Key Takeaways
- Government and registry incorporation fees form the base of your Samoa company cost before any professional charges are added.
- Non-resident owners typically pay for a registered agent and registered office, which add to government fees at setup.
- Share capital, stamp duty and the annual licence fee due at formation can shift the total you budget for the first year.
- Variables such as service level and structure explain why the all-in first-year cost differs between providers.
Understanding the Cost of Incorporating a Company in Samoa
The cost to incorporate a company in Samoa rests on two charges: a flat government fee paid to the regulator and the professional fee of a licensed trustee that you are required to engage. For the foreign owner, the practical takeaway is that you cannot file directly; a SIFA-licensed agent handles the formation, so the agent's package largely sets your total outlay.
The vehicle most non-residents use is the International Company (IC), formed under the International Companies Act 1988 and administered by the Samoa International Finance Authority (SIFA). This entity is exempt from income tax, capital gains tax, and stamp duties on income and instruments connected to non-resident owners, which is why it serves international trading, holding, and asset-protection structures.
This article sets out what each cost component means, how the government and agent fees combine, and which choices push the total up. It is written for foreign business owners and their advisers comparing the price of an offshore company in this Pacific jurisdiction against alternatives.
Government and Registry Incorporation Fees
The statutory incorporation fee for an International Company is USD 300, payable to SIFA regardless of the authorised share capital you elect. There is no minimum capital requirement, so the fee does not scale with how large a capital figure appears in your constitutional documents.
Two registries operate in the country, and the distinction matters for cost. SIFA is the operational registrar for offshore ICs, while the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (through its business registries division) handles domestic companies under the Companies Act 2001.
Incorporation is fast. An IC is typically registered within 24 hours once the trustee holds complete documents, and no separate express surcharge is associated with the offshore track because that turnaround is the standard.
SIFA publishes a fee schedule, but the detailed table is not always retrievable online. Verify the USD 300 figure against the current SIFA schedule, or ask your trustee to confirm it, before relying on it.
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Name Reservation and Registered Office Fees
A proposed name must clear approval at the registry before incorporation, and an approved name can be held for up to three months. The name must end with a word such as "Limited", "Ltd", "Incorporated", "Inc", "Corporation", or "Corp", in any language, and must not duplicate or resemble an existing or reserved name.
No standalone government fee for a name reservation is separately published; in practice the trustee folds the search and reservation into its formation fee. If you want the cost broken out, ask the agent directly.
Dual-language naming is available. Chinese characters and other foreign-language names may appear on the Certificate of Incorporation alongside the English name, and this option carries an additional agent fee rather than a government charge.
Every IC must keep a registered office in the country at the address of its licensed trust and management company. That address is not billed separately by the government; it is supplied by your agent and priced inside the registered-agent service described next.
Registered Agent and Professional Formation Fees
Incorporation here is intermediated. A SIFA-licensed trustee company must act as your resident agent or resident secretary and must provide the registered office, so you engage and pay this provider rather than the registry.
The agent's bundled package usually covers the government fees, one year of registered agent and registered office, basic secretarial work, and a set of corporate documents. Across publicly quoted providers, all-in first-year packages fall roughly in the USD 840 to USD 1,950 band, with the spread driven by the depth of services included.
Renewal in later years is a smaller, recurring agent fee plus the annual government licence charge. Because provider quotes shift over time, treat any figure you see online as indicative and obtain a current quote from a licensed trustee before committing.
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Share Capital, Stamp Duty and the Annual Licence Fee at Setup
There is no minimum share capital, and the standard authorised figure used in formation documents is USD 50,000. The minimum issued capital is a single share, and the authorised amount exists only for registration; you do not pay it up to the government, so there is no capital injection cost at setup. Shares may carry a par value, no par value, or a mix.
Alongside the incorporation fee, an IC pays an annual licence fee of USD 300. This is the main recurring government charge, and it is generally collected together with the incorporation fee at formation in the first year.
The licence fee is keyed to authorised share capital. The USD 300 rate applies at the standard capital level, and a higher authorised capital may move the company into a higher band; the specific tier thresholds are not published in the sources reviewed here, so confirm them against the SIFA schedule if you plan an unusually large capital figure.
You may pay the licence fee for 5, 10, or 20 years in advance, and SIFA offers discounts for doing so. The published rate cards do not state the exact discount percentages, so request them from your trustee.
Two further points reduce cost. ICs are exempt from stamp duty on share transfers and related instruments, so no stamp duty arises on formation. A company redomiciled into the jurisdiction pays a reduced annual licence fee of USD 100, regardless of its authorised capital.
