Samoa is a common law jurisdiction working in English, and its mission in New York performs consular certification. Between the two, preparing documents for Samoa is considerably easier than for most small states in this directory.
Quick facts
Ask the institution in Apia what it wants before spending anything. Whether an apostille satisfies it or consular certification is required is a question only they can answer, and it decides the whole route.
The chain
| Step | Who does it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notarisation | U.S. notary public | For private documents |
| State certification | Secretary of State | Of the issuing state |
| Federal authentication | U.S. Department of State | Where required |
| Consular certification | The mission in New York | Where required |
| Translation | Not applicable | English is official |
Samoan documents travelling the other way are certified in Apia, which generally requires a relative to attend.
How to prepare a document
- Ask the receiving institution in Samoa exactly what it requires.
- Order a certified copy, or have the private document notarised.
- Obtain the state certification, and the federal one where needed.
- Ask the mission about its step and the fee.
- Send tracked and keep copies.
- Allow for slow postage across the Pacific.
Required documents
- Original document with the certifications attached.
- Copy of your identification.
- Payment in the accepted form.
- Prepaid tracked return envelope.
What the mission does
It handles passports and travel documents, provides consular and immigration services to Samoans in the United States and Canada, certifies documents, and represents Samoa at the United Nations and to both governments.
Additional notes
A real consular service
Unusual for a permanent mission, and a genuine advantage over most Pacific states covered here.
English throughout
No translation in either direction, which keeps costs down.
Order two copies
Postage across the Pacific is slow and expensive.
Never certify a photocopy
The certification attaches to an original or a certified copy from the record keeper.