🇼🇸 Immigration guide
Long-term entries include employment, business or investment, family-reunification temporary residence and a separately legislated investor-citizenship programme. Ordinary permanent residence is decided on a case-by-case basis by the immigration authority; citizenship may generally be applied for after holding permanent residence for five years.
Visit the official immigration siteFor context and matching only; this is not a visa eligibility determination.
Population
Population information is not yet translated for this language.
Location
Location information is not yet translated for this language.
Climate
Climate information is not yet translated for this language.
Income level
Income information is not yet translated for this language.
Language and applicant context:Language guidance is not yet translated for this language.
View population and income statistics sourceThese structured advantages reflect currently published routes with official sources and are not a promise of an individual outcome.
Long-term visa routes
3
PR / citizenship routes
3
Official sources
Verified
Only routes with current review coverage and complete official sourcing are shown here.
The applicant needs support from the named employer for a temporary resident permit and a Foreign Employment Employee Permit. The permission is tied to the employer and position.
A foreign investor must first obtain a Foreign Investment Certificate, business licence and company registration, then apply for a temporary resident permit for the business or investment purpose.
A temporary resident permit based on Samoan family support, accommodation, living funds and relationship evidence. Work rights require separate approval.
Meeting a residence or eligibility period usually does not grant status automatically; check each route's application method and limits.
A foreign national who has held a valid Samoan permanent-residence permit for five years may apply for citizenship registration, supported by evidence of employment, business, social activity, health and character during the preceding period.
Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.
Application method：Usually requires a separate application
View the full settlement route and official sources →After an investment application is approved, the investor and eligible family members receive a conditional three-year permanent residence. If they spend at least 15 days in Samoa each year and continue to comply with the investment plan, they may apply for citizenship within three months before PR expiry.
Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.
Application method：Usually requires a separate application
View the full settlement route and official sources →Samoa accepts permanent-residence applications, but the public service page does not prescribe one automatic conversion period for every temporary resident. The applicant must use the official form to prove long-term ties, residence, employment, business and family facts; the authority decides each case.
Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.
Application method：Usually requires a separate application
View the full settlement route and official sources →