São Tomé and Príncipe offers a citizenship‑by‑investment program that can be obtained in about three months and is marketed as a “neutral” passport for international business.
Legal framework
- The program was introduced in 2025 under Decree No. 07/2025.
- Citizenship is granted through a non‑refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund; no real‑estate purchase or government bond is involved.
- Applications must be submitted through an accredited agent registered with the CIU (the program’s public‑private partner based in Dubai). Submissions without a licensed intermediary are not processed.
Eligibility and family inclusion
- The main applicant can extend citizenship immediately to the spouse, unmarried children under 30, and parents aged 55 or older.
- The passport can be passed on to future generations.
Investment amounts and additional costs
| Applicants | Contribution to National Development Fund |
|---|---|
| Single applicant | US $90,000 |
| 2–4 applicants | US $95,000 |
- Mandatory government fees, legal support, and courier services for passport delivery are additional expenses.
- All documentation and passport collection are handled remotely.
Visa‑free travel and settlement rights
- A São Tomé and Príncipe passport provides visa‑free entry to 61 countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
- Membership in the Community of Portuguese‑Speaking Countries (CPLP) allows settlement in certain member states under special conditions (e.g., Brazil, Portugal).
Tax and financial privacy
- The country does not participate in the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) or the U.S. FATCA, meaning financial accounts opened there are not automatically disclosed abroad.
- Non‑residents are taxed only on income generated within São Tomé and Príncipe; there is no worldwide income tax or inheritance tax.
Practical considerations
- Applicants must engage a licensed CIU agent; the accreditation list is publicly available on the CIU website.
- Processing time is typically three months, with all steps conducted remotely.
- The contribution is a donor payment to a government development fund and is not refundable.
These features make São Tomé and Príncipe’s citizenship program a relatively low‑cost, fast‑track option for individuals seeking a passport that facilitates international banking, travel, and business activities while offering limited tax exposure.
Source article: apexcapital.one