What Makes the Total Cost Vary
The headline range is a starting point. Several choices move your actual figure, some adding government cost and others adding only agent fees.
| Choice | Effect on cost |
|---|---|
| High authorised share capital | May move the company into a higher annual government-fee band |
| Multi-year licence prepayment | Lowers the effective annual government cost over the term |
| Chinese or dual-language name | Adds an agent fee for the second name on the certificate |
| Nominee director or shareholder | Adds a variable annual agent fee per appointment |
| Shelf or ready-made company | Priced at a premium over a fresh incorporation |
| Notarisation or apostille of KYC | Charged in your home country, outside the Samoa fee structure |
| Regulated-activity licence | Separate government fee for banking, insurance, or licensed activities |
| Record-keeping outsourced to agent | Adds a fee for maintaining registers and minutes |
| Courier of original documents | Billed separately for physical delivery |
A few of these warrant a note for foreign owners. KYC documents (notarised passport and proof-of-residence copies for every director and shareholder) are mandatory, and the notarisation or apostille cost depends entirely on your jurisdiction. An IC may not trade within the country or carry on banking, insurance, or other regulated business without specific additional licences, each of which carries its own government fee beyond the standard USD 300.
Corporate records, minutes, and registers must be retained for at least seven years and may be held anywhere the directors choose. If you ask the agent to maintain them, that is an added line on the invoice.
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Typical All-In First-Year Cost
For a standard International Company with standard authorised capital, an English-only name, no nominees, and no banking service, the government portion is fixed: USD 300 incorporation plus USD 300 annual licence equals USD 600 in official charges in year one.
The professional layer sits on top. A baseline all-in first-year cost generally lands around USD 840 to USD 1,200, while enhanced packages adding nominee directors, a Chinese dual name, apostilled originals, or a banking introduction tend to run USD 1,500 to USD 1,950 or more.
Year two and beyond stay light. An IC has no annual return to file; it only maintains its agent, registered office, and pays the annual government renewal, so recurring cost is typically the USD 300 licence fee plus the agent's renewal charge. With no minimum paid-up capital and no stamp duty on formation or share transfers, there are no hidden capital or transfer costs to budget for.
Conclusion
Incorporating an International Company in this jurisdiction carries a predictable government cost of USD 600 in the first year, with the larger variable being the licensed trustee you are obliged to engage. For a straightforward structure, budget roughly USD 840 to USD 1,200 all-in, and expect that figure to rise only if you add nominees, dual-language naming, or banking support. The recurring cost is modest because no annual return is required, which makes the entity inexpensive to hold once formed. Confirm the live government fee and a current agent quote before you commit, since published figures move over time.
How Expanship Can Help Your Business in Samoa
Expanship works with SIFA-licensed trustees to form your International Company, confirm the current government and agent fees in advance, and present a single all-in cost before you proceed. The same engagement extends across the wider needs of a foreign-owned entity in the jurisdiction.
- Company incorporation and name approval for your International Company
- Licensed registered agent and registered office provision
- Tax registration and exemption status handling
- Ongoing compliance and annual licence renewals
- Accounting, bookkeeping, and seven-year record retention
- Banking introductions for non-resident owners
To request a fixed quote tailored to your structure, contact Expanship Samoa.
Frequently Asked Questions
The statutory incorporation fee for an International Company is USD 300, and a USD 300 annual licence fee applies in the same year, giving USD 600 in official charges in year one. Both are paid to SIFA and are usually collected together by your trustee at formation.
No. There is no minimum share capital, the standard authorised figure used is USD 50,000, and the minimum issued capital is one share. The authorised amount is for registration only and is not paid up to the government, so it adds no cash cost at setup.
An IC can only be formed through a SIFA-licensed trustee company, which also supplies your mandatory registered office and resident agent. All-in first-year packages from these providers typically run between roughly USD 840 and USD 1,950, depending on the services bundled.
Yes, but they are limited. An IC files no annual return, so recurring cost is generally the USD 300 government licence fee plus your agent's renewal fee. You may also prepay the licence for 5, 10, or 20 years at a discount.
No. International Companies are exempt from stamp duty, including on share transfers and related instruments, so no stamp-duty charge arises on formation.
Notarisation or apostille of passport and residence documents is charged in your home country and sits outside the Samoa fee structure. Nominee appointments, a Chinese dual-language name, regulated-activity licences, and courier delivery of original documents each add separately to the total.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the content, laws and regulations are subject to change, and the application of laws can vary widely based on specific facts and circumstances.
Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel tailored to their individual situation. Expanship and its authors disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the content of this article.
For specific advice regarding your business setup, compliance requirements, or any legal matters, please consult with qualified legal and tax professionals in the relevant jurisdiction.
