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Available 24 hours a day, every day
Region: Asia & Oceania
Full Name: Independent State of Samoa
Capital City: Apia
Language Spoken: Samoan (Polynesian), English
Get travel insurance to Samoa from Direct Travel Insurance. We offer low cost and high quality travel insurance to Samoa and most of the world.
13 35 S, 172 20 W
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m
0 km
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
arable land: 21.13% permanent crops: 24.3% other: 54.57% (2005)
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Samoa has a warm, tropical climate tempered by trade winds between May and September. Temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the year, becoming cooler at night. There are more than 2500 hours of sunshine annually. Rainfall is heaviest between December and April. Sea temperatures rarely fall below 24°C (75.2°F). Required clothing Lightweight cottons and linens with warmer clothes for evenings. Rainwear is advisable.
time difference: UTC-11
176,908 (July 2006 est.)
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 23,492/female 22,653) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 74,202/female 44,894) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 5,299/female 6,368) (2006 est.)
total: 25.2 years male: 28.1 years female: 22 years (2006 est.)
-0.2% (2006 est.)
16.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
-11.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.65 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
total population: 71 years male: 68.2 years female: 73.94 years (2006 est.)
2.94 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Samoan business meetings are typically informal and English is widely spoken in business circles.
Samoa Islands have a low crime rate and violent crime is very rare. There has been a slight increase in personal property thefts. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers often operate where tourists tend to gather and normal security precautions should be observed.
There is a wide range of accommodation available in Samoa, from international-standard hotels to simple guesthouses
Telephone IDD service is available. The country code is 684. Several hotels have fax facilities. Telex/telegram facilities are available at main towns and hotels. The Main Post Office in the Lumana'i Building in Fagatogo is open 24 hours. There are also branches in Leone and Faguita villages, open 0800-1600 Monday to Friday and 0830-1200 Saturday.
is 110V. U.S.-style 2-pin plugs are used. Electricity 240 volts AC, 50Hz (110 volts AC in some hotels). Three-pronged plugs are in use as in Australia and New Zealand.
I
Among the local specialties are dishes cooked in the traditional Samoan oven, umu. A variety of Chinese food is also available in a few places and there are several snack and light meal restaurants in Apia serving fast food and other Western food.
National specialties:
? Fresh seafood.
? Roast suckling pig.
? Chicken.
? Breadfruit and fruit. National drinks: Kava is the national drink (see also the American Samoa and Fiji sections). Alcohol may not be purchased on Sundays except by hotel residents and their guests.
Tipping:
Not customary.
Nightlife
Several nightclubs offer dancing and other entertainment. Several cinemas show English-language films and Chinese films with subtitles.
* Please see visa section
Passport valid for six months beyond the date of departure from Samoa required by all.
Required by all except:
1. nationals of any country visiting Samoa as a tourist will be issued with a free 60-day visa on arrival provided they hold confirmed onward tickets, a valid passport and proof of sufficient funds to support the stay. For longer stays, visas should be obtained before arrival or visa extensions can be applied for in Apia.
Visitor's Permit: free on arrival. Other types of visa cost from US$118 -US$1412 and applicants should enquire directly with the Samoan Embassy.
Six months from date of issue.
Nearest Samoan Embassy or High Commission or the Immigration Division of the Prime Minister?s Department in Apia (PO Box L1861).
(a) Two passport-size photos. (b) Completed application form. (c) Fee.
Apply at least four weeks in advance.
Costs from ?100 depending on the purpose of your visit. Business and employment visas are 50 per cent cheaper if applied for outside Samoa. Each application is assessed on an individual basis and takes at least four weeks to process.
Anyone, applying for a work or a student permit and staying longer than 12 months have to submit a medical report which may include an HIV test.
Tala40 for adults. Transit passengers and children under 12 years of age are exempt.
Samoan Consulate in London, Church Cottage, Pedlinge, Nr Hythe, Kent, CT12 5JL
20, Avenue de l'Oree, B- 1000 Brussels , Belgium
Tel: (2) 660 8454. Fax: (2) 675 0336.
800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400J, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 599 6196.
Travelers should avoid driving out of built up areas at night.
Serious crime is low and most visits to Samoa are trouble-free. You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:
Tel: (0845) 850 2829.
