São Tomé and Príncipe has entered the citizenship by investment market with Africa’s fastest and most accessible program. At US$90,000 for single applicants with six-week processing times, the West African island nation undercuts every Caribbean program on both price and speed while offering citizenship in the world’s first country designated entirely as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The program launched on August 1st, 2025, under Decreto-Lei n.º 07/2025 and began accepting applications in early September. A Dubai-based Citizenship Investment Unit operates as a public-private partnership, combining government oversight with private sector efficiency to deliver processing times under two months.
Investment Requirements for São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program
Applicants make a non-refundable donation to the National Transformation Fund after receiving Approval in Principle. Single applicants pay US$90,000, while families of two to four members pay US$95,000 total. Each additional dependent beyond four requires US$5,000.
Every application carries a US$5,000 submission fee regardless of family size. Post-approval government fees add US$350 for passport issuance, US$150 for national ID, and US$250 for Certificate of Registration per person. Total costs reach US$95,750 for single applicants and US$103,000 for families of four.
Future dependents require paying the submission fee again, plus US$10,000 for spouses and US$5,000 per additional qualifying dependent upon Approval in Principle. Newborn children cost US$500 to include.
São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program Eligibility and Dependents
Nearly every nationality can apply. The program accepts Russians, Iranians, and stateless individuals, reflecting the country’s neutral international stance. Only North Koreans face restrictions.
Qualifying dependents include spouses, children up to 30 years old who remain unmarried and financially dependent, and parents over 55. The government maintains privacy standards and does not publish the names of new citizens.
Processing Time and Requirements for São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program
Applications process in six weeks with no physical presence, interviews, or residency obligations. The entire procedure operates remotely through the Dubai-based unit, allowing applicants to complete everything from anywhere in the world.
Disney Ramos, the former Minister of Economy, directs the unit with authority over official documents including approval letters and Certificates of Registration. Chief Operating Officer Alfredo Trindade oversees day-to-day operations from Dubai, positioning the program within a four-hour flight radius of most major agents and investors.
The unit conducts background verification reports before sending applications to São Tomé authorities for final government review. Licensed agents receive a flat US$20,000 commission per file regardless of family size.
Global Mobility Gains with São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program
São Tomé and Príncipe passports provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 93 destinations, including South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, and Qatar. The European Union and United Kingdom require visas. Passports carry seven-year validity for adults and three years for minors.
Citizens can renew passports at São Tomé embassies in Beijing, Brussels, and Lisbon, or directly at the Dubai unit. The government is establishing an embassy in Abu Dhabi for additional consular services.
Trindade frames the passport as insurance during crises, noting that holders can relocate to São Tomé and Príncipe when needed. The country maintains low crime rates and strong political stability, having adopted multi-party democracy in 1990 as one of the first African nations to do so.
São Tomé and Príncipe National Transformation Fund
Citizenship donations flow into the National Transformation Fund, which prioritizes renewable energy infrastructure. The country currently experiences electricity for only three to four hours on some days. The government plans to achieve 100% renewable energy through solar and mini-hydro systems, requiring approximately 50 megawatts of clean energy.
Trindade describes an ambitious vision where “we want São Tomé to be a lighthouse project for other African countries when it comes to infrastructure, renewable energy, and the well-being of its citizens.” The fund will support housing, education, road development, and broader socioeconomic infrastructure beyond energy.
The government is advancing plans for a deep-sea port that has been discussed for decades. What was once “a dream” has become “a vision, not a dream” under the current administration’s development strategy, according to Trindade.
São Tomé and Príncipe: About the Country
Biodiversity and Conservation
UNESCO extended its biosphere reserve designation in 2025 to cover all of São Tomé, making the country the first entire nation to receive this status. The archipelago hosts 27 endemic bird species found nowhere else on earth, earning the nickname “Galápagos of Africa.”
The country’s tropical rainforest ranks second among Africa’s 75 forests by importance for bird conservation. Over 3,168 hectares of forest underwent rehabilitation in a single year as part of ongoing restoration efforts.
The California Academy of Sciences has established the São Tomé and Príncipe Biodiversity Project to build a Gulf of Guinea biodiversity research center, highlighting the islands’ importance for scientific study and conservation leadership in Africa.
Economic and Investment Opportunities
Cocoa production represents 54% of export revenue, maintaining the islands’ historic identity as the “Chocolate Islands.” The CECAB cooperative coordinates 3,000 small cocoa farmers producing organic, fair-trade, and premium cocoa for international markets. The country is pushing beyond raw commodity exports toward local chocolate processing and value-addition operations.
Tourism remains deliberately underdeveloped. São Tomé and Príncipe is one of the least-visited countries in the world, receiving fewer tourists annually than there are yachts in Monaco’s Port Hercules. Lonely Planet named it among the top 10 destinations to visit in 2019, citing world-class beaches, biodiversity, and eco-credentials.
This creates opportunities for boutique eco-lodges, sustainable hospitality development, and conversion of colonial-era plantation estates into luxury accommodations.
Offshore oil and gas exploration presents substantial upside potential. Petrobras recently acquired a 27.5% stake in Block 4 offshore, joining Shell, Galp, and the national oil agency. While no commercial discoveries have been confirmed, the presence of global energy majors signals serious geological potential.
Port infrastructure development offers another avenue. The current port at Ana Chaves Bay has depth limitations preventing large vessel access, creating demand for dredging, deepwater port construction, and logistics hub development to serve West African markets.
Banking and Financial Services
São Toméan citizens face no particular banking challenges internationally. Trindade describes the country as “very well known as a neutral country,” with banks requiring standard documentation and due diligence but no additional scrutiny.
The country maintains low taxes and a warm climate year-round, while the cost of living remains modest for those seeking an affordable tropical base.
Geographic and Linguistic Advantages
São Tomé and Príncipe becomes the first Portuguese-speaking nation to offer citizenship by investment. This links investors to Lusophone markets spanning Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique through membership in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
The country is also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This membership grants citizens free movement rights across 15 West African nations, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, covering a market of over 400 million people. The ECOWAS protocol allows citizens to enter, reside, and establish businesses throughout the region without visa requirements.
The Gulf of Guinea location provides proximity to 400 million consumers in West Africa. Nigeria sits one hour away by air, while Ghana and Ivory Coast require less than two hours. Direct flights from Lisbon take four hours, making the islands easily accessible from Europe.
The country’s small scale allows modest capital injections to produce visible change, which attracts impact investors seeking measurable results from their contributions.
A Modern Program For Modern Investors
The program targets sophisticated investors who understand citizenship value beyond travel convenience. These clients recognize the comprehensive benefits of dual nationality beyond simple global mobility, including legal tax restructuring, global diversification, estate planning, business expansion opportunities, political risk mitigation, and enhanced privacy protection.
NTL Trust, as one of the first licensed agents for São Tomé and Príncipe’s citizenship by investment program, provides comprehensive application support backed by extensive West African expertise. Contact NTL Trust today to book a comprehensive consultation with one of our experts.
