Samoan nationality law

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Samoan nationality law explained

Samoan nationality is governed by the 1962 Constitution (as amended), the Citizenship Act 2004 (with later revisions), the Citizenship Investment Act 2015, and international agreements. It sets out who is a Samoan national and how to become one.

Ways to be a Samoan

- By birth:
- Born in Samoa, you are a Samoan national.
- Born abroad to Samoan parent(s) can be Samoan by descent.

- By naturalisation (regular path):
- You must have lived in Samoa for five years.
- You must be of good character, know Samoan civics, intend to live in Samoa, and have actually resided there during that time.
- You apply to the Minister in charge of immigration.

- By naturalisation (special fast-track):
- For people who have performed distinguished service or contributed to Samoa’s development through investment.
- Requirements include a minimum net worth of 2.5 million tala, an investment of 4 million tala, at least three years of residency, and at least 15 days of presence in Samoa each year.

- Other naturalisation possibilities exist for people with ties to Samoa or significant contributions that meet the law’s criteria.

Dual nationality

- Samoa allows dual nationality. Since 2004, Samoan citizens can hold another nationality as well.

Giving up or losing nationality

- Renunciation: You may renounce Samoan nationality if you are an adult and have another nationality.
- Denaturalisation: You can lose Samoan nationality if it was obtained by fraud or false representation, if you commit disloyal acts, or if a naturalised person lives abroad for too long; for those who gained nationality by investment, failing to maintain the required investment or net worth can also lead to denaturalisation.

Passing nationality to children

- Nationality can be passed to children from both mothers and fathers, and gender equality is recognised in modern law.

Historical note (simplified)

- Samoa’s current system moved away from earlier colonial arrangements. The country joined the Commonwealth in 1980, which expanded certain rights for Samoan nationals in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.

This is a concise overview of how Samoan nationality works today. For full details, the Citizenship Act 2004 (and updates) and the Citizenship Investment Act 2015 outline all requirements and procedures.