São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment

How the programme works

The 2022 law allowed citizenship to be granted to foreigners for an investment or donation, and the 2025 decree set applicant categories, documents and the vetting procedure. A dedicated government unit runs the programme: it registers applications, checks due diligence and agrees decisions with the public prosecutor. Ordinary naturalisation conditions, 5 years of residence and Portuguese, do not apply to investors.

How much citizenship costs in 2026

Due diligence, passport issuance, translation and apostille, and our support are paid on top. The contribution is paid only after preliminary approval. A manager will calculate the total for your family in the chat.

Compare with all programs: second passport cost in 2026

Who can apply

• an applicant over 18;
• a clean reputation: a person sentenced to 3 or more years of imprisonment cannot be naturalised;
• a lawful source of funds and solvency;
• all family members aged 16+ pass checks.

As of 2026 the only nationality restriction applies to North Korean citizens; Russians and most other nationals can apply, but source of funds and sanctions checks are strict.

Documents

• passports of all applicants;
• police certificates for the last 5 years from countries of citizenship and residence;
• proof of residential address;
• a declaration and documents on the lawful source of funds: statements, contracts, tax returns;
• birth and marriage certificates for family members;
• photos and programme forms.

Documents are translated into Portuguese or English and apostilled, and filed via the agent and a diplomatic mission.

How the checks work

All applicants aged 16+ are checked: identity, background, criminal records in all countries of residence, sanctions lists, employment and business history and the source of the contribution. A decision usually comes in 1.5-2 months, then passport issuance takes about 4 more months, so the whole path from filing is about 6 months. Answers and documents must match, so we prepare the file to avoid questions from reviewers. If questions arise, the programme may request more documents, which should be answered quickly to avoid delays.

Family

The application can include a spouse, children, parents and grandparents. A family of up to 4 fits within the $95,000 contribution, with $5,000 added for each further member. All family members get citizenship at the same time as the main applicant, each with their own passport. Children born later can be registered as citizens by descent from a citizen parent.

Who is refused

• a sentence of 3 or more years of imprisonment;
• an unproven source of funds;
• an applicant or family member under sanctions;
• North Korean nationality;
• application details that conflict with the checks;
• outdated certificates or an incomplete file: police certificates must be recent on the filing date.

What the passport gives and taxes

A São Tomé and Príncipe passport is a second citizenship without relocating or giving up your previous passport. Its visa-free list is more modest than Caribbean programmes, so it is chosen as a backup document for the family. Citizenship by itself does not make you a tax resident of São Tomé and Príncipe: tax is paid where you actually live.

São Tomé and Príncipe or Nauru

For Russian citizens living in Russia, the São Tomé and Príncipe programme is more accessible than Nauru's. More on Nauru: Nauru citizenship.

São Tomé and Príncipe in brief

São Tomé and Príncipe is one of Africa's smallest states, two volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea, independent since 1975; the capital is the city of São Tomé on the island of the same name. The official language is Portuguese, and the country belongs to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. The national currency, the dobra, is pegged to the euro. Most new citizens under the programme do not live on the islands, so the passport serves as an additional document to your main citizenship.

Risks and what may change

• A new programme. It has run since August 2025, and rules and prices may be refined.
• Other countries' stance on investment passports is tightening, and visa-free lists may change.
• Banks closely check holders of investment passports.
• The contribution is not refunded once paid.
• An agent is mandatory: you cannot apply directly, so work only with a licensed programme agent and verify the fund's payment details.

Alternatives

• Nauru citizenship - a $90,000 contribution until end-2026.
• Vanuatu citizenship - also remote and fast.
• Guinea-Bissau citizenship - another African programme.
• Dominica citizenship - a long-established Caribbean programme.

What changed and what we rely on

São Tomé and Príncipe's citizenship by investment programme officially started in August 2025 under the 2022 law and 2025 decree, and the first passport was issued in January 2026. Sources: the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe and official programme materials; checked on 6 October 2026.

Why people look at this programme

How to get São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship: step by step

FAQ