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Citizenship · Africa

São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment

Accepting applicationsFrom USD 90,000≈ €81k · £68k (at today's rate)

Discuss this programme Estimate Family Costs

A new African citizenship program, open since September 2025, based on a USD 90,000 donation for a single applicant.

Investment from: USD 90,000≈ €81k · £68k (at today's rate)
Processing: See the timeline
Family: See the family rules
Stay required: To confirm

Decision summary

What do you obtain?: Citizenship, granted directly by the government after approval.
What does your family invest?: USD 90,000 for a single applicant; USD 95,000 for a family of two to four.
What is additional?: USD 5,000 submission fee per application; USD 5,000 per additional dependant; after approval, USD 350 passport, USD 150 national ID and USD 250 registration certificate per person.
How long does it take?: About six weeks, as reported at launch.
Must you travel or live there?: Information pending verification
What is the main drawback?: Since 10 April 2026, applications from people who already hold three or more foreign nationalities are on hold.
Full wordingHide full wording
Since 10 April 2026, new applications from people who already hold three or more foreign nationalities are on hold: Nationality Law No. 07/2022 does not allow nationality to be granted to them, and a planned amendment had not yet been passed (Citizenship Investment Unit memorandum).Full details below
Family inclusion: Information pending verification
Program status: Operational

Overview

São Tomé and Príncipe's citizenship program took effect on 1 August 2025, and applications have been accepted since September 2025 through a Citizenship Investment Unit.

A single applicant donates USD 90,000 after approval in principle; a family of two to four pays USD 95,000 in total, plus USD 5,000 for each additional dependant.

The program is very new, so processing practice and travel benefits should be weighed carefully against more established options.

Passport strength

59destinations without arranging a visa in advance

Visa-free: 27
Visa on arrival: 29
eTA (online authorisation): 3
Visa required (applied for online): 43
Visa required: 124

Key destinations

Schengen areaVisa required
United KingdomVisa required (applied for online)
United StatesVisa required
CanadaVisa required
United Arab EmiratesVisa required (applied for online)
ChinaVisa required
JapanVisa required

Travel access data as of 22 Oct 2026. Entry rules change often; confirm before you travel. Compare every programme's passport

Who this program may not suit

Taken from the facts recorded on this page. It may not suit you if:

Your budget is below USD 90,000, the minimum recorded investment, before fees and costs.
Your current country does not allow dual citizenship, or takes yours away when you gain another. Check this before you apply.
Your nationality is excluded by the program's rules. Check your nationality

Investment pathways

Investment pathway: Non-refundable donation, paid after approval in principle.
Minimum investment: USD 90,000 for a single applicant; USD 95,000 for a family of two to four.

Checked against official programme sources

Application process

1Applications are filed through an agent licensed by the Citizenship Investment Unit, a Dubai-based public-private partnership operating under government oversight.
2The agent submits the application and documents with the USD 5,000 submission fee, which is the same whatever the family size.
3The unit runs due diligence and then sends the file to the government, which checks it through national authorities.
4After approval in principle, the applicant pays the donation: USD 90,000 for a single applicant or USD 95,000 for a family of two to four.
5The applicant then pays the per-person government fees, and the certificate of registration, national ID and passport are issued; the government set a six-week processing time at launch.

Steps and timings can change; your advisor confirms the current process before you apply.

Indicative timelines

Indicative processing timeframe: About six weeks, as reported at launch.

Checked against official programme sources

Investment and fees

Qualifying investment amounts and government fees are always shown separately. We do not publish single "total price" figures, as the total depends on family composition and circumstances.

Estimate for your family

Spouse

Children0

Parents0

Investment for your family: USD 90,000≈ €81,400 · £68,000 (at today's rate); Donation
Known total so far: USD 95,000≈ €86,000 · £71,800 (at today's rate); 3 cost items not yet included

Children are counted as 10 and parents as 60 unless you enter ages in the calculator. Full breakdown and ages

Qualifying investment

Donation (single applicant): USD 90,000≈ €81,400 · £68,000 (at today's rate)
Donation (family of two to four): USD 95,000≈ €86,000 · £71,800 (at today's rate)

Government & due diligence fees

Submission fee (per application): USD 5,000≈ €4,520 · £3,780 (at today's rate)

Estimated additional costs: USD 5,000 submission fee per application; USD 5,000 per additional dependant; after approval, USD 350 passport, USD 150 national ID and USD 250 registration certificate per person.
To be confirmed: Government fees · Due diligence fees · Investment holding period

Checked against official programme sources

Residence requirements

Renewal requirements: Not applicable — citizenship.
Potential route to citizenship: Not applicable — citizenship is granted directly.
To be confirmed: Residence requirements

Checked against official programme sources

Due diligence and documentation

Applicants and included dependants undergo background and source-of-funds checks by the relevant authority. Documentation requirements are confirmed during preparation — no documents are needed for an initial consultation.

Considerations, limitations and risks

Important restrictions

Since 10 April 2026, new applications from people who already hold three or more foreign nationalities are on hold: Nationality Law No. 07/2022 does not allow nationality to be granted to them, and a planned amendment had not yet been passed (Citizenship Investment Unit memorandum).

Published entry thresholds are not comprehensive costs; taxes, professional fees and dependent charges may apply.
Immigration law, visa access and naturalisation rules can change without notice.
Individual eligibility depends on nationality, financial background, due diligence and program-specific criteria.

Status and authority

Operational status: Operational
Official government authority: Citizenship Investment Unit, São Tomé and Príncipe
Legal basis: Citizenship Act of São Tomé and Príncipe, in force from 1 August 2025.
Nationality restrictions: The law allows applicants from sanctioned countries, or countries without judicial cooperation, to be refused; no list has been published.

Programme rules change; your advisor confirms every figure before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

How much does São Tomé citizenship cost?

USD 90,000 for a single applicant or USD 95,000 for a family of two to four, plus a USD 5,000 submission fee and passport and registration fees.

Can I apply if I already hold several nationalities?

Not if you hold three or more foreign nationalities. Since April 2026 the Citizenship Investment Unit has put such applications on hold, because the Nationality Law does not allow it. A change to the law was planned but had not been passed.

What is the minimum investment for São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment?

USD 90,000 for a single applicant; USD 95,000 for a family of two to four.

Can my family be included?

Family inclusion rules vary and will be confirmed for your circumstances.

How long does the process take?

About six weeks, as reported at launch.

Is approval guaranteed?

No. Every application is decided by the government concerned after due diligence, and requirements can change.