How much Sao Tome and Principe citizenship costs in 2026

7 min read · Published 6 October 2026

The cheapest citizenship-by-contribution programme in the world: from $90,000 for one and $95,000 for a family of up to 4. We count every fee, the cost for a family, the timeline and what you lose if refused.

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Key point	2026 figures
Contribution	$90,000 for one, $95,000 for a family of up to 4
Each further family member	plus $5,000
Submission fee	$5,000, non-refundable
Documents per person	~$750: certificate, passport, ID card
Time	3-6 months
Residence and language	not required
Previous citizenship	no renunciation required

Amounts checked: 2026-10-06

Since August 2025 Sao Tome and Principe has granted citizenship for a contribution to a government fund, and it is the cheapest programme of its kind: from $90,000 per applicant. A family of up to 4 pays $95,000, almost the same as one person.

But the contribution is not the whole bill. Added to it are the submission fee, a registration certificate, passport and ID card for each person, due diligence, translations and apostilles. Below are all cost items, the family calculation, the timeline by step and what happens if you are refused.

What the cost is made of

Cost item	Amount	Who pays
Contribution	from $90,000	main applicant
Submission fee	$5,000	once per application
Contribution for a family of up to 4	$95,000	once per application
Each further family member	$5,000	each family member beyond four
Certificate of registration as a citizen	$250	each family member
Passport	$350	each family member
National ID card	$150	each family member
Police certificates, translations, apostilles	at the issuing countries' rates	each adult

Government charges for one applicant come to about $95,750: the $90,000 contribution, the $5,000 submission fee and $750 for documents. For a family of four, from $103,000.

The contribution is paid only after approval in principle, once due diligence has been passed. The submission fee is paid with the application.

We will calculate online the full cost for your family: the contribution, fees for each member and due diligence.

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How much it costs for a family of 2, 3 and 4

Family	Minimum
Two adults	from $101,500
Two adults and a child	from $102,250
Two adults and two children	from $103,000

The application can include a spouse, children under 18, dependent children under 30 and dependent parents over 55. All receive citizenship together with the main applicant, each with their own passport. The fifth and every further family member adds $5,000 to the contribution and $750 for documents.

We will do the full calculation for your family, with due diligence, translations and support, in the chat.

What the cost does not include

police certificates from every country of citizenship and residence in the last 5 years;
translations into Portuguese or English and apostilles;
source-of-funds documents: statements, contracts, tax returns;
bank charges for transferring the contribution;
passport delivery;
the licensed programme agent's services and support.

Timeline by step

Step	Time
Preliminary check of the applicant and family	1-2 days
Collecting documents, translations, apostilles	from 2 weeks
Filing through an agent and due diligence	8-12 weeks
Approval in principle and payment of the contribution	up to 1 month
Registration certificate, passports and ID cards	about 1 month

The whole route usually takes 3-6 months. If due diligence asks for more documents, answer quickly: every delay pushes the decision back.

The contribution is paid after approval, the $5,000 fee up front

In the Sao Tome and Principe programme a refusal costs the submission fee and time, so everything depends on the file before filing: police certificates from every country of residence, source-of-funds papers for every transfer, the same spelling of names throughout. You cannot apply directly, only through a licensed programme agent. Murblz prepares the file, checks it against the due diligence requirements and follows the application until the whole family has passports.

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Is money refunded if you are refused

The $5,000 submission fee is not refunded on refusal or withdrawal. The contribution is paid only after approval in principle, so a refusal at the due diligence stage does not cost it.

Once paid, the contribution is not refunded. Refusals most often follow from an unproven source of funds, sanctions, a prison sentence of 3 years or more, or discrepancies between the forms and the due diligence findings.

Comparison with neighbouring programmes

Country	Route	Minimum for one	Time	Dual citizenship
Nauru	Climate resilience fund contribution	from $102,700	3-4 months	not set by law
Vanuatu	Government fund contribution under the DSP	from $135,000	Usually 1-3 months	allowed
Sierra Leone	Go-For-Gold contribution	from $100,000	60-90 days declared, 3-6 months in practice	allowed

Nauru costs the same for one person but more for a family and is stricter towards Russian citizens, Vanuatu costs more but is faster, and Sierra Leone is an African programme at a similar price. Sao Tome and Principe wins on the price for a family of up to 4 and on the fact that only North Korean citizens are barred.

Who can apply and who is refused

The applicant must be over 18, with a lawful source of funds and no prison sentence of 3 years or more. Every family member aged 16 or over is checked: identity, convictions in every country of residence, sanctions lists, work and business history.

The only nationality restriction is for citizens of North Korea. Russian citizens can apply, but their source-of-funds and sanctions checks are especially strict, so income papers are prepared for every transfer.

What the passport gives

A Sao Tome and Principe passport is a second citizenship without moving and without language requirements. Its visa-free list is shorter than those of the Caribbean programmes, so it is chosen as a backup document for the family. Citizenship by itself does not make you a tax resident: taxes are paid where you actually live.

The programme is new: it has run since August 2025, its first passport was issued in January 2026, and prices may be adjusted. Full conditions on the Sao Tome and Principe citizenship by investment page.

This topic in other countries

Citizenship cost in other countries:

More about the country:

All programmes and a family calculator - how much citizenship costs in different countries.

FAQ

How much does Sao Tome and Principe citizenship cost in 2026?

The contribution is $90,000 for one applicant and $95,000 for a family of up to 4, plus a $5,000 submission fee and about $750 per person for the certificate, passport and ID card. Government charges for one come to about $95,750.

How much does it cost for a family of four?

From $103,000 in government charges: the $95,000 contribution, the $5,000 submission fee and $3,000 for documents. Due diligence, translations and support are extra.

When is the contribution paid?

After approval in principle, once due diligence has been passed. The submission fee is paid with the application.

Is money refunded if you are refused?

The $5,000 submission fee is not refunded. A refusal at the due diligence stage does not cost the contribution, because it has not been paid yet; once paid, it is not refunded.

How long does it take?

Due diligence takes 8-12 weeks, the whole route to passports usually 3-6 months.

Can Russian citizens apply?

Yes, only North Korean citizens are barred, but the source-of-funds check is strict.

Who can be included in the application?

A spouse, children under 18, dependent children under 30 and dependent parents over 55.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

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