Permanent residence in Samoa under the Citizenship Investment Act

Samoa's investor route is set out in the Citizenship Investment Act 2015 and its 2015 regulations, administered by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL). Applications go to a Citizenship Investment Committee made up of the chief executives of MCIL, Finance, Customs and Revenue and the Prime Minister's ministry, together with the Governor of the Central Bank. Despite its name, the scheme does not confer citizenship on approval: the Committee recommends a permanent resident permit valid for three years, and citizenship can only be sought at the end of that period if the investment plan has been carried out. For that reason it is treated here as a permanent residence route rather than citizenship by investment.

The investor must be at least 18, have a minimum net worth of SAT 2.5 million in lawfully acquired, unencumbered assets, and show the ability and willingness to invest at least SAT 4 million in a qualifying sector within three years. Qualifying areas include leasing and developing government land, agricultural and fishery processing, tourism, ICT, renewable electricity generation, government development funds or prescribed charitable trusts, and services not reserved for Samoans under the foreign investment law. Before formal approval at least 70% of the investment sum is deposited in a Samoan fixed deposit account; once permanent residence is granted, funds may be drawn for the investment plan but at least 15% of the original deposit must remain. A temporary resident permit can be issued for business purposes while the application is pending. Since 2025 MCIL has stated that applicants with foreign government ties, including state-owned interests, are disqualified on national security grounds.

Residence obligations are light: at least 15 days in Samoa in each year of the permanent residence period. That is not enough on its own to make someone tax resident. Under the Income Tax Act 2012 an individual is resident if they have a home in Samoa or spend 183 days or more there in a 12-month period, and residents are taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 27%; there is no special regime for new residents. Families are covered as a unit: the spouse and unmarried children under 18 of the investor or spouse, including step-children and adopted children, are included, with separate government application and due-diligence fees per person.

Citizenship may be applied for within three months before the permanent resident permit expires, provided each family member has met the 15-day annual presence rule and the investment plan has been followed. After citizenship the investment must be retained for at least five years, although it may be replaced by another qualifying investment of at least SAT 1 million. Citizenship can be revoked if the plan is not carried out or the investment falls below the minimum. Outside the scheme, ordinary naturalisation requires five years of residence, and Samoa has permitted dual citizenship since 2004. In October 2025 the Samoa Chamber of Commerce proposed halving the threshold to SAT 2 million tied to job creation; no amendment bill had been passed as of October 2026. Separately, a Foreign Investment Amendment Bill, which would require foreign investors to hold a registration certificate before investing, passed its second reading in August 2026 and was referred to Parliament's Economic Committee.