São Tomé and Príncipe’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program released its first‑year report, covering applications received from September 2025 to August 2026. The data show strong international demand, relatively fast processing, and a modest contribution to the country’s National Transformation Fund.
Key Statistics (September 2025 – August 2026)
- Total applications: 548 from 72 nationalities
- Approved: 350 (63.9 % of submissions)
- Pending: 186
- Rejected: 12
- Citizenships granted: 117
- Passports issued: 29
Processing times
- Fastest approval: 26 days
- Average approval time: ~2 months from complete submission
- Average time to passport issuance: ~4 months (noted as slower than approvals)
Applicant Nationalities
The program attracted applicants from all continents. The three largest source markets were:
| Country | Applications | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| China | 159 | 29.0 % |
| Russia | 122 | 22.3 % |
| Iran | 50 | 9.1 % |
Germany ranked fourth with 28 applications. Together, China, Russia and Iran accounted for roughly 60 % of all submissions. Applications also included stateless individuals.
Family Participation
Family applications formed the majority of submissions:
- Single applicants: 234 (43 %)
- Families of 2‑4 members: 256 (47 %)
- Families of 5‑8 members: 56 (10 %)
Families of three and four members together represented about 35 % of all applications.
Program Structure
The CBI scheme operates under Decree‑Law No. 07/2025 and is based on a non‑refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund. Key financial thresholds:
- Single applicant: US $90,000
- Family of 2‑4 members: US $95,000
- Additional dependants: US $5,000 each
Separate submission and government document fees also apply. The program does not require real‑estate purchase, business establishment, residency, or physical presence; applications are processed remotely subject to due‑diligence checks.
Use of Contributions
During the first year, contributions generated US $9.8 million for the National Transformation Fund. Reported allocations include:
- Energy capacity projects
- Government IT infrastructure
- Planned investments in water, wastewater, waste management, education, healthcare, housing, tourism, and digital public services
Approximately half of the approved applicants had completed their contribution payments by the reporting date.
Citizenship Benefits
- Dual citizenship permitted
- Citizenship can be inherited by future generations
- No mandatory residence or relocation requirement
- Membership in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) provides cultural and institutional links, though it does not confer automatic work or residence rights in other CPLP states
Outlook
Entering its second year, the program aims to close the gap between application approval and passport issuance while maintaining stringent due‑diligence standards. Continued transparency on processing metrics and fund deployment will be critical for sustaining growth in the global CBI market.
Source article: apexcapital.one
