Get into Samoa

Hi there!

This is my first message, so, first of all, hello!

I'm from Madrid and, in Spring 2008 we want to start a trip with no precise end. We want to start in Pacific, but the burocracy is killing us.

Our first idea was going to NZ and then make this: NZ-Samoa-Tonga-Fiji-Australia. But we found a better price flying direct to Samoa so we could do something like Samoa-Tonga-Fiji-NZ-Australia.

We wrote to the Samoan embassy in Belgium (as there is no embassy in Madrid) and they told us the requirements for getting in:

i) a passport valid for at least six (6) months after the intended date of departure from Samoa;

ii) a return or onward ticket; and

iii) a valid visa or permit for entry into the country to which you will travel from Samoa.

iv) and evidence of funds to support yourselves


It seems very complicated. We read on a spanish travel website that the real thing is that you arrive there and get in with no problems, nobody ask you this requirements, but everybody said that "I heard..." but we're not sure, so maybe in this forum there is someone who had the "get into Samoa experience" and can told us how does it work.

Because if all this requirements are needed, it's a "shit" for us, because according to this we would need a ticket to somewhere with a concrete date (and we know that we want to go out Samoa and continue travelling, but we don't want to arrange it, we want to improvise) and, what is worst, a valid visa to Tonga, and we really don't know where can we get that!!

Lots of times all this burocracy things are just letters over paper and the things don't work that way, so that's because I ask here

Thanks a lot!

Most countries in the South Pacific require the passport w/6 months remaining, and an onward or return ticket.
You should just get a ticket with a specific date, you can always change that for a small fee.
Not sure if you really need a visa in advance for Tonga if you are from Belgium.

But lots of epople do what you are planning, and none have reported any problems, as long as they have that passport w/6 mos. remaining, and an onward or return ticket.

I have been to Samoa 3 times and have never been required to show proof of my return ticket or funds. A credit card usually serves as proof of funds anyway. You get your visa for Tonga when you arrive (max stay 31 days) so don't worry about that. Same for Fiji.
Most countries have the onward ticket requirement but personally I have never had to prove it. However having said that arranging travel in Samoa is not so easy. Internet is not readily available and the only travel agents are in Apia. Also the fares get more expensive last minute so you are probably better to book your flight in advance - just make it one you can change if you really want to.

Hi guys, thanks for your replies

Raro, we're not from Belgium, we're from Madrid, even we had to write to the embassy there. We have problems just with the "onward ticket", as we don't want to travel that way :(

paddisonr, where are you from? I ask you because sometimes the thing changes depending on where are you from. Anyway, can you tell me how was your trip to Samoa? You went just to Samoa or travel also to the other islands. And , important, even they don't ask you for this ticket, you had it? If you've got info about Fiji and Tonga, that's also very interesting for me, so if you can give me any tip...

Thanks!

I think you'll have to accept the possibility that at Immigration on arrival they will ask for an onward ticket. If you don't have one, you may not be let in. This is the way it is in the Cook Islands, so it is possible it could happen in Samoa and/or Tonga.

Yes, indeed it can. Happened many times already. You need an onward ticket when you arrive. Besides that - Samoa is not a place where you can just go and buy a ticket to somewhere else at a reasonable price at any time. Very few flights only anyway in and out of Samoa.

It is not like in Spain or elsewhere in Europe. You will always have to book quite a bit in advance. My strong advice is that you buy a whole trip ticket that allows multiple changes at a low fee (i.e. Star Alliance RTW). Much cheaper anyway than always to book only the next step ahead.

Besides that you will have that "onward-ticket" problem at every single country you enter (Fiji, Cooks, New Zealand, wherever else) It is a must all over the world. So you need a through ticket back to Europe anyway.

Forget about visas though (exept Australia). You will get at least a 30 to 90 days entry upon arrival. In Samoa as well as almost anywhere else in the Pacific, as long as you can present an onward ticket, a credit card and a passport still valid more than 6 months. If you do not have an onward ticket you will be sent back or you will need a visa which requires to have a local sponsor who guarantee that you will leave the country again. Immigration authorities want to see a proof that you intend to leave otherwise they will never let you in.

And before you get upset - every foreigner (exept EU residents) has that onward-ticket requirement too when entering Spain .

Hi wksamoa

Well, I understand that, but I can assure you that, as a UE citizen, the pacific countries (except Australia) are the most difficult to get in. We're planning a big trip and we're getting info about lot of places and the most common thing, in the 90% of the cases, is that you need a valid passport and a visa (usually the visa is the greatest complication). No reserve of funds, neither onward ticket.

We'd like to visit Samoa, Tonga and too many other countries, but we're very upset with all this burocracy. We know that there is a South Pacific Pass of Star Alliance, we're trying to find info, but we don't know the basic thing, that is if this pass counts as an "onward ticket". We want to arrive to NZ, spend a month there and the next month use this pass. But we don't know also how does it works or whatever.

We're sure that Samoa and all the places that we want to visit in the Pacific are really amazing, but maybe are not the best places to visit for this time. As we want to come back from there to Madrid by land, we can't lose all the time (and money!) with all this terrible burocracy . As we want to travel on a free way, for us is really annoying to arrange everything from Madrid. Pacific nations were our favorite options, but maybe we leave it for another time. Maybe in the future we've got two free months and we arrange everything from Madrid, having an onward ticket all the time.

