The national business community in Samoa has called on the government to reduce the entry cost of its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) initiative from SAT$4 million (around US$1.42 million) to SAT$2 million (approximately US$710,000). The Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) argues that the current amount makes the country uncompetitive compared to similar programs worldwide, according to reporting by the Samoa Observer.
Modest Interest from Investors
The chamber’s proposal was included in a draft policy document submitted to officials currently reviewing the performance of the existing CBI scheme, which was introduced under the Citizenship Investment Act of 2015. Since its creation, the program has generated only modest interest from investors.
In its recommendations, the SCCI links the proposed reduction to specific employment and development targets. Under the new structure, a SAT$2 million contribution would need to result in “the creation of either 15 skilled jobs or 50 total positions,” depending on the nature of the business activity.
The chamber also suggests that roughly 70% of approved investments should be directed toward active commercial projects rather than passive financial holdings. According to the draft, bond purchases and similar options “offer minimal long-term economic benefit” to Samoa’s domestic economy.
To enact these changes, lawmakers would need to amend the 2015 Citizenship Investment Act through a full parliamentary process, which could take significant time to complete.
Current Version of Samoa Citizenship by Investment Program
At present, eligibility rules stipulate that an applicant must possess a personal net worth of at least SAT$2.5 million (about US$907,000) and invest in one or more of seven approved economic areas: tourism, agriculture processing, fisheries, renewable energy, information technology, government land development, and contributions to a national development fund.
Approved participants must hold permanent resident status for a minimum of three years before applying for citizenship. During this period, they are required to spend at least 15 days per year in Samoa and maintain 15 percent of their original investment in a fixed deposit account.
Permanent residence applications are usually processed within three months. After completing the three-year term, investors must submit their citizenship application no later than three months before the residence permit expires.
Samoan passports currently occupy the 42nd position worldwide, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 129 destinations, including EU member countries, the United Kingdom, and electronic travel authorization eligibility for Canada.
Foreign-State Connections Result in Immediate Disqualification
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labour (MCIL) has reaffirmed that any investor with links to foreign governments will be automatically disqualified. Acting CEO Fuimaono Christopher Smith stated that holdings or influence by foreign state entities are treated as national security concerns and lead to immediate rejection.
Conclusions
In practice, Samoa’s citizenship-by-investment option functions as an indirect route rather than a fast-track passport program. Citizenship becomes available only after three years of residence status. Given its relatively high cost and multi-step process, experts at Elma Capital consider the Samoan option commercially unattractive — even if future amendments make it somewhat more affordable.
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