São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment: Requirements and Application Process

In August 2025, São Tomé and Príncipe joined the list of exotic countries that grant citizenship to eligible investors. The program quickly captured the attention of high-net-worth individuals due to its cost-effective structure and expedited approval, making it worth considering if you are planning a relocation.

Given that the program is relatively new, this guide will cover everything you should know about São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment, most notably:

• The program’s unique institutional framework
• Key requirements
• Application process
• Common application challenges

The Legal and Institutional Framework of São Tomé Citizenship by Investment 

The São Tomé citizenship by investment program is governed by Decreto-Lei n.º 07/2025, which defines its eligibility, procedures, and oversight. As per the decree, São Toméan nationality may be granted by “investment or donation” to the country’s national development.

The term “donation” is more appropriate, considering that the funds you will pay are non-refundable and do not provide any returns. Instead, you donate to the National Transformation Fund (NTF) to obtain citizenship.

The decree also created a specialized Citizenship Investment Unit (CIU) that processes applications. A unique aspect of the CIU is that it is not headquartered in São Tomé but in Dubai, UAE. This was a strategic decision that leveraged Dubai’s infrastructure to streamline and expedite processing.

Besides the CIU, the program is governed by the review committee chaired by the Public Ministry. The committee reviews matters such as:

• CIU’s due diligence activities
• Suspicious applications
• Compliance concerns and related suspensions

Due to the various advisory bodies involved in the application process, the São Toméan CBI program is quite rigorous. Even after citizenship is granted, the Public Prosecutor retains a period during which the grant may be challenged (up to six months).

Advantages of the São Tomé CBI Program

High-net-worth individuals can enjoy many benefits of the São Tomé citizenship by investment, most notably:

• No residency or physical presence requirements: The CBI application process can be conducted remotely, so you do not need to travel to São Tomé to complete it. The country also does not impose a minimum stay to maintain citizenship, so you can relocate to and from São Tomé without limitations
• Unique family reunification rules: The program allows you to include your spouse or civil partner, unmarried dependent children (up to 30 years old), and parents over 55 in the application. More importantly, it lets you include family members after citizenship is granted, which is not the case with most CBI programs
• Dual citizenship rights: São Tomé offers dual citizenship, so you do not need to abandon your original one to qualify for the program
• Inheritable citizenship: São Tomé citizenship acquired through this route is inheritable for all future generations. Additionally, as part of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), it may facilitate the path to Portuguese and EU residency
• Ample visa-free access: São Toméan passport provides visa-free access to 61 countries, including South Africa, Malaysia, and Singapore

While these advantages are appealing, the most significant ones are probably the program’s affordability and speed of application processing.

Investment Requirements for São Tomé Citizenship

To obtain São Toméan citizenship, you need to make a $90,000 donation to the NTF. While this is already quite affordable, the price for a family is even more cost-effective at $95,000 for up to four family members.

You may add other qualifying dependents at a rate of $5,000 per person. If you decide to do so after receiving approval, the donation will vary according to the specific dependent:

Dependent	Donation
Spouse	$10,000
Child	$5,000
Newborn child	$500

All donations are aimed at strategic development goals and used to fund different infrastructures, most notably:

• Energy (expanding the national power grid)
• Transport (deep-water port, airport modernization, road networks)
• Housing and urban development (sustainable city projects)
• Tourism (ecological lodges, hospitality infrastructure)
• Education and health 

You can make additional investments in approved projects, but this is optional and will not affect the outcome of your application process. Seeing as the program is still new, the available projects will be periodically updated in the government gazette.

In addition to the donation, you will be required to pay a $5,000 due diligence fee per application.

This means the total cost of the São Toméan CBI program should remain under $100,000 for an individual applicant, which is quite affordable for typical high-net-worth individuals and families.

How To Get the São Tomé and Príncipe Passport by Investment

To obtain São Toméan citizenship through the CBI program, you need to complete the following steps:

1. Make an inquiry and gather the necessary documentation
2. Submit the application
3. Receive ministerial approval
4. Complete the payment and finalize the application
5. Obtain your ID and passport

1. Make an Inquiry and Gather the Necessary Documentation

The first step in the process is to contact CIU and make an inquiry about applying for citizenship. Considering that the CIU is not a single entity but a private-public partnership, you need to contact a partner firm, such as Nomad Capitalist. Being agents of Sao Tomé, we will provide the necessary details and assistance.

They will request various documentation, most notably:

• Passport copy
• Birth certificate
• Police clearance certificate
• Medical records/proof of good health
• Proof of funds

Any document that’s not in Portuguese or English must be officially translated, and foreign documents must be apostilled or consularly legalized.

2. Submit the Application

After you collect the necessary documents, you will complete the application form and submit it electronically via the UCID platform. CIU will then conduct a preliminary review to ensure the submitted documentation is in order. The review should take up to 15 days, during which you will be notified if any documents are missing or invalid.

