Samoa photo specifications
Photo sizes and rules for 2 documents issued in Samoa, taken from the issuing authorities and linked to their official pages.
At a glance
Samoan passports are issued by Samoa Immigration and need two printed photos, sized 45mm X 35mm (35 x 45 mm) on the form handled in New Zealand, with one endorsed on the back as a true likeness. Visitors get a free 90-day permit on arrival with no photo. Longer permits use form MPMC100, which asks for 2 recent passport-sized photographs.
Overview
Samoa Immigration, a division of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, issues Samoan passports and entry permits. The two documents work differently. A passport is applied for on paper at the Immigration Office in Apia, at its Savaii branch or at a Samoan mission, with two printed photos. An entry permit for a foreigner is mostly given on arrival, and only the permits you apply for with a form involve photographs.
Samoa publishes little about the photo itself. The only size on record is on the passport form handled by the Samoa Consulate General in New Zealand. The Immigration pages and the permit form ask for "passport" photos without a size, a background colour or a head rule. Each page in this guide says what is published and what is not, so you know where to ask the office before you print.
Photo specifications by document
Passports
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | 35 × 45 mm | — | No background colour is published in the… |
Visas and travel authorisations
| Document | Print size | Digital size | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | 35 × 45 mm | — | No background colour is published for permit… |
Frequently asked questions
The Samoa Consulate General's form says "Enclose two passport photos. (45mm X 35mm)", which is 35 mm wide and 45 mm high (1.38 x 1.77 in). The Immigration Office's own page asks for two photos without a size.
The Immigration Division of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, known as Samoa Immigration. Only Samoan citizens are eligible. Applications are lodged in Apia, on Savaii, at the Consulate General in Auckland or at other Samoan missions.
Not for the free 90-day Visitor Permit issued on arrival, whose entry requirements list no photograph. Temporary Resident Permits and longer visitor stays use form MPMC100, which asks for 2 recent passport-sized photographs per person.
No digital upload is described on the pages read. The passport form and the permit form both describe photos that are handed in or posted with a paper application.
Nearby countries
Other countries in Polynesia:
Official sources
- Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Passport Services mpmc.gov.ws. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Samoa Immigration, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Permits mpmc.gov.ws. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Samoa High Commission, Wellington. Samoa Passport Application Form samoa.org.nz. Checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this page
"Samoa photo specifications". WorldPhotoSpecs. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://worldphotospecs.org/samoa