To apply for citizenship under section 7A of the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982, you must meet 1 of the eligibility criteria.

Check you meet the criteria and have the required documents before you apply, then download and complete an application form.

Cost

The application fee is NZD$204.45.

If your application is successful, you will receive a full refund.

If you do not meet the requirements for citizenship, you can withdraw the application and get a partial refund of NZD$136.30.

Eligibility criteria

You must meet 1 of the following 4 eligibility criteria:

Eligibility criteria 1

You are eligible for New Zealand citizenship if you were born in Western Samoa on or after 13 May 1924 and before 1 January 1949.

Eligibility criteria 2

You are eligible for New Zealand citizenship if:

• you are female, and
• before 1 January 1949 you legally married someone who meets eligibility criteria 1.

Eligibility criteria 3

You are eligible for New Zealand citizenship if:

• your parent was born in Western Samoa on or after 13 May 1924 and before 1 January 1949, and
• you were born before 1 January 1949, and
• you were born in the British Empire.

The British Empire included United Kingdom dominions and colonies, but excluded protectorates and protected states. If you are unsure if you were born in the British Empire, contact us:

• Freephone: 0800 22 52 12 (New Zealand only)
• Phone: +64 9 339 0853 (outside New Zealand)
• Email: citizenship.samoa@dia.govt.nz

Eligibility criteria 4

You are eligible for New Zealand citizenship if:

• you are female, and
• before 1 January 1949 you legally married someone who meets eligibility criteria 3.

What you need to apply

You must provide:

• your birth certificate
• your passport, travel document, or state-issued ID
• 2 identical passport-style photos, verified by a witness.

All documents must be original or certified copies. If you provide a certified copy of a document, it must be certified by a New Zealand embassy or consulate, or authorised Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) counter staff.

Check if you need to include other documents

Applying under eligibility criteria 2

If you are applying due to marriage under eligibility criteria 2, you also need to provide your:

• marriage certificate
• spouse's birth certificate.

Applying under eligibility criteria 3

If you are applying under eligibility criteria 3, you also need to provide the birth certificate of your parent who was born in Samoa on or after 13 May 1924 and before 1 January 1949.

Applying under eligibility criteria 4

If you are applying under eligibility criteria 4, you also need to provide:

• your marriage certificate
• your spouse's birth certificate, and
• the birth certificate of your spouse's parent who was born in Samoa on or after 13 May 1924 and before 1 January 1949.

If you are adopted

If you are adopted, you must provide your original adoption documents – not copies.

If you have changed your legal name

If you have changed your legal name, you must provide evidence of the name change, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll.

Photo requirements

You must provide 2 identical passport-style photos. The photos need to be signed by your chosen witness.

The photos must be:

• of yourself
• less than 6 months old
• in colour
• clear, sharp and in focus.

The photos must show:

• your head and shoulders
• your face looking directly at the camera
• your eyes open and clearly visible — not covered by hair or sunglasses
• your face in a neutral expression, not smiling or frowning and with your mouth closed
• a plain and neutral background.

Prescription glasses are permitted as long as your eyes are still visible.

Do not staple, glue or paperclip photos to the application form as this may damage the photos.

Witness requirements

Your witness must:

• be aged 16 years or over
• not be your relative or partner
• not live at the same address as you
• have known you for more than 1 year, and
• have a New Zealand passport or have a job that is listed below.

If the witness does not have a New Zealand passport, they must be a:

• minister of religion
• teacher
• lawyer
• police officer, or
• registered medical professional.

On the back of 1 of your photos, they must:

• sign their own name
• write your full name, and
• write the date they signed the photo.

Apply

Download your form

This service is not available online – you need to download a form and apply in person or by post.

Download and complete the application form:

Application for New Zealand citizenship – Samoan (born before 1949) – English language (PDF 445KB)

Application for New Zealand citizenship – Samoan (born before 1949) – Samoan language (PDF 379KB)

Apply by post or in person

Apply by post

Send your form, photos, documents and payment in a tracked courier bag to:

Department of Internal Affairs
PO Box 10680
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

Apply in person

Meet with a staff member who:

• checks your application form
• accepts your application fee
• certifies your documents.

At a DIA counter

You can apply at our public counters in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Sydney and London. Contact us to make an appointment:

• Freephone: 0800 22 52 12 (New Zealand only)
• Phone: +64 9 339 0853 (outside New Zealand)
• Email: citizenship.samoa@dia.govt.nz

At the NZHC in Apia

You can apply in person at the New Zealand High Commission in Apia. You don't need to make an appointment.

Bring a credit or debit card – cash payments are not accepted.

New Zealand High Commission
Beach Road
Apia
Samoa

Phone: +685 21711

Email: nzhcapia@samoa.ws

After you apply

When you find out about your application

The Citizenship Office will send you a letter to let you know if your application has been approved.

Applications currently take around 30 working days, plus delivery.

Get your certificate and original documents

If you applied by post or at a DIA counter

The Citizenship Office will courier your citizenship certificate to you. We will return any original documents along with your certificate.

If you applied at the New Zealand High Commission

The Citizenship Office will send your citizenship certificate to the New Zealand High Commission.

Apply for a passport

Once you have received your citizenship certificate, you can apply for a New Zealand passport. This is a separate process.

NZ passports

Resources

Western Samoa Bill fact sheet – English (PDF 140KB)

Western Samoa Bill fact sheet – Samoan (PDF 140KB)

Eligibility chart – English (PDF 111KB)

Eligibility chart – Samoan (PDF 119KB)