Sao Tome and Principe Citizenship by Investment

Sao Tome and Principe, an island nation in West Africa, officially launched its citizenship by investment program on August 1, 2025, when the new Citizenship Law entered into force. Formal acceptance of citizenship applications began in the first week of September. There is no interview or residency requirement for obtaining citizenship.

Passport Value

A passport of São Tomé and Príncipe provides visa-free access to 61 countries. Travel to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries that traditionally require visas for most nationalities will still require visas.

The program is designed for investors who value citizenship not only for travel purposes but also understand the broader advantages of dual citizenship, which go beyond mere mobility. These include tax restructuring, asset diversification, estate planning, business expansion opportunities, political risk mitigation, and protection of personal privacy.

Financial Requirements

Participation in the citizenship program requires an application fee of US$5,000 (regardless of the investor’s family size).

Upon receiving approval in principle, unmarried applicants must make a donation of US$90,000. Families of two to four persons must contribute US$95,000 in total, with an additional US$5,000 for each family member beyond the fourth.

Once citizenship is approved, further fees apply: US$350 for a passport, US$150 for a national ID card, and US$250 for a registration certificate per person.

Family Members

Eligible dependents include a spouse, unmarried dependent children under 30, and parents over the age of 55.

Adding family members at a later stage (if not included in the initial application) requires repayment of the application fee, plus US$10,000 for a spouse and US$5,000 for each additional dependent, subject to approval in principle. The fee for including new-born children is US$500.

Restrictions

São Tomé and Príncipe follows an inclusive approach to its citizenship policy. Russians and Iranians are eligible to apply, reflecting the country’s neutral international position. The only nationality subject to restrictions is North Korea.

Use of Funds

Donations are directed to the National Transformation Fund, which allocates resources to development projects in São Tomé and Príncipe. The first major project will focus on renewable energy infrastructure. Initial funding will be channelled into renewable energy, with subsequent financing for housing, education, and major socio-economic and infrastructure initiatives, including road development.

Timeframe

Applications are processed within six weeks. When adding the time required to collect and prepare documents, as well as the time for passport issuance and delivery, the entire process can typically be completed in approximately three months.

Professional Services

Elma Capital is duly licensed to provide services for acquiring citizenship of São Tomé and Príncipe by investment. If you are interested in obtaining this citizenship, please contact us today for further information. We also work with other citizenship programs, including El Salvador, Türkiye, Vanuatu, the Caribbean Five, and Sierra Leone.