São Tomé and Príncipe’s citizenship‑by‑investment (CBI) programme released its first‑year performance data, revealing a strong start in applications but a noticeable lag between approval and passport issuance.
Key statistics (1 September 2026 report)
- Applications received: 548
- Approved: 350 (≈ 64 % approval rate)
- Rejected: 12 (≈ 2 % rejection rate)
- Pending: 186 applications still in process (about one‑third of total)
- Citizenships granted: 117
- Passports issued: 29
The fastest file was cleared in 26 days, while the average approval time was about two months. However, the transition from approval to document delivery is slower: only 29 of the 117 granted citizenships resulted in passports, indicating a backlog in post‑approval procedures.
Process bottlenecks
- Each approved applicant receives four separate government documents – birth registry entry, national identity card, citizenship certificate, and passport – requiring coordination among three ministries.
- Errors in any department send the whole file back to the start, extending timelines.
- The CIU cites the need for improved post‑approval coordination, increased office capacity, and clearer procedures to address the backlog.
Financial contribution
- Funded applications generated US $9.8 million for the National Transformation Fund (NTF), averaging ≈ US $56,000 per funded applicant.
- Minimum contribution levels: US $90,000 for a single applicant; US $95,000 for a family of two to four.
Applicant profile
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Top source countries:
- China – 29 % of applications
- Russia – 22 %
- Iran – 9 %
- Germany – 5 %
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Total nationalities represented: 72 (including 10 stateless applicants).
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Russia and Iran together account for 31 % of the intake, despite being barred from most Caribbean CBI programmes. São Tomé accepts all nationalities except North Korean and permits stateless investors.
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Family composition:
- Families of two to four members – 47 % of applications
- Single applicants – 43 %
- Families of five to eight – 10 %
- Within the two‑to‑four band, families of three or four make up 35 % of all applications (≈ 64 files of two members).
Legislative constraints affecting delivery
- 10 April 2026 memorandum (signed by CIU Director Disney Leite Ramos) placed a hold on applications from individuals holding three or more foreign nationalities, referencing Nationality Law No. 07/2022.
- The same memorandum suspended passport issuance for adult dependents pending a revised dependency framework. These measures are not reflected in the published performance figures but are slated for resolution in the programme’s second year.
Outlook for year two
- Priorities announced by the CIU include: finalising the Dependants Law, removing the three‑nationality hold, and reducing processing times after approval.
- Industry observers note that the programme’s openness to all nationalities (except North Korean) and relatively low contribution thresholds create a broad market appeal, though scaling the administrative capacity remains a challenge.
Industry commentary
- Jeremy Savory (Savory & Partners) highlighted the “four‑document” requirement as a source of delay but expressed confidence that the CIU will resolve the issues. His firm accounted for 17 % of the passports issued to date.
- Jeffrey Henseler (Passport Legacy) emphasized the need to complete the Dependants Law and streamline post‑approval steps as top priorities for the coming year.
Overall, São Tomé and Príncipe’s CBI programme has demonstrated strong demand and generated significant investment, but must address procedural bottlenecks and legislative holds to translate approvals into full citizenship benefits.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
