Travel to American Samoa

American Samoa: Entry and Exit Requirements

Formalities, visas

No visa is required for stays of up to 30 days.

A return or onward flight ticket and sufficient funds for the stay must be presented upon entry. The passport must be valid for 60 days beyond the intended return date. US citizens can instead prove their identity with another form of ID, which must, however, contain a photo.

The regulation affects all EU citizens as well as citizens of Switzerland, Andorra, Australia, Iceland, Japan, Canada, Liechtenstein, Monacos, New Zealand and San Marinos.

A residence permit for a stay of more than 30 days must be applied for at the immigration authorities in American Samoa, stating a contact person, the accommodation and the purpose of the stay.

Government of American Samoa

Executive Office Building

Third Floor

Utulei, Pago Pago

American Samoa 96799

Tel.: 00684- 633-4116

Fax: 00684- 633-2269

governorsoffice@asg-gov.net

Those who need to apply for a visa can do so at the US embassies.

Import and export of foreign currency

There is no restriction on the import of foreign currency.

Import and export of goods

The import and export of weapons, ammunition or explosives is strictly prohibited. In addition, the import and export of plants and animals protected under the Washington Species Protection Act is prohibited. Violation can result in severe penalties.

Duty-

free The import of 200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco or 50 cigars and 5 bottles of spirits is duty- free.

Entry with pets

For the owners of dogs and other animals, the question arises when traveling abroad whether and under what conditions they can even take their animals with them to the chosen travel destination. Here with us you will find all the important information on this topic, carefully researched at the embassies or the Foreign Office:

The regulations of the USA apply to the entry with pets to American Samoa. Accordingly, the animals must be free from diseases that can potentially be transmitted to humans.

Dogs and cats must therefore be examined by a veterinarian seven to ten days before entry, who must note the health status in a health certificate. In addition, the pets must be vaccinated against rabies. For dogs, the rabies vaccination must have been given at least 30 days before entry and not more than twelve months ago. Nevertheless, a 120-day quarantine is required when entering American Samoa to ensure that the animals are free from rabies.

Dogs younger than three months can be brought in without a rabies vaccination. However, the rabies vaccination must then be given in American Samoa, and the animals must then be kept under lock and key in one place for at least 30 days.

Pets in the airplane

When transporting pets in airplanes, there is the possibility that the animal flies together with an accompanying person (owner) or without such a person.

Transporting animals with an accompanying person (keeper)

In this case, proceed as follows: At the airport, the animal is locked in a transport box provided by the keeper beforehand. It must be ensured that the container is big enough that the animal can stand in it and turn around, and it must be ensured that no liquid can run out (urine). This is done using suitable absorbent material, in the simplest case using a sufficient amount of newspaper.

There should also be a water bowl and, depending on the length of the flight, enough food. The transport container is handed over to the staff at the check-in counter. The transport fee depends on the weight of the animal. It is essential to ensure that there is space for the animal on the flight booked, as the number of animals that can be transported is limited.

The animal is located in the machine in an air-conditioned area between the passenger deck and the cargo area. As a rule, no member of the crew takes care of the animal during the flight, not even to give water or food.

However, experience has shown that the stress of checking in and the take-off phase is so stressful for most animals that they sleep for most of the flight. The administration of sedatives before check-in is not only not recommended, as their effects cannot be foreseen under these conditions, but is even prohibited for reasons of security (smuggling). Many airlines also exclude a number of dogs (attack dogs) from transportation.

Animal transport without an accompanying person

In this case, a specialist company must be commissioned with the transport, which then takes care of everything else. However, it should be ensured that the animal is picked up at the arrival airport by someone who is familiar to the dog. Of course, all import regulations for pets for the country must be explored beforehand and strictly adhered to.

Note

It has proven to be very helpful if you have accustomed the animal to such a transport container at home a few weeks before the intended flight.

American Samoa: Travel Medicine, Vaccinations, and Safety Instructions

Infectious Diseases

In American Samoa, the following diseases, which are rarely or rarely widespread in Germany or Central and Northern Europe, are to be expected:

  • Malaria: There is no risk of malaria infection.
  • Dengue fever – In 2002 there was an increase in infections with the dengue virus.
  • Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria.
  • Filariasis

Vaccination recommendations

  • Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Typhus – for special travel groups (backpackers) who are z. B. supply yourself with water in nature.

Compulsory vaccination

For all persons who enter from an area of yellow fever infected by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against yellow fever.

Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?

Most people in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.

Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007.

There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory additional payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge:

  • cholera
  • diphtheria
  • Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
  • Yellow fever
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Pneumococci
  • Polyo (polio)
  • Tetanus (tetanus)
  • rabies
  • typhus

Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.

As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.

