Samoa Citizenship by Investment

Samoa launched its citizenship by investment scheme under Citizenship Investment Act and its Regulations 2016.  This scheme is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Samoa (MCIL). Applications must be submitted to the Citizenship Investment Committee. The Citizenship Investment scheme was officially launched on Tuesday 31st January 2017

Citizenship by Investment is the granting of citizenship status to an individual and immediate family members  upon a specified and quantifiable investment in Samoa.  This new CBI program will allow individuals and immediate family members an additional option to obtain Samoan Citizenship through investment.

Foreign investors and any family members are eligible to apply for Samoan Citizenship within three months before the expiry of the Permanent Resident Permit

Samoa  officially the Independent State of Samoa and, until 4 July 1997, known as Western Samoa, is a country consisting of two main islands Savai’i and Upolu with four smaller islands surrounding the landmasses. The capital city is Apia. After repeated efforts by the Samoan independence movement, the New Zealand Western Samoa Act 1961 of 24 November 1961 granted Samoa independence, effective on 1 January 1962,

Western Samoa (Samoa) is a member of commonwealth, has a population of 195,000 with a GDP of $1.1 billion. Samoa lies south of the equator, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean. The country’s currency is the Samoan tala, issued and regulated by the Central Bank of Samoa. Tourism is an expanding sector which now accounts for 25% of GDP and more than 100,000 tourists visit every year. Samoa is well known for Rugby and is a national sport.

Benefits

• Second citizenship and passport from a small, peaceful country
• Visa free travel to 129 countries including Canada, Europe, Russia, UK, Ireland
• Samoa has 40th best passport in the world as of 2018
• Family and children eligible for life time citizenship status
• Investors receive permanent residence, citizenship and passport.
• Minimal requirement to live in the country 15 days a year.
• Second passport may afford visa-free travel to jurisdictions not available to country of birth.
• Tax Planning for HNW individuals
• Citizenship and a passport from a small, peaceful country is considered by some as protection when travelling, especially in times of political unrest, civil war, terrorism and other situations.
• Citizenship is considered as alternative Investment in the future
• Dual citizenship allowed in Samoa

Qualifying Investments

All investors must prove minimum net worth of SAT$2.5m ($1 million)

Additional Fees

The following table outlines the fees as stipulated under the Citizenship Investment Regulations 2015 Subject SAT($)

All required fees MUST be paid to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour.

Brochure

Official Brochure – Download pdf

Application Steps

The Citizenship by Investment Committee will only be able to consider an application if;

• Fees for the application and due diligence have been paid in full;
• Proof of opening of the fixed deposit account and the payment into that account at least 70% (or instead a prescribed percentage of at least 50%) of the investment sum;
• Report on due diligence checks has been received

Permanent Residence and Citizenship

 Step 1: The investor and any family members may be issued with a Temporary Resident Permit when an application is lodged

Step 2: The investor and any family members are entitled to be granted a Permanent Resident Permit valid for three (3) years when an application is granted however this permit is subject to the following conditions;

a. Investor may withdraw any amount in the fixed deposit account to be used in accordance with the investment plan; but the investor must maintain at least 15% of the original sum deposited in the account.

b. the Committee may, during the 3 year period of permanent residence of the investor, continue to review and monitor the progress of the qualifying investment pursuant to the investment plan or guidelines or as the Committee considers fit.

Step 3: The investor and any family members are eligible to apply for Samoan Citizenship within three (3) months before the expiry of the Permanent Resident Permit, if the investor; a. (including a family member or members) has resided in Samoa for at least 15 days a year during the 3 year period of the permanent resident permit; and b. has complied with the investment plan.

The investor (and family members included in the application) will be reminded by the Secretariat (in writing) at least 6 months before expiration of the permanent resident permit of the due dates and eligibility period for submission of Samoan Citizenship application. However the investor may apply to extend his or her (including any family members) permanent resident permit if the permanent resident permit expires before the citizenship is granted.

Samoa Passport

Samoa has 40th best passport in the world as of 2018 with visa free travel to 129 countries including Canada, Europe, Russia, UK, Ireland

Samoa on Map