Samoan Citizenship Bill passes into Law

26 November 2024

Samoan Citizenship Bill passes into Law

The Citizenship (Western Samoa) (Restoration) Amendment Bill has officially passed into law, enabling certain individuals whose New Zealand citizenship was removed under the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 to apply for citizenship.

This change applies to those born in Western Samoa between 13 May 1924 and 1 January 1949, and in some limited circumstances, to their wives and children.

The eligibility criteria for those where the right to citizenship has been restored was decided by Members of New Zealand Parliament. The law does not extend citizenship to the descendants of those affected by the 1982 Act, except those descendants born in the British Empire before 1 January 1949.

It is estimated that approximately 3,500 people may be eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship.
Individuals can apply directly to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) for their citizenship. A form is available on DIA’s website and should be mailed to DIA or lodged in person at one of DIA’s public counters or the New Zealand High Commission in Apia.

Successful applicants will have their application fee refunded.

New Zealand citizenship provides a number of privileges including the ability to live in New Zealand indefinitely and obtain a New Zealand passport which allows citizens to travel to and from New Zealand with ease.

While DIA expects a moderate increase in demand due to the passing of the Bill, it is fully prepared to process applications without impacting the processing times for other services.

For more information on eligibility and the application process, please visit www.govt.nz/citizenship-samoa-pre-1949

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26 Novema 2024

Pasia le Tulafono Tau Faaofi Sitiseni Samoa e avea aloaia ma Tulafono

Ua pasia le Tulafono Tau Faaofi Sitiseni (Samoa i Sisifo) (Toe Faafoi), e avea aloaia ma tulafono, e mafai ai e nisi o tagata taitoatasi na aveesea sitiseni Niu Sila i lalo o le Tulafono Sitiseni 1982 (Samoa i Sisifo) ona fai se talosaga mo se sitiseni.

E faatatau le suiga ua faia nei mo ç na fananau mai i totonu o Samoa i Sisifo mai le va o le aso 13 Me 1924 e tau i le aso 1 Ianuari 1949, ma e iai tulaga faatapulaaina, mo a latou avâ ma fanau.

O tulaga e agavaa ai mo i latou e iai le aiatatau e toe faafoi atu ai le Sitiseni na faia e Sui o le Palemene o Niu Sila. E lç o faalauaiteleina le maua o sitiseni i suli o ç na aafia i le Tulafono 1982, se‘i vagana suli na fananau mai i le vaitaimi o le pulega Malo o Peretania a o le i aulia le aso 1 Ianuari 1949.

E tusa ma le 3,500 tagata ua fuafuaina e ono agavaa mo le faia o se talosaga mo le sitiseni Niu Sila.

E mafai e tagata taitoatasi na tuuina sa‘o atu se talosaga mo se sitiseni i le Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). E maua pepa talosaga i le upegatafailagi DIA ma e tatau ona lafo sa‘o i le meli a le DIA po o lou susû ane i le ofisa a le DIA po o le New Zealand High Commission i Apia.

E toe faafoi atu le totogifuapau mo le talosaga mo i latou ua faamanuiaina talosaga.

E tele faamanuiaga i le maua ai o le sitiseni Niu Sila e aofia ai le mafai ona e nofo i Niu Sila mo se vaitaimi e lç faatapulaaina ma maua se tusifolau Niu Sila e faafaigofie ai femalagaiga i Niu Sila.

Ua lava tapena le DIA mo mau talosaga ma faafesili talu ona pasia le Tulafono Tau Faaofi, ma o le a faagaioia talosaga e aunoa ma le faalavelavea o faagasologa masani mo isi auaunaga.

Mo nisi faamatalaga i tulaga e agavaa ai ma le faagasologa o talosaga, faamolemole tagai i le www.govt.nz/citizenship-samoa-pre-1949

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Media contact:
DIA Media
+64 27 535 8639
media@dia.govt.nz