An American Samoa birth certificate is issued by the territory’s Office of Vital Statistics and Records (OVSR) in Pago Pago, and you request a certified copy by mailing an application, a photo ID, and a money order to that office. The document proves identity, parentage, and age like any other birth record, but it also establishes something no state certificate does: the person named on it is a non-citizen U.S. national rather than a U.S. citizen. There is no online ordering system through the territorial government.
How to Request a Certified Copy
You need to supply enough identifying information for the OVSR to locate the record: the full name at birth, date of birth, place of birth, and both parents’ full names, including the mother’s maiden name. Include a copy of your photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. If you are requesting someone else’s record, include documentation of your relationship, such as a court order or marriage certificate.
Fees are listed inconsistently across federal references. The CDC’s vital records directory lists $5.00 for a copy and $7.00 for an amendment.1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – American Samoa The Social Security Administration’s reference guide lists $7.00 for a certified copy.2Social Security Administration. GN 00308.200 – American Samoa Vital Records Call the OVSR to confirm the current fee before you mail payment. Pay by money order made out to “Office of Vital Statistics/ASG.” Personal checks are not accepted.
Mail everything to:
American Samoa Government
Department of Homeland Security
Office of Vital Statistics
PO Box 6894
Pago Pago, AS 967991Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – American Samoa
In-person submission is available if you are in the territory. Everyone else uses mail. Send it certified with tracking; you are mailing identity documents into and out of the Pacific, and delivery to and from American Samoa runs longer than domestic mail within the continental United States. Allow several weeks at minimum, and expect additional time if the OVSR needs to verify your supporting documents.
What the Certificate Establishes About Legal Status
American Samoa is the only permanently inhabited U.S. territory where birth does not confer U.S. citizenship by statute. Federal law defines American Samoa and Swains Island as “outlying possessions of the United States,” and a person born there is a non-citizen U.S. national.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 US Code 1408 – Nationals but Not Citizens of the United States at Birth
That status carries most of the rights people associate with citizenship. You can live and work anywhere in the United States without a visa or immigration restriction. You can serve in the U.S. military and access most federal benefits. Non-citizen nationals are also eligible for competitive-service federal jobs on the same basis as U.S. citizens.4U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Employment FAQ – Do I Have to Be a US Citizen to Apply The practical limits are voting, which is generally not available in federal or state elections, and elected federal office, which is not open to non-citizen nationals.
A U.S. passport issued to a non-citizen national carries Endorsement 09 inside the book, stating that the bearer is a U.S. national and not a U.S. citizen. A passport card prints “U.S. National” on the front rather than “USA.”5U.S. Department of State. 8 FAM 505.2 – Passport Endorsements
Naturalizing as a U.S. Citizen
Non-citizen nationals can naturalize, and the process skips a step that immigrants have to take. You do not first become a lawful permanent resident. You file Form N-400 directly, and time in American Samoa or Swains Island counts toward the federal residency requirement.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form N-400 Instructions for Application for Naturalization7GovInfo. 8 US Code 1436 – Nationals but Not Citizens Residence Within Outlying Possessions
The core requirements:
- At least 18 years old when you file.
- Five years of continuous residence in the United States, which includes American Samoa.
- At least 30 months physically present in the United States during those five years.
- At least three months in the state or USCIS district where you file.
- Good moral character, civics knowledge, and English proficiency, on the same standards that apply to any naturalization applicant.
You do not need to relocate to a state to start the residency clock, but you do need to establish residency in a state or USCIS district before you file.
Correcting an Error on the Record
If a certificate contains an error such as a misspelled name or a wrong date, the person named can file an amendment with the Registrar of Vital Statistics. The filing requires two sworn statements: an affidavit from the person asserting the error and describing the correct information, and a supporting affidavit from a second person with knowledge of the correct facts.8American Samoa Bar Association. American Samoa Code 13.0530 – Amendment of Incorrect Birth, Death, or Marriage Record The Registrar may ask for additional evidence. Once approved, the amended certificate shows the corrected information and notes that the record was amended.
A substantive name change, one not tied to marriage or divorce, is not handled through this amendment process. It requires a court order from the High Court of American Samoa, which the OVSR then uses to update the record. The petition is filed under the High Court’s general jurisdiction (American Samoa has no dedicated name-change statute), the filing fee is $100.00, and notice of the hearing must be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least twice, with the first publication at least 30 days before the hearing.
Registering a Birth That Was Never Recorded
If a birth in American Samoa was never formally registered, the person, or a parent, guardian, or matai if the person is under 18, can apply for a delayed registration with the Registrar of Vital Statistics.9American Samoa Bar Association. American Samoa Code 13.0513 – Delayed Registration of Birth Application Form and Contents The application uses forms prescribed by the Registrar and must include enough affidavits and documentary evidence for the Registrar to verify that the birth occurred at the time and place claimed.
Applicants over 18 face extra identification requirements. Both the application and the certificate itself must include the applicant’s fingerprints, and passport-style signed photographs must be attached, with one photo kept in the application file and another affixed to the certificate.9American Samoa Bar Association. American Samoa Code 13.0513 – Delayed Registration of Birth Application Form and Contents
Building the evidence is often the hardest part when decades have passed. Early school records, census records, and medical records are useful. Affidavits from parents, a physician, or anyone present at the birth can supplement the documentary record. The Registrar decides whether the evidence is sufficient, so a stronger and more varied file improves the odds of approval.