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Permanent Resident Permit

SamoaLong-term residence

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Samoa Read the five questions ↓

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

The status is a Permanent Resident Permit to Samoa. Any person who considers they meet the established eligibility criteria may apply. Grants are limited by a small annual Government quota; once it is filled, unsuccessful applications go into a pool for the next quota, remain there for a maximum of 3 years and lapse if not successful in that period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The information sheet does not say that accumulated residence by itself leads to this status; residence is one assessment factor.

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

No fixed qualifying residence period is stated. 'Period of residence in Samoa' is one of the factors taken into account in the assessment, alongside age, employment history, professional qualifications/skills, Samoan language skills, planned activity, health, character, connections with Samoa and reference reports.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The information sheet states no minimum number of years of residence and no start date for counting residence.

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm which types of residence count towards the qualifying period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Searched the MPMC105 information sheet and form for which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all; the sheet lists 'Period of residence in Samoa' as an assessment factor but does not classify types of residence.

What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the absence and continuity rules for the qualifying period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Not established: the correction failed a second independent check (CAIXA_ERRADA: The >50%/12-month rules are conditions for keeping an existing PR permit (retention/loss = R5), not absence rules for accumulating qualifying residence; the value's own residual admits no pre-application absence rule exists.)

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

Applications are made on Form MPMC105 with original or certified copies of supporting documents and a nonrefundable fee, lodged at any of the listed offices. Fees: without a blood connection to Samoa, WST 2,000 for the principal applicant, spouse and dependants over 18 and WST 500 per dependant under 18; with a blood connection, WST 500 and WST 100 respectively. A police report is required for everyone over 18 covering each country of residence of over 1 year in the last 10 years. Particular weight is given to the economic and social benefit the applicant can bring. For permits granted for business or investment, the holder must pursue that purpose (or another activity assessed as in Samoa's interest) and the permit is conditional on continuing benefit to Samoa. Holders must remain in good health and good character and obey Samoan law; the applicant undertakes to leave Samoa if permanent residence is revoked.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No processing time, permit-document validity or renewal rule is stated.
  • Fees for lodging outside Samoa are set in local currency by the office of lodgement.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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