Pet import requirements for Samoa

Samoa at a glance

The detail

Samoa, of ficially the Independent State of Samoa and also known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands; two smaller, in habited islands; and several smaller, uninhabited islands, in cluding the…. Faleolo International Airport is the only airport allowing entry into Samoa. Puppies under 6 months of age must receive at least 2 doses at least 3 weeks apart with the second dose given at least 4 weeks before date of departure.

Import requirements

Puppies under 6 months of age must receive at least 2 doses at least 3 weeks apart with the second dose given at least 4 weeks before date of departure.

Pets may enter Samoa from the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, Tonga and the United States.

If your pet does not originate from a country listed above, then you can file the import permit application for consideration.

Contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for in formation about the process required to import animals into Samoa from your country.

Email: maf.info@maf.gov.ws

Import permit valid for one month and you must check box on import permit

Import permit valid to December each year and you must check box on import permit

Cats:

• Country of origin is free of Rabies
• Domiciled in country for 6 months – must have been a resident of the origin country for at least 6 months

• Must arrange transit permit with NZ if required - animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz

Identification and microchip

Microchip is required and must be present on all the vaccination certificates.

Rabies and vaccinations

If coming from a country considered to have rabies then a rabies vaccination is required. At age of 3 months, shall have that dog vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccine must be administered by a licensed veterinarian or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Upon receiving an in itial vaccination, a dog is considered protected for one year and an owner or keeper of that dog shall get a booster vaccination for that dog one year after the in itial vaccination and subsequent booster vaccinations at in tervals that do not exceed the in tervals recommended.

If coming from a country considered rabies free then a rabies vaccination is not required. EG New Zealand, Australia, Fiji.

Cats:

• Feline enteritis

Dogs:

• Canine distemper
• Infectious canine hepatitis
• Leptospirosis – both doses
• Canine parvovirus

Tests and treatments

A rabies titer test may be deemed necessary if entering Samoa from an unapproved country.

DOGS:

• Internal Parasite Treatment – treatment for tapeworm with an effective dose of Praziquantel within 21 days of departure
• Internal Parasite Treatment – treatment for in testinal roundworms with an effective producteg: Pyrantel pamoate within 4 days of departure
• External Parasite Treatment – treatment with a long acting to pical preparation with efficiency against ticks,fleas and lice within 4 days of departure

CATS:

• Internal Parasite Treatment – treatment for in ternal parasites with a registered drug within 4 days of departure
• External Parasite Treatment – treatment with an in secticide capable of killing ticks and lice within 4 days of departure

Health certificate and permits

Each live dog must comply with the following requirements:

• Within twenty-one (21) days of transport to Samoa, each dog must be treated for tapeworms with an effective dose of Praziquantel.
• Within four (4) days of transport to Samoa, each dog must be treated with a product known to be effective against in testinal roundworms, eg. Pyrantel pamoate.
• Within four (4) days of transport to Samoa each dog must be treated with a long acting to pical preparation with efficacy against ticks, fleas and lice.
• Each dog must have current vaccination status against the following diseases: Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, leptospirosis and canine parvovirus.
• The dog is showing no signs of in fectious or contagious diseases, and other contaminants.

Within four (4) days of departure, a Government Veterinarian must certify the following:

• The dog has complied with the above listed conditions.
• The Government Veterinarian must provide a signed and stamped International Animal Sanitary Certificate detailing all required treatments, doses used and dates of treatment.
• The dog certified must be identified as the same dog that is being exported to Samoa.

Each dog is subject to quarantine in spection upon arrival in Samoa.

An Import Permit is required and is valid for 1 month

Application

Form is very simple. When applying it is recommended to in clude Health record showing vaccination details.

Application for Permit

Quarantine

• No quarantine just subjected to in spection upon arrival.
• Non-compliance will result in treatment, re-export, or destruction at importers’ expense.

Restrictions and banned breeds

No listed for Samoa.

Customs, agents, and airports

Highly recommended

Faleolo International Airport is the only airport allowing entry into Samoa. Samoa’s only of ficial port of entry for in ternational yachts is the capital city Apia on Upolu island.

BY AIR: Protocol can be found here - On arrival at Faleolo International Airport, you will need to clear immigration and customs. More in formation can be found here at the Samoa Trade Portal - https://samoa.tradeportal.org/procedure/62?l=en.

Duty to prevent animal from being landed – (1) The owner, charterer, agent, master or captain of any conveyance arriving in Samoa shall:

(a) prevent any animal from being landed from such conveyance unless permitted by an authorized of ficer; and

(b) take reasonable measures to prevent the deliberate or accidental landing or release of any such animal; and

(c) comply with such conditions as the authorized of ficer determines; and

(d) if so required by an authorized of ficer, enter into a bond as specified in the regulations.

(2) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of subsection (1) commits an of fence.

(3) If the Chief Executive Officer believes there is a biosecurity risk associated with an animal landed in contravention of subsection (1), the Chief Executive Officer may order the destruction of the animal concerned.

BY SEA: Before your arrival into Apia, make sure you contact the Samoa Port Authority with at least two days’ notice to arrange your immigration, customs, health, and quarantine clearance when you enter Apia Harbor. All visitors on board your vessel must have a passport which is valid for at least 6 months beyond their in tended stay.

Visiting yachts must also complete a Master’s Declaration Form at least 24 hours before arrival where you’ll be asked to declare any restricted or prohibited biosecurity risk items in cluding food, plants and animal products.

You can arrange clearances by emailing portmaster@spasamoa.ws or spa@spasamoa.ws. One or two hours before entering the harbour, you should also contact the Apia Harbour Master on VHF Ch 16.

On weekends, clearance hours are normally only between 3pm and 5pm, and no clearance takes place in the evenings. There are also no fees for clearing into Samoa. You should keep in mind that if you’re approaching Samoa from American Samoa, you’ll be crossing the in ternational date line meaning you’ll lose one day and could in advertently arrive in Samoa on a weekend or public holiday.

You may be required to visit the Immigration office in Apia with your passport. Government of fices are normally open on weekdays, 9am to 5pm. International visitors’ permits are 60 days (30 days for citizens of American Samoa).

Upon leaving Samoa, you’ll need to sail back to Apia to obtain outward clearance from the customs office in central Apia.

Export notes

It is suggested to contact - https://www.apssamoa.ws/

For medical updates – Animal Protection Society - https://www.apssamoa.ws/

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Yes, a member country from the OCEANIA region. Please refer to CITES for more species-specific in formation.

Contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for in formation about the process required to import animals into Samoa for specific animal types outside of regular pets.

Email

maf.info@maf.gov.ws

Animal Welfare Regulations

It is suggested to contact - https://www.apssamoa.ws/

For medical updates – Animal Protection Society - https://www.apssamoa.ws/

Official contacts

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries

P.O. Box L 1861

Apia Samoa

Tel: +68 524-799 /+68 563-222 ext 746 or 747

Fax: +68 526-322

Email: presssecretariat@samoa.ws

& info@maf.gov.ws

Website

https://www.samoagovt.ws/contact/

Contact Form

Samoa Quarantine

PO Box 1874

Samoa

Tel: +68 520-924

Fax: +68 520-103

Email: aceo@samoaquarantine.gov.ws

Web: www.samoaquarantine.gov.ws

Current as of August 2023

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-08-19.

Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.

Other destinations: American Samoa · Australia · Cook Islands · all destinations