Risk level

Safety and security

Crime

Petty and violent crime occurs on occasion. Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times.

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety are poor throughout the territory. Vehicle safety regulations aren’t regularly enforced. Traffic violations routinely occur.

Roads often cross small streams. Slow down and be careful when driving over such areas.

• Observe speed limits
• Avoid driving at night outside of main cities

Buses and taxis

Buses and taxis are available.

Air travel

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Swimming

Tidal changes can cause powerful currents in the many coastal lagoons around the islands. Several fatal swimming accidents occur each year.

• Consult tour operators for information on possible hazards and safe swimming areas
• Follow the instructions and warnings of local authorities

General safety information

Don’t approach or feed stray dogs, which can become aggressive.

There’s no resident Canadian government office in American Samoa. The Australian High Commission in Apia, Samoa, provides consular assistance to Canadians in American Samoa under the Canada-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement.

We encourage you to register with the Australian High Commission to receive the latest information on situations and events that could affect your safety.

Australian High Commission

Entry and exit requirements

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the American Samoan authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

American Samoa is a territory of the United States but retains oversight of its own borders. Some entry and exit requirements, such as passport validity, differ from those of the United States.

More about entry to American Samoa - American Samoa Immigration office

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave American Samoa.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Visas

Canadians can visit American Samoa without an entry permit or visa for a period of up to 30 days.

At least 48 hours prior to your arrival, you must apply for and receive authorization from the Entry Permit Waiver Program. Cruise ship passengers need not apply.

Online application - Entry Permit Waiver Program

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children.

Health

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your routine vaccinations, as per your province or territory, are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette, which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•  washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Medical facilities are limited. Health-care facilities are adequate for routine treatments, but limited in range and availability. Immediate cash payment for health services is expected. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you’ll be travelling away from major city centres.

There is a hyperbaric (decompression) chamber available at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center (Tel.: +1 684 633 1222) in Fagaalu on the island of Tutuila.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

Laws and culture

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad.

Drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy prison sentences.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Additional restrictions

Samoa strictly regulates the import of firearms, pets, plant and animal products, and pornographic materials. Check customs with the Samoa Tourist Authority.

Samoa Tourist Authority - Local customs and culture

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

American Samoa law does not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. However, homosexuality is not widely accepted in American Samoan society.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers should carefully consider the risks of travelling to American Samoa.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in the United States.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of the United States, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements.

Travellers with dual citizenship

Driving

Traffic drives on the right.

You must carry an international driving permit if you plan on driving in American Samoa for 30 days or more.

More about the International Driving Permit

Culture

To avoid offending local sensitivities:

• dress conservatively
• behave discreetly
• respect religious and social traditions

Money

The currency of American Samoa is the U.S. dollar.

Major credit cards are accepted at hotels, car-rental firms and airlines.

ATMs are available.

Natural disasters and climate

Seismic activity

American Samoa is prone to earthquakes. A tsunami can occur within minutes of a nearby earthquake and can travel long distances across the Pacific.

• If staying in accommodations on the coast, familiarize yourself with the region’s evacuation plans in the event of a tsunami warning

Rainy and cyclone season

The rainy and cyclone seasons in the South Pacific extend from November to April.

Severe rainstorms can cause flooding and landslides. Flooding and landslides have resulted in significant loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure. These events hamper the provision of essential services. Disruptions to air services and to water and power supplies may also occur.

• Keep informed of regional weather forecasts
• Avoid disaster areas
• Follow the instructions of local authorities

During a cyclone, hotel guests may be required to leave accommodations near the shore and move to safety centres inland. Travel to and from outer islands may be disrupted for some days.

Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons