São Tomé and Príncipe’s Citizenship by Investment Program offers a remote citizenship route based on a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund. The program launched in 2025 under Decree No. 07/2025 and is presented as a lower-cost citizenship option with processing of about six months in 2026.
The program uses a single investment route: a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund. It is not a real estate purchase or a government bond investment, and the capital is not returned.
The stated financial commitment starts at:
- $90,000 USD for a single applicant;
- $95,000 USD for two to four people.
The process can be completed remotely. The article states that applicants do not need to visit São Tomé and Príncipe for biometric data collection or passport retrieval. The passport and identification documents can be mailed to the applicant’s designated address.
What the program provides
After approval and completion of the investment transfer, the applicant receives a naturalization certificate. This certificate entitles the applicant to a São Tomé passport and ID card.
Passport validity is:
- Seven years for adults;
- Three years for children under 16.
The article states that the application fee is paid only after the citizenship application is approved. To begin the verification process, applicants need to pay the relevant fees and legal support costs.
Application process
The article describes the process in five steps:
- Preparing documents for São Tomé citizenship;
- Application processing by the authorities;
- Approval;
- Investment transfer;
- Post-approval issuance of documents, including the naturalization certificate, ID card, and passport.
The actual processing time in 2026 is described as approximately six months. The program is new and currently operates on a timeline of about three months for processing, followed by two to three months for all paperwork to be issued by local authorities.
Family and sponsorship options
The program allows family applications. The article states that applicants may apply for a spouse, children, and parents.
São Tomé citizenship is described as inheritable. The article also states that a passport can be requested for a newborn even after the main processing is complete.
A third party may pay for the application. The sponsor does not need to be related to the applicant.
Possible uses cited in the article
The article presents several use cases for São Tomé citizenship:
- Business purposes, including situations where a person’s original passport may create difficulties in international transactions;
- A neutral second citizenship sponsored by a business partner or other third party;
- Family planning, including cases where a child educated in Europe may need an alternative passport for employment;
- Applying for a European residence permit as a São Tomé citizen if the person’s country of origin is not accepted by that residence permit program.
The European residence permit point is stated generally in the source and depends on the specific residence program.
Country context
São Tomé and Príncipe is located in Central Africa, close to Nigeria, Congo, Angola, and Ghana. The article states that many African countries can be reached from São Tomé within about two hours.
The country has direct flights to Portugal, and northern Brazil is described as about four hours away. The article also notes that UNESCO has designated São Tomé and Príncipe a biosphere reserve, with tourism potential linked to future investment in infrastructure and energy.
Restrictions and legal requirement
The program does not accept individuals under sanctions or with a criminal record.
Applications must be submitted through authorized representatives licensed for the São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship program. The article states that applications submitted without a licensed agent will not be processed, and that agent accreditation can be checked directly through the São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Unit.
Source article: apexcapital.one
