Primary forms of legal identity in American Samoa include a birth certificate and personal identification card.[1] In order to obtain an identification card, the applicant must provide the date and time of birth, the name of the father and mother, if known, and the sex of the applicant.[2] Based on these requirements, stateless persons would have access to identification cards; however, it is noted that the Registrar for Vital Statistics may request other documentation to prepare the identification card application form, which could cause barriers for stateless persons.[3] A birth certificate is required to file tax returns and access public benefits and social security in American Samoa.[4] The United States’ birth registration rate, which includes American Samoa, is 100%.[5]
No national Digital ID system currently exists within American Samoa or at the federal level in the United States. Digital ID currently exists on a state-by-state basis with only some states, such as Colorado, offering a form of digital identification.[6]
