Trans Resource Navigator

American Samoa

ID documents
Restrictive
Care
Mixed
Shield lawA state law that protects patients and providers of gender-affirming care from investigations, subpoenas, or extradition attempts by states that ban that care.
No

American Samoa has no name change statute.

More about American Samoa

The High Court grants name changes under common law after newspaper publication and notice to your matai and immediate family. There is no written procedure for changing the sex marker on a birth certificate or driver's license. A 2004 High Court decision held that the Registrar may not amend a birth certificate for a later name change, and its reasoning suggests sex marker changes would also be refused. No law bans gender-affirming care, but local access is very limited, and national telehealth services do not serve the territory.

This state’s pages are drafts written from official sources and not yet checked by a person. What this means

Your documents, in order

Most people go in this order, because each office checks the one before it. On every document, updating your name and changing your gender marker are separate questions with separate answers.

  1. Legal name changeState court
    Name
    LimitedNewspaper notice required, court hearing required
  2. Social SecurityFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  3. Driver's license / state IDAmerican Samoa DMV
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    UnclearNo written policy; see details
  4. US passportFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  5. Birth certificateOnly if born in American Samoa
    Name
    UnclearNo clear rule; see details
    Gender marker
    UnclearNo written policy; see details

Born somewhere other than American Samoa? Your birth certificate follows the state where you were born. Choose your birth state

Gender-affirming care

Adults
Allowed
Under 18
Allowed
Gender-affirming care is legal in American Samoa for adults and minors, and no territorial law bans it.Find clinics, health centers, telehealth, and ways to pay

Statewide organizations

  • High Court of American Samoa[3]

    Hears name change petitions. There is no official form, so petitions are drafted by the petitioner or a lawyer. Mail to P.O. Box 309, Pago Pago, AS 96799.

    • Cost varies
    • Community reported

  • Trans Lifeline[4]

    Peer support hotline run by and for trans people, plus microgrants for name and gender marker changes.

    • Free
    877-565-8860
Sources for this page (4)

Sources

4 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.

  1. In re Petition to Change Name of Tia'i Mase, 9 Am. Samoa 3d 125 (High Court 2004)Caselaw Access Project, Court. accessed
    “Although Mase may change his legal name, absent fraudulent purpose and/or infringement on the rights of others, he may not amend his original birth certificate unless he can show improper recordation of his name at the time the original birth certificate was created.”
  2. American Samoa equality profileMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  3. American Samoa Identity DocumentsAdvocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
  4. Trans LifelineTrans Lifeline, Organization. accessed