The Government of Samoa, through the Samoa Bureau of Statistics, launched the National IDentification Policy, marking an important step toward establishing a secure and reliable National Identification System for Samoa.
The launch, held at Taumeasina Island Resort, was celebrated by key stakeholders involved in the project. As Samoa moves towards a more digitally connected society, the National ID Policy establishes the foundation of principles, standards and responsibilities to guide the secure biometric identity authentication of our nationals.
Consequently, supporting the service providers with trusted identity verification – reducing the ‘identity requirements’ burden on the Public when accessing their services.
The Policy is intended to support efficient public service delivery, encourage innovation within the private sector to improve service delivery and ensure that everyone can safely participate in Samoa’s growing digital economy.
The launch initiated the National ID Awareness Campaign to ensure that the Public is accurately informed and prepared for the upcoming Mass Registration in mid-2027.
Showcased on the day, included an informational video highlighting why registration is important in supporting inclusive and efficient public access to essential financial, health and government assistance, particularly during national emergencies or crises – promoting the message “𝐄 𝐓ā𝐮𝐚 𝐎𝐄, 𝐄 𝐓ā𝐮𝐚 𝐀’𝐔, 𝐄 𝐓Ā𝐔𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐔 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐀” for the National ID, simply meaning, you matter and your registration matters.
The newly published National ID webpages available at www.sbs.gov.ws/samoa national-id, on the Samoa Bureau of Statistics website were also showcased. The webpages serve as the central hub where the Public can access information, updates, resources and, most importantly, ask questions and receive responses about the National ID.
Planned activities include radio and television talks, informational videos, posters and banners focusing on who is eligible to register and where to register. These materials will be broadcast on government radio and television, displayed on digital screens and shared on the Samoa Bureau of Statistics social media platforms.
The Bureau intends to also make use of key public locations such as Fono Fa’avae offices, hospitals, markets, banks and government offices as well as special events such as career days, university open days, etc. to get the message across.
The Bureau will continue its awareness programmes during and after the upcoming Mass Registration. These programmes will ensure that the Public is properly informed and prepared for every stage of the process – from registration and issuance to use and eventual deactivation of their National ID.
The event marks an important milestone for the highly anticipated National ID initiative – strengthening public understanding of the role of digital identification in Samoa’s future.
For further information, please contact the Samoa Bureau of Statistics on 62000 or email nid@sbs.gov.ws.
