Micronesia20
  12. Cook Islands10

Living abroad by year

60k119k19901995200020052010201520202024
60k119k19902000201020202024
Data table
199064,643
199569,079
200077,905
200584,416
201088,359
201597,923
2020109,124
2024119,313
Living abroad, 2024
119,313
Change since 2000
+53.2%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
52.9%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Samoa by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2595
  2. C1/D127
  3. R148
  4. J117
  5. C314
  6. A210
  7. G28
  8. A16
  9. F16
  10. F25

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

6871,374201720182019202020212022202320242025
6871,37420172019202120232025
Data table
2017544
20181,195
20191,370
2020552
2021115
2022561
20231,374
2024938
2025850
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR513
  2. IR111
  3. IR24
  4. CR13
  5. F41
  6. IR31
  7. FX1
  8. SB11
Immigrant visas, FY2025
35
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Samoa who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Samoa with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1152302015201620172018201920202021202220232024
115230201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015210
2016220
2017190
2018180
2019200
2020150
2021130
2022140
2023170
2024230
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens220
  2. Family-sponsored preferences10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Samoa)
230
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Samoa)
170
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
2,680
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Samoa (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Samoa (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Work2
  2. Study1

Visas issued by year

1325201020122014201620182020202220242025
1325201020132016201920222025
Data table
201012
201120
201212
201325
201421
201514
20165
20173
20184
20193
20202
20212
20224
20235
20249
20253
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Samoa, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

28562005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162018–192021–222023–242025–26
28562005–062009–102013–142018–192023–242025–26
Data table
2005–065
2006–073
2007–0814
2008–0911
2009–103
2010–111
2011–123
2012–137
2013–141
2014–153
2015–162
2016–172
2018–192
2020–212
2021–222
2022–234
2023–2421
2024–2556
2025–2628
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Labour Agreement25
  2. Core Skills2
  3. Specialist Skills1
Granted, 2025–26
28
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Samoa living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

39782012201420162018202220242025
39782012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201257
201357
201465
201567
201669
201770
201874
201974
202271
202372
202478
202571
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident33
  2. Student11
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National9
  4. Dependent6
  5. Long-Term Resident5
  6. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services5
  7. Entertainer1
  8. Instructor1
Residents, December 2025
71
In work-related statuses
7
Share in work-related statuses
9.9%
Students
11
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Samoa in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Family3
  2. Work2
  3. Education1
  4. Other reasons1
First permits by country
  1. Spain2
  2. Italy2
  3. Czechia1
  4. Germany1
  5. Portugal1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities2
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
0
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
2
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
5
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
163
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
3
Changed status into work, 2025
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Samoa

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Samoa, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
Japan1——
Countries
2
Missions
2
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Samoa, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

1442882000200320062009201220152018202120242025
144288200020052010201520202025
Data table
200045
200145
200245
200345
20041
200582
200687
200797
2008109
2009119
2010139
2011160
2012178
2013165
2014141
2015131
2016131
2017136
2018148
2019155
2020204
2021248
2022280
2023265
2024282
2025288
Remittances received, 2025
US$288 million
Share of GDP, 2025
22.4%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Samoa, 2023
4.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Samoa

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Samoa → New Zealand
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more