Samoa

Citizenship Investment Program

Samoa's Citizenship Investment Program offers foreign nationals a pathway to Samoan citizenship through qualifying capital investment in the country's economy. Established under the Citizenship Investment Act 2015 and the Citizenship Investment Regulations 2016, the program has been in force since January 2017. It is administered by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) through the Citizenship Investment Committee. The program follows a phased approach: investors first receive a temporary resident permit, then a three-year permanent resident permit, and finally become eligible to apply for citizenship — a minimum three-year pathway from permanent residency. Samoa permits dual citizenship following constitutional amendments in 2004.

• Citizens of any country may apply
• Minimum net worth of WST 2.5 million (approximately USD 907,000) at the time of application
• Minimum investment of WST 4 million (approximately USD 1.4–1.5 million) in qualifying sectors defined in the Schedule to the Act (sectors not on the Reserved List under the Foreign Investment Act 2000)
• At least 70% of the investment amount must be deposited in a fixed deposit account in a Samoan bank before the application is examined
• During the permanent residency phase, at least 15% of the original investment must be maintained in the fixed deposit account
• Physical presence of at least 15 days per year in Samoa throughout the three-year permanent residency period
• Comprehensive due diligence check, including police clearance from all countries of citizenship or permanent residence for the preceding 5 years
• Full medical examination for the investor and all included family members
• No specific educational or professional qualifications required

• Investment plan for qualifying sectors
• Names and birth certificates of all family members
• Proof of net worth of current businesses and assets
• Audited financial statements for the last 3 financial years for any business in which the investor held a directorship or senior management role
• Police clearance from all countries of citizenship or permanent residence for the last 5 years (investor and all family members)
• Doctor's reports on full medical examinations (investor and all family members)
• Passport copies for investor and all family members
• Proof of fixed deposit of at least 70% of the investment amount in a Samoan bank account

Upon committee approval, a temporary resident permit is issued while the permanent residence application is processed. A three-year permanent resident permit is then granted. The window to apply for citizenship opens 3 months before the permanent resident permit expires; MCIL provides written notification at least 6 months before the deadline. Citizenship, once granted, is permanent. The standard Samoan residency pathway requires 5 years of permanent residence before citizenship eligibility, making the investment program significantly faster.

Spouse and dependent children may be included in the main application. Elderly parents and grandparents over 65 are also eligible. Each family member undergoes due diligence checks and a full medical examination. Due diligence fees are USD 7,500 for the investor and spouse combined, and USD 1,750 per child under 18. All family members must also meet the 15-day annual physical presence requirement in Samoa during the permanent residency period.

Samoa does not levy tax on foreign-sourced income. There is no capital gains tax or inheritance tax. Corporate tax rates apply to businesses registered in Samoa. This makes the program potentially attractive for investors with significant offshore income or assets.

Applications must be submitted in person to the Industry Development and Investment Promotion division of MCIL, which serves as the secretariat of the Citizenship Investment Committee. The Committee will only examine an application if:

1. The application and due diligence fees have been paid in full (USD 7,500 for investor and spouse; USD 1,750 per child under 18)
2. Proof of the fixed deposit account with at least 70% of the investment amount has been provided
3. The due diligence check report has been received

The Citizenship Investment Committee is chaired by the CEO of MCIL and includes the CEOs of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Samoa. Processing time for the residency application is approximately 3–6 months. After approval, the investor must enter Samoa and begin implementing the approved investment plan. Citizenship eligibility is reached after three years of permanent residency.

Investments must be in sectors listed in the Schedule to the Citizenship Investment Act 2015 and must not fall on the Reserved List under the Foreign Investment Act 2000. A ban on applicants with foreign government ties has been implemented. The investment must be maintained and comply with the approved investment plan throughout the permanent residency period.

Despite being legally in force since 2017, the program has had minimal uptake — only two applications were received between 2017 and 2020, neither of which was completed. In 2023, the responsible minister acknowledged the program had "never been used once." As of late 2025, the Samoa Chamber of Commerce proposed reducing the minimum investment threshold from WST 4 million to WST 2 million, tied to job creation requirements. The government was reviewing the program's policy framework.

Links

• https://www.ag.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Citizenship-Investment-Act-2015.pdf
• https://mcil.gov.ws/?page_id=2879
• https://www.businessregistries.gov.ws/companies/how-to-register-a-company/foreign-investment-reservedrestricted-activities/

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