travel permit

Hi travellers

I found this link on here which lets one know if he needs a travel permit or not to enter American Samoa, and it says that citizens of Malta don't need a visa. Does that mean that no visa is needed but only a travel permit is, which is something you get upon arrival, or are they the same thing as someone on the thread had written that they are the same thing! This is very confusing... I will be travelling from Costa Rica to Samoa and hopefully would be able to also spend some time in American Samoa. Also, flights are affordable and not expensive between the islands of the same group such as French Polynesia, right?

Thanks

travel2cool

Also, flights are affordable and not expensive between the islands of the same group such as French Polynesia, right?

I think flights are relatively expensive between islands of the same group of French Polynesia and even more so between different groups of French Polynesian islands such as Tahiti and New Caledonia.
You would need to check flight costs out to determine if they fall within your definition of affordable and not expensive.

Just read your other post so I think the flights will not fall within your definition of affordable and not expensive.
While it is good to get to some of the outer islands of the various groups your budget may restrict you to the main island of arrival in Tahiti and the Cook Islands, in Samoa you could get between Upolo and Savai'i by ferry.
Have you considered Fiji where you can island hop some of the islands by boat.
Tonga is also a relatively cheap place to travel but again getting off Tongatapu to the outer islands is expensive by air.

Does that mean that no visa is needed but only a travel permit is, which is something you get upon arrival, or are they the same thing as someone on the thread had written that they are the same thing! This is very confusing

I agree. What you write is very confusing. It does not make any sense to me. That "someone" does not seem to know what he is talking about.

Whenever you go to a country, you may or may not need a visa, which is permission to enter and visit for the reasons you state, such as tourism. Sometimes you need to apply in advance (at foreign embassy) for tourist visa, sometimes you can get your tourist visa when you arrive at border.

Some countries do not require a visa from nationals of other countries, for certain purposes such as short stay tourism. This, apparently, is your situation as Maltese going to Samoa. This means you are in a "visa exempt" category. This does NOT mean "I don't need a visa but I need something else". It means you don't need anything other than general permission to enter country for a period of time (this can always be refused if they think you don't have enough money, etc etc). You would no doubt still have to fill in an Immigration arrival card, and your passport may be stamped with date of entry and how long you're allowed to stay. End of story.

A so-called "travel permit", if referring to an official document, is something entirely different, precise definition varies somewhat from country to country and specific circumstances.

I apologize .. that might not have been clear.. meant to ask if travel between the Samoan islands was less expensive then between the islands of French Polynesia which is indeed very expensive and which I wouldn't be able to afford, Thanks

Great to know one can take ferries between those islands. Is it also possible to go by ferry to Ofu in American Samoa? I'm also not sure if one is allowed to stay more than 1 month on the islands. I just checked if I needed a visa by checking this website but it didn't say how long was one allowed to say. Does anyone know please? Many thanks.

Thanks so much for making that clear! :-)

Great to know one can take ferries between those islands. Is it also possible to go by ferry to Ofu in American Samoa? I'm also not sure if one is allowed to stay more than 1 month on the islands. I just checked if I needed a visa by checking this website but it didn't say how long was one allowed to say. Does anyone know please? Many thanks.
My entries to Samoa have been for 60 days.
Looks like there is a ferry between Apia and American Samoa as below,
"Lady Naomi Ferry
For more information on the Lady Naomi’s schedule and rates to and from Apia, Samoa, please contact local agent Polynesian Shipping
Ph: (+1 684) 633-1211
Fax: (+1 684) 633-1265"

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