At this stage, you will also pay the processing fee and undergo due diligence. The CIU will submit your application to independent agencies, which will verify your data, such as:

• Criminal background
• Financial integrity
• Source of funds

During the application process, you might be required to attend an interview to further verify your identity or clarify any details related to your application. The interview can be conducted either in person or through a video meeting, so no travel is necessary.

3. Receive Ministerial Approval

Once the CIU completes the due diligence, it will send your application to the São Tomé Office of the Attorney General for review. The Office has a 15-day legal deadline to respond, and the application will end immediately if they object.

If there is no response after the deadline, the CIU’s director must issue the final decision in the following 15 days. 

Due to these deadlines, the entire process is quite fast. You can expect to receive the results of your application within a total of six weeks, which is significantly shorter than the time frame of most CBI programs.

4. Complete the Payment and Finalize the Application

After receiving approval, you must transfer the agreed-upon investment amount to the provided NTF account. You have 90 days to do so, and any delays will result in your application expiring. After initiating the transfer, you will need to submit the proof of payment to the CIU.

The final step is to swear an oath of loyalty to São Tomé and Príncipe’s Constitution. The oath is administered by a public official either in São Tomé or at an accredited São Toméan diplomatic or consular post if you are abroad at the time of approval.

Once the oath is sworn, the CIU sends the final records to the Civil Registry for the formal transcription of nationality.

5. Obtain Your ID and Passport

After completing the CBI program, you can apply for the São Tomé and Príncipe national ID card and passport. You will do so through the national immigration or internal affairs authorities.

The application can be handled remotely. An in-person step for biometrics and document issuance will be required, and it may be carried out either in São Tomé or at a designated diplomatic or consular post.

Rights of New São Tomé Citizens

São Tomé grants all the applicable rights to naturalized citizens. In practice, this means that you are allowed to:

• Live and work in the country
• Own property
• Invest and conduct business
• Access social services under the law

In addition to these standard rights, São Tomé provides special benefits to CBI citizens. Most importantly, you (and your dependents) will be exempt from compulsory military service.

Another notable advantage of becoming a São Toméan citizen is the country’s tax landscape. There is no wealth tax or inheritance tax, which can be beneficial for estate planning.

You also do not pay tax on global income unless you become a tax resident, which you will not become automatically upon obtaining citizenship. Instead, you will only be considered a tax resident if you spend 183 or more days within a tax year in the country.

Challenges of Obtaining São Tomé Citizenship by Investment

The many benefits of the São Tomé CBI program are contrasted by a few potential obstacles and downsides you should consider, most notably:

• Policy changes: The São Tomé program is still relatively new, so changes to its requirements and procedural aspects may occur in the future. Before applying, you should follow the government gazette to stay updated on any relevant modifications
• Lack of direct resources and platforms: While the Decreto-Lei n.º 07/2025 states that CBI applications are submitted through the CIU’s online platform, such a portal is not publicly available as of this writing. This prevents direct applications and means you must contact a partner agency for inquiries
• Procedural challenges: The CIU submits your application package to the relevant authorities and guides you through the subsequent steps, but everything that happens beforehand is your responsibility. You should seek professional guidance to ensure program eligibility and gather the necessary documentation that you will submit to the CIU
• Donation-based citizenship: If you wish to invest in another country’s economic activity to expand your portfolio and generate returns, São Tomé’s program may not be financially sensible due to the required non-refundable donation. Consider your investment goals, and explore alternative CBI programs if needed

Despite the possible uncertainty surrounding its future specifics, São Tomé’s program is worth considering due to its low entry barrier and expeditious application process. Besides, you can mitigate most of the program’s risks with adequate financial and legal guidance.

To complete your relocation to São Tomé with confidence and efficiency, partnering with Nomad Capitalist can be a valuable asset.

Simplify the São Tomé CBI Application With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is a consultancy that has helped over 1,500 high-net-worth expats relocate to 100+ countries across the globe. In addition to expanding their passport portfolios, our clients have achieved their lifestyle and financial goals through ethical tax optimization and effective wealth management.

Our team of experts helps accomplish these goals through the Action Plan, a 360-degree strategy tailored to your unique circumstances. Whether you wish to ensure a streamlined relocation, navigate cross-border taxation, or maximize your wealth while living abroad, the Action Plan will outline the steps to achieving these objectives.

To obtain your Plan, you only need to complete a quick questionnaire. If it reveals that we are a good fit, our team will:

1. Conduct a 45-minute onboarding call to understand your circumstances and gather all the necessary data
2. Use the data to analyze your situation and build the Action Plan
3. Present the Plan to obtain your feedback and make any changes if needed
4. Implement the Plan over 12 months and handle all the administrative work related to your relocation
5. Provide lifetime support and updates to the Action Plan

By partnering with Nomad Capitalist, you can enjoy continuous guidance from a team of over 75 professionals. We can take over the logistics, and you can focus on the rewarding aspects of your relocation. If you are ready to get started, get your Action Plan today!