Promote:
Invest in American Samoa
A short guide for companies expanding into American Samoa: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. American Samoa at a glance
PopulationEstimate
46,029
American Samoa had 46,029 people in 2025, by the World Bank's count.
Source: World Bank WDI, American Samoa population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
1.0%
Consumer prices were 1.0 percent higher in the first quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, computed from the Department of Commerce index on the Pacific Data Hub.
Source: Pacific Data Hub, American Samoa consumer prices, quarterly (opens in a new tab) · as of first quarter 2026
The currency is the United States dollar.
Source: American Samoa Department of Commerce, Statistical Yearbook 2023 and 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Department of Commerce runs Invest American Samoa and licenses businesses; no separate investment promotion agency was found.
Source: American Samoa Department of Commerce, Invest American Samoa page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
No one-stop shop for investors was found. Business licenses go through the Department of Commerce, and late renewal fees are paid at the Department of Treasury.
Source: American Samoa Department of Commerce, business license page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
The Administrative Code's business license rules list no reserved sectors, and the statute behind them was not read.
Source: American Samoa Administrative Code 2024, Title 27 Commerce Code (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
The Administrative Code names one industrial park, the American Samoa Industrial Park at Tafuna; no official list of free zones was found.
Source: American Samoa Administrative Code 2024, Title 27 Commerce Code (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in American Samoa
- Apply for a business license; a non-American Samoan applicant appears before the Territorial Planning Commission after the Governor refers the application.American Samoa Department of CommerceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: American Samoa Administrative Code 2024, Title 27 Commerce Code (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
- Register the corporation with the Territorial Registrar, the territory's required registry for corporations.Territorial Registrar's Office, Department of Legal AffairsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs, Territorial Registrar page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- File territorial taxes with the Department of Treasury's Tax Office, and pay any late license renewal fee there.Department of TreasuryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: American Samoa Government home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- File Form P-45 for employment-based residency before staff enter the territory, and post the bond set for their country after approval.Immigration Office, Department of Legal AffairsApplication US$75; identification card US$30; bond set by countryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs, residency petitions page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Apply for land use and building permits with the Department of Commerce; communal land needs the matai's signature and village verification.American Samoa Department of CommerceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: American Samoa Department of Commerce, land use permit application form (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Ask the Industrial Park Commission about space in the Tafuna industrial park if the project is manufacturing.Industrial Park CommissionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: American Samoa Administrative Code 2024, Title 27 Commerce Code (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with ASEDA and ASG Customs. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Economic development authority
ASEDA
American Samoa Economic Development Authority
Promotes economic development with the private sector, with a board drawn from the Governor's office and several departments.
Visit ASEDA (opens in a new tab)Source: American Samoa Government, ASEDA page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration and registry department
Legal Affairs
American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs
Issues residency permits through its Immigration Office and keeps the registry of corporations, land instruments and matai titles.
Visit Legal Affairs (opens in a new tab)Source: American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs home page, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Find finance
Territorial development bank
DBAS
Development Bank of American Samoa
Offers business loans, including a commercial loan and an economic development revolving loan fund.
Visit DBAS (opens in a new tab)Source: Development Bank of American Samoa home page, August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Authentication and records office
Secretary of American Samoa
Office of the Secretary of American Samoa
Issues apostilles, authentications and certificates of good standing for corporations, and publishes the territory's administrative code and rules.
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Territorial customs service
ASG Customs
Runs a pilot online platform for import entries, excise tax estimates and document uploads.
Visit ASG Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: ASG Customs, About the Pilot, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Federal customs agency
CBP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Receives goods entering the United States and issues the form and rules for duty-free entry of American Samoa products.
Visit CBP (opens in a new tab)Source: CBP Form 3229, Insular Possession Certificate of Origin, July 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs department
Treasury
Department of Treasury
Collects territorial taxes through its Tax Office and late business license fees, and runs the ASG Customs pilot.
Visit Treasury (opens in a new tab)Source: American Samoa Department of Commerce, business license page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Port and airport authority
Port Administration
American Samoa Department of Port Administration
Manages the seaports and airports, harbor movement requests and cargo handling services.
5. Worth knowing
Logistics and border performance
The draft strategy lists inadequate air transportation as a weakness (53.8 percent of surveyed stakeholders) and names the aging main wharf and airport terminal.
What to do: Confirm sailing and flight schedules with the Department of Port Administration before you commit delivery dates.
Sources: American Samoa Department of Commerce, draft CEDS 2026-2031 (opens in a new tab); American Samoa Department of Port Administration home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Dated economic data
BEA's latest GDP release for American Samoa covers 2022, and its page lists the next release as to be determined.
What to do: Quote the year with every economic figure you use.
Sources: BEA, GDP for American Samoa page, next release undated (opens in a new tab); BEA, GDP for American Samoa, 2022, October 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Licensing review
A non-American Samoan applicant appears before the Territorial Planning Commission, and the Governor may reverse a positive recommendation.
What to do: Ask the Department of Commerce for the review steps and timing before you commit funds.
Sources: American Samoa Administrative Code 2024, Title 27 Commerce Code (opens in a new tab); American Samoa Department of Commerce, business license page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Banking access
The draft strategy says Bank of Hawaii and ANZ left and Territorial Bank of American Samoa, not FDIC-insured, remains; a 2023 rule sets capital requirements for uninsured banks.
What to do: Confirm deposit insurance and payment services with your bank before you set up project finance.
Sources: American Samoa Department of Commerce, draft CEDS 2026-2031 (opens in a new tab); Secretary of American Samoa, rules list, to 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 2 more
Communal land
Communal land needs the matai's signed permission and verification by the village pulenu'u and the Office of Samoan Affairs.
What to do: Confirm who owns the land and holds the matai title before you sign any lease.
Source: American Samoa Department of Commerce, land use permit application form (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Labor costs
Under the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 as amended, minimum wages rise 40 cents every three years toward US$7.25; tuna canning is US$6.36 and retailing US$6.20 for 2024–2027.
What to do: Check the rate for your industry class before you budget payroll.
Source: American Samoa Department of Commerce, Statistical Yearbook 2023 and 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare American Samoa with other countriesSet American Samoa beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your American Samoa project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Free to start. No card required.
Already have an account? Sign in
Promote:American Samoa is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.