Let's see what happen with Star Alliance, we wrote them but we have not their answer yet. Maybe they can tell us how can we do the things or give us some tip.

We thought it was going to be easier! But we'll keep trying. And if it's not possible, we'll start our trip in Japan or another place and we can always visit Samoa later.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Hola Txolo!

quite frankly, I really do not understand your problem! When you arrive at Faleolo Airport here in Samoa you will not need to bring any visa at all and the same goes for Tonga, Fiji, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and all the other destinations in the South Pacific. Except Australia, which is the only country you need to apply for a visa before you arrive. Australia is the burocratic one, not the others!

Well, in real you need a visa for Samoa and the other countries. But you do not have to get it in advance (only for Australia). You will get it straight away at the airport in Samoa/Tonga/New Zealand etc. when you arrive. You do not have to apply for it before. So forget about the embassies and such. Just come and get a visa upon arrival which will be valid for at least 30 days, but usually for even 60 or 90 days. And in case you want to stay longer you always have the option to extend it later on to at least six months. While you are in the country.

So there is no problem with any burocracy when traveling to the South Pacific. None at all. And what they want so see from you upon arrival (if they check it at all) is the proof that you have
- a passport which is valid for at least 6 months
- a proof of funds (credit card, traveller cheques)
- an onward or return ticket (which can, of course, be the South Pacific Pass or any other paid for travel document that proofs that you will leave)

All this, and I repeat this, is demanded in every single country in the world, in the US, in Japan, in Australia - wherever. When you arrive in Australia they will not only look that you have a visa but the will ask for your onward-/return ticket too, be sure. They might not even mention that on their website or so because it is so common and self-understanding. No onward/return ticket = no entrance (to Australia, Japan, EU wherever).

For an EU-citizen like you it is much easier to get into Samoa than into Australia, New Zeland or Japan. Trust me - I am an EU citizen myself and I know that from experience.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>I can assure you that, as a UE citizen, the pacific countries (except Australia) are the most difficult to get in. We're planning a big trip and we're getting info about lot of places and the most common thing, in the 90% of the cases, is that you need a valid passport and a visa (usually the visa is the greatest complication). No reserve of funds, neither onward ticket.<hr></blockquote>

I am a EU citizen myself and I travel a lot. From my experience I can clearly say that it is not at all as you state. I went to the USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and almost all South Pacific Countries. Except for Australia I never needed to apply for a visa before I went there for a touristic stay of not more than 30 days. In most cases 60 or even 90 days were granted. Extension were always available. So forget about visas (except Australia).

However almost everywhere I was asked to show my onward ticket. Do yourself a favor and call Iberia or go to Barajas and ask the people at the check-in counter there. They will not even check you in for a flight to Japan or Australia when you cannot show them your onward or return ticket already ... This might prevent you from serious troubles during your trip.

I did a quick check on entry requirements for some countries you mentioned as your destinations outside the South Pacific

Japan
Entry and Exit Requirements:
A valid passport and an onward/return ticket are required. Passports must be valid for the intended period of stay in Japan. A visa is not required for tourist/business stays up to 90 days.

Australia
Note
All visitors must hold onward or return tickets and sufficient funds to cover stay.

So - what is more difficult and/or burocratic in Samoa than in Japan or Australia? And when you want to know what is expected to enter Spain you can check it here:

Spain
Non-EU nationals must hold a return or onward ticket. All visitors may be asked for proof of financial means for their stay in Spain.

Hi wksamoa, well, there is some true in your words, but I think that this things are also depending on the international treaty between the countries.

I've been checking the foreign affairs website of Spain and that is what it says:

Japan:

Valid passport and no visa needed.

Australia:

6 month valid passport .Not visa needed. Just needed to get the ETA once you enter in the country

Well, this discussion doesn't take us anywhere ;) I guess there is not a "true", because it depends on where are you from and where do you want to get in, so the requirements are changing depending on the situation. I guess Spain has lots of touristic treaties with lots of countries but, unfortunately, there are no treaties with NZ, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji etc (the countries I wanted to visit the most) So, well, not time for cry :)

I'll focus my work now in finding all the possible info about that South Pacific Air Pass of Star Alliance and maybe I can find a solution this way. I never used an airpass and don't know how it works, but maybe is the best way for travelling around the Pacific

Thank you very much for your words

Good luck txolo and have a safe trip. Just don't rely on buying an airpass when you are already in the Pacific. It has to be purchased before you enter the region. Check this link: http://www.airtimetable.com/airpass.htm airpasses

Air New Zealand issued me an e-ticket to Samoa and out. They told me that I didn't have to bring ANYTHING to the airport besides my passport. Not even the email with my code on it.

What 's interesting is that I'll be leaving Samoa and returning (from Pago) before my final departure. Will I need to get any kind of multi-entry visa?

So you have an outward booking, even ticketed already. Good for you. But even you are not required to do so better take that confirmation email with you to avoid possible delays.

You get a new visa every time you enter Samoa. And as you do not have to apply for it before this is quite easy and most convenient as well. So just come, leave and come again. No problem.

I would definitely bring the confirmation e-mail with me, it sounds funny what they said. And also, as you will get a visa on the spot once you arrive, there is no need for a multi-entry visa.