Moving to São Tomé and Príncipe
Visas and residency, citizenship, tax, company and banking, cost of living and the places to live in São Tomé and Príncipe, in one place.
Middle AfricaThinking about moving to São Tomé and Príncipe?
Here's how long you can stay, the ways to live there for good, what you'd pay in tax and what everyday life costs, each figure from an official source.
In this guide, I'll show you:
- How long you can stay, by passport
- How long citizenship takes
- How tax works, with the rates
- What it costs, and the internet and safety
- The basics: capital, currency and languages
Pick your passport at the top of the page, and the stay rule shows for you.
TL;DRKey takeaways
São Tomé and Príncipe at a glance
How long can you stay in São Tomé and Príncipe?
It depends on the passport you hold.
Here's the rule for the most common ones:
US passport- Rule
- Visa-free
- Stay
- 15 days
UK passport- Rule
- Visa-free
- Stay
- 15 days
EU passport (German)- Rule
- Visa-free
- Stay
- 15 days
Canadian passport- Rule
- Visa-free
- Stay
- 15 days
Australian passport- Rule
- e-Visa
- Stay
- –
Indian passport- Rule
- e-Visa
- Stay
- –
For any other passport, pick yours at the top, or see every country on the visa-free countries map.
Citizenship in São Tomé and Príncipe
Naturalization takes about 5 years of residence.
Dual citizenship isn't allowed, so you'd give up your passport.
São Tomé and Príncipe also sells citizenship by investment: Citizenship by investment or donation.
Compare the programs in citizenship by investment.
Work out your own timeline with the second passport calculator.
Tax in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe taxes its tax residents on their income from anywhere.
See where it sits among every country on the territorial tax map.
The main rates:
- Corporate tax – 25%
Where you're a tax resident usually comes down to days.
Count yours with the 183-day rule calculator.
Company and banking
Compare the banks and cards that work for people abroad in the bank account finder.
Move money for less with the money transfer comparison.
Many people who live abroad run a US LLC instead; check yours with the US LLC for non-residents checker.
Cost of living in São Tomé and Príncipe
Everyday prices in São Tomé and Príncipe are about 61% of US prices.
That's the World Bank's price level for 2024: its purchasing power conversion factor divided by the exchange rate.
It's cheaper than the US, though rent in the big cities can close the gap.
Convert what things cost with the currency converter.
Is São Tomé and Príncipe safe?
The US State Department rates São Tomé and Príncipe Level 2 ("Exercise increased caution", updated 2026-09-04), the same level it gives France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. Levels 1 and 2 are both everyday travel; the US only asks you to reconsider a trip at Level 3. Some advisories are stricter for parts of a country, so read the full advisory before you go.
For a second view, the UK has no warning against travel.
See every country's level on the travel advisory map.
Internet in São Tomé and Príncipe
In M-Lab's open speed tests across São Tomé and Príncipe over the last 12 months, half came in above 6 Mbps download.
The fastest quarter of lines came in above 10 Mbps, closer to a good fiber connection (1,750 tests).
Test your own line when you arrive with my internet speed test.
São Tomé and Príncipe: the basics
| What | São Tomé and Príncipe |
|---|---|
| Capital | Sao Tome |
| Currency | São Tomé & Príncipe dobra (STN) |
| Languages | Portuguese |
| Population | about 197,700 |
From GeoNames' country data (CC BY 4.0).
More tools for São Tomé and Príncipe
- Passport index and compare passports
- Time zone overlap calculator for calls with home
- eSIM finder for data when you land
- Card fees abroad calculator before you spend
São Tomé and Príncipe FAQs
Visa-free, for 15 days.
Pick another passport at the top of the page to see its rule.
It depends on your passport.
Pick yours at the top of the page to see the days, and whether you need a visa first.
Not that I've found in official sources as of 2026-09-29.
The digital nomad visa finder lists every country that has one.
About 5 years of residence.
No.
You'd give up your other passport to naturalize.
São Tomé and Príncipe taxes its tax residents on their income from anywhere.
Check the details with a tax adviser before you move.
Everyday prices are about 61% of US prices, by the World Bank's price level for 2024.
Rent in the biggest cities can be higher than that suggests.
The US State Department rates it Level 2.
Levels 1 and 2 are everyday travel; read the full advisory for any regions it warns about.
Half of M-Lab's tests there came in above 6 Mbps download over the last 12 months.
The fastest quarter of lines passed 10 Mbps.
The São Tomé & Príncipe dobra (STN).
The main language is Portuguese.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist & AI OS builder
Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
Navid.me is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
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