Website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/samoa
Tala or Samoa Dollar (Tala) = 100 sene. Notes are in denominations of Tala100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of Tala1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 sene.
There are no restrictions on the import of local or foreign currency. Export of local currency is prohibited. Export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported.
Mon-Fri 0900-1500, some banks open Sat 0900-1200 and may have slightly longer opening hours.
Available at the airport or through banks. There are four banks in Samoa: ANZ Bank Samoa Ltd, the National Bank of Samoa , Samoa Commercial Bank and Westpac. These have ATMs at many of their branches throughout Samoa.
American Express, Cirrus, MasterCard and Visa are accepted on a limited basis. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Accepted in major hotels, banks and tourist shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
| City/Region | City/Area code | Followed by |
|---|---|---|
| Apia | 69 | + 3 digits |
| Savaii | 59 | + 3 digits |
| Upolu | 4 | + 4 digits |
Avoid dental treatment as the standards of care and hygiene cannot be guaranteed.
Limited supplies of medication are generally available in the larger pharmacies on the main Island
Blood supplies should be considered as unsafe
Health care facilities in Samoa are adequate for routine medical treatment, but are limited in range and availability. A national hospital is located in Apia and district hospitals are available on Savai'i and Upolu.
Recent medical and dental exams should ensure that the traveler is in good health. Carry appropriate health and accident insurance documents and copies of any important medical records. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and other medications as well as any necessary personal hygiene items, including a spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses if necessary. Drink only bottled beverages (including water) or beverages made with boiled water. Do not use ice cubes or eat raw seafood, rare meat or dairy products. Eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors. Swim only in well-maintained, chlorinated pools or ocean water known to be free from pollution. Wear clothing which reduces exposed skin and apply repellents containing DEET to remaining areas. Sleep in well-screened accommodations. Carry anti-diarrheal medication. Reduce problems related to sun exposure by using sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen lotions and lip protection.
AIDS occurs. Blood supply may not be adequately screened and/or single-use, disposable needles and syringes may be unavailable. When possible, travelers should defer medical treatment until reaching a facility where safety can be assured. Hazards to bathers include corals and jellyfish, poisonous fish, and sea snakes.
Hepatitis A: Consider active immunization with hepatitis A vaccine or passive immunization with immune globulin (IG) for all susceptible travelers. Especially consider choosing active immunization for persons planning to reside for a long period or for persons who take frequent short-term trips to risk areas. The importance of protection against hepatitis A increases as length of stay increases. It is particularly important for persons who will be living in or visiting rural areas, eating or drinking in settings of poor or uncertain sanitation, or who will have close contact with local persons (especially young children) in settings with poor sanitary conditions. Hepatitis B: Vaccination is advised for health care workers, persons anticipating direct contact with blood from or sexual contact with inhabitants, and persons planning extended stays of 6 months or greater (especially those who anticipate using local health care facilities, staying in rural areas, or having intimate contact with the local population). Typhoid: Vaccination should be considered for persons staying longer than 3 weeks, adventurous eaters, and those who will venture off the usual tourist routes into small cities, villages and rural areas. Importance of vaccination increases as access to reasonable medical care becomes limited. Contraindications depend on vaccine type. Note: All routine vaccines (such as DTP or Td, Hib, MMR, polio, varicella, influenza and pneumococcal) should be kept up-to-date as a matter of good health practice unrelated to travel.
Insect-borne illness: Dengue fever - occurs Dengue hemorrhagic fever - occurs Filariasis - prevalent Food-borne and water-borne illness: diseases such as the diarrheal disease, the typhoid fevers and helminthic infections are common. Hepatitis occurs. Biointoxication may occur from raw or cooked fish and shellfish. Other hazards: High levels of immunization coverage have reduced the incidence of diseases such as measles and diphtheria. Influenza risk extends throughout the year.
Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
No recent disease outbreaks
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| MedCen Hospital | P.O. Box 4500 Matautu-Uta Apia |
| Medcen Private Hospital | PO box 4500 Matautu-utu Apia |
Press: The main English-language newspapers are Newsline, The Samoa Observer and Savali.
TV: State-run television is operated by the Samoa Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).
Radio: The SBC runs mediumwave and FM stations. Other stations include Magik FM, K-Lite FM and Talofa FM.
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