Safety instructions

Current warning

notices Typhoons and volcanic eruptions can be expected on the islands. There are also dangerously strong currents outside the lagoons. Ciguatera fish poisoning can occur when eating fish of any kind. Jellyfish and the stonefish on the bottom can cause injuries in the water. And there is always the danger of sharks.

American Samoa: Transportation

How do you get to American Samoa?

American Samoa is served by Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu to Pago Pago twice a week. You can get to Hawaii via San Francisco, San Diego or Los Angeles.

Aloha Airlines also connects American Samoa with Hawaii twice a week, as does Rarotonga.

Polynesian Airlines flies several times a day from Apia in Samoa to Pago Pago in American Samoa, from where there are connections to Australia and New Zealand.

You can get to Pago Pago by ship from Apia on Samoa. The journey takes about eight hours.

Travel to the islands

Roads

There are around 350 km of roads, around 150 km of which are paved.

Car hire

There are several car hire companies on Tutuila.

Ferry connections

There is a regular ferry connection from Pago Pago to Apia in Samoa. From Pago Pago there is a ferry connection to Aunu’u Island.

Air connections From Pago Pago, Samoa Air flies to Ta’u and Ofu twice a day. From Ofu you can walk to Olosega in two hours.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, the American Samoa international license plate is:

ASM

American Samoa: Currency, Shopping, and Exchange Rate

The national currency of American Samoa is the US dollar.

The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:

  • $ 1
  • $ 2
  • $ 5
  • $ 10
  • $ 20
  • $ 50
  • $ 100

And the following coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 25c and 50c

Exchange rate

You can find a currency converter here:

www3.forium.de

Bank opening times

Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Visa, Master Card and American Express credit cards are the most common. Most of the hotels as well as some restaurants and shops accept them. Travelers Checks are accepted in most banks and hotels.

There is no bank at the airport, and the banks charge a not inconsiderable exchange fee. It is therefore advisable to enter with enough US dollars.

Shop

Shop opening times

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs

“LavaLava” is the name of a cloth that men swing around their hips. Handicrafts such as woven bags, baskets and mats are popular with tourists. Tapas, Siapo and Kava bowls are the typical souvenirs from Samoa, but they are better to buy in neighboring “West” Samoa.

Market

the food market in Fagatogo village is well worth a visit.

American Samoa: Diplomatic missions

Visit Countryaah for a full list of American Samoa embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

German representations in American Samoa

The Federal Republic of Germany does not have its own embassy in American Samoa. The embassy in Wellington, New Zealand is responsible.

Embassy at Wellington Hobson Street 90-92 Thorndon 6011, Wellington:

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

PO Box 1687

Wellington 6140

New Zealand

Tel: 0064 – (0) 4 473 60 63

Fax: 0064 – (0) 4 473 60 69

Email: info@wellington.diplo.de

www.wellington.diplo.de

In addition to New Zealand, the German embassy in Wellington is also responsible for:

  • American Samoa
  • Cook Islands
  • Fiji Islands
  • Kiribati
  • Niue
  • Pitcairn
  • Samoa
  • Tonga
  • Tokelau
  • Tuvalu

Representations of American Samoa in Germany

American Samoa is represented by the US embassies and consulates general .

Embassy of the United States of America Pariser Platz 2 10117 Berlin Tel: 0049- (0) 30 – 8 32 29 23 3 Fax: 0049- (0) 30 – 8 31 49 26 www.usembassy.de

American Consulate General Hamburg

Alsterufer 27/28

20354 Hamburg

Tel: 0049- (0) 40 – 411 71-100

Fax: 0049- (0) 40 – 41 32 79 33

American Consulate General Leipzig

Wilhelm-Seyfferth-Straße 4

04107 Leipzig

Tel: 0049- (0) 341-2 13 84 0

Fax: 0049 (0) 341-2 13 84 71

American Consulate General Munich Koeniginstrasse

5

80539 Munich

Tel: 0049- (0) 89-2 88 80

Fax: 0049- (0) 89-2 80 99 98

American Consulate General Frankfurt

Gießener Straße 30

60435 Frankfurt am Main

Tel: 0049- (0) 69 – 7 53 50

Fax: 0049- (0) 69 – 7 53 52 277

American Consulate General Düsseldorf

Willi-Becker-Allee 10

40227 Düsseldorf

Tel: 0049- (0) 211 – 7 88 89 27

Fax: 0049- (0) 211 – 7 88 89 38

Consular Agency United States in Bremen

Birkenstrasse 15, World Trade Center Bremen (3rd floor)

28195 Bremen

Tel: 0049- (0) 421 – 301 58 60

Fax: 0049- (0) 421 – 301 58 61

American Samoa Tourist Office

Department of Commerce

PO Box 1147

AS-Pago Pago 96799

Tel: 00684- 633 10 92/93

Fax: 00684- 633 20 92

Email: amsamoa@amerikasamoa.info

http://www.amsamoa.com

Travel to American Samoa