7 Mar 2007

Samoa to levy entry fee for American Samoa

1:35 pm on 7 March 2007

Samoa's Immigration department will soon impose a new cost of thirty US dollars for American Samoan citizens applying for permits to enter the country.

The American Samoan government last year imposed an charge of 40 US dollars for every Samoan applying for entry permits to visit the territory for just one month.

American Samoa also has a separate charge for entry permits for those visiting the territory for funerals or medical treatment.

But the chief executive officer heading the Immigration department in Apia, Auseuga'efa Va'asatia, says the new charge will only pay for one entry permit for all kinds of travel by American Samoans.

Auseuga'efa says it's hoped the change will simplify travel arrangements between the two Samoas.