The officially recognized legal identity in Samoa is birth registration, which provides an individual with a birth certificate. [1]A birth certificate can also serve as proof of Samoan citizenship. [2]UNICEF estimates Samoa’s birth registration rate at around 60% of the total population, making it the lowest birth registration rate in the Pacific. [3]Due to the social stigma placed on young and unwed mothers in Samoa, birth registration for children born to mothers in this situation is often not done or it is done by another person in order to avoid stigma, making the registration for the child inaccurate. [4]In 2016, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) also noted in its concluding observations that birth registration in rural areas needs improvement. [5]Despite being responsible for managing the registry of births, staff of the Samoa Bureau of Statistics have stated that do not clearly understand the exact roles and responsibilities of the birth registration process. [6]Birth registration in Samoa is also characterized by the limited scope of relevant national legislation and largely unsuccessful implementation. [7]Gaps in the legislation on birth registration, like Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act (2002), include the lack of a mandate to issue a birth certificate upon registration, lack of provisions for late registration and insufficient information required for registration.[8]Samoa also contradicts UN principles on CRVS by imposing a fee for issuing birth certificates. [9]
While it is yet to be rolled out, in February 2024, Samoa’s digital ID system as well as its main legislative framework were envisioned under the National Digital Identification Act (the Act) as a part of the country’s CRVS framework. [10]This framework will introduce a unique 10-digit identification number (SDIN) and create a national identity database which will store biometric information of applicants. [11]The objectives of the National Digital Identification System (NDIDS), outlined in the Act, are “to provide a modern national digital identification system for the registration of a citizen and a resident of Samoa; (b) to provide a digital, unique, legally recognised identity for a registered person; and (c) to provide a function for authentication of a registered person, while protecting personal data associated with the system.” [12]
In April 2023, Samoa sought out firms to “to provide implementation support and advisory services” such as “technical advisory services on system design and architecture” as well as “vendor oversight and quality assurance for security risk, data protection, [and] digital authentication services delivery for the NDIDS.” [13]The World Bank granted $21 million to Samoa in October 2024 to establish this digital ID system and modernize its existing CRVS system. [14]According to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics, the agency has identified the 2031 Census as a realistic target to finalize the national digital ID process. [15]
In the next ten years, they aim to integrate the system into their legal identity framework as a foundational and functional ID as press releases have stated that the NDIDS will ideally provide a new and primary authoritative foundation for the registration of Samoan populations as well as a “function for authenticating [an individual’s identity] in connection with the provision of services with them”. [16]It is unclear as of May 2023 which services may be attached to the NDIDS.
Those eligible for NDIDS will include Samoan citizens and residents of Samoa. [17]In order to register, one must present proof of identity, including a birth certificate or passport. [18]In absence of these documents, one may also submit “any other official document issued by an appropriate authority in Samoa or overseas as evidence of a person’s identity”. [19]Non-citizens and non-residents cannot apply for the NDIDS, as it is stated in the Act that “no SDIN is assigned to non-citizen and non-resident of Samoa”. [20]Under the Immigration Act (2004), one may apply for permanent residence if they are in good health, character, and standing, and observe the laws of Samoa, among other requirements up to Cabinet and Minister discretion. [21]This provision suggests that it would be possible for a stateless person to apply for permanent residence in Samoa. Therefore, stateless persons may not be excluded from the NDIDS, however, they would first need to gain permanent residency, which could present administrative barriers. There have been no official announcements that the digital ID in Samoa will be mandatory.
