A black sand beach on São Tomé seen from above, with palms, dense green trees and clear turquoise water
Facts checked October 2026

São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment, plainly explained

How the youngest programme in Africa works: one non-refundable contribution, the full budget with official fees, who in the family can join, the remote procedure and what the passport gives. Every rule is linked to Decree-Law 07/2025, the official CIU site or BRIDGES data, and conflicting figures are shown side by side.

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$90,000contribution for a single applicant to the National Transformation Fund
$95,750official costs for one person with the processing fee and documents
$95,000one contribution for a family of two to four people
58destinations without a prior visa, BRIDGES passport index of 4 October 2026

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São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment in 2026: The Complete Guide

How São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment works in 2026: the $90,000 contribution, $95,750 in official costs for one person, the family, due diligence, the oath, the 7 year passport and the open questions of a young programme.

How Much São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship Costs in 2026: Contribution, Fees and Family Examples

The full cost of São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship in 2026: $90,000 or $95,000 contribution, the $5,000 due diligence fee, $750 per person for documents, post-approval additions and worked family examples.

São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship Application: Steps, Documents, Due Diligence and Timeline

How a São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship application goes in 2026: licensed agent, the UCID platform, documents and police certificates, due diligence, the prosecutor's opinion, payment within 90 days, the oath and realistic timelines.

São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship for the Family: Spouse, Children up to 30, Parents and Grandparents

Who can join a São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship application in 2026: spouse or de facto partner, children up to 30, parents and grandparents, what a family pays, and the prices for adding relatives after approval.

São Tomé and Príncipe Passport in 2026: Visa-Free Countries, Schengen and the CPLP Route to Portugal

What a São Tomé and Príncipe passport gives in 2026: 58 destinations without a prior visa in the BRIDGES index, no Schengen or UK, 7 year validity, dual citizenship, and what the CPLP link with Portugal really means.

São Tomé vs Vanuatu, Nauru and the Caribbean: Which Citizenship Programme Fits

São Tomé and Príncipe compared with Vanuatu, Nauru, Dominica, Antigua and St Kitts in 2026: entry price, family cost, timelines, Schengen access, maturity of the programme and who each one suits.

The budget at a glance

One personCouple + 2 childrenCouple + 2 children + 2 parents
Contribution$90,000$95,000$105,000
Due diligence and processing fee$5,000$5,000$5,000
Citizenship documents ($750 each)$750$3,000$4,500
Total official costs$95,750$103,000$114,500

Compiled from Annex I of Decree-Law 07/2025 and the CIU investment structure page, checked October 2026. The agent's fee, translations and apostilles are extra. See the cost guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much does São Tomé citizenship cost?

The contribution is $90,000 for one person and $95,000 for a family of two to four. With the $5,000 processing fee and $750 per person for documents, one person pays $95,750.

Do I need to live in São Tomé?

No. There is no residence requirement, the file is submitted electronically by a licensed agent and the oath can be taken before a consular official abroad.

Who can be included?

A spouse or de facto partner, children up to 30, and parents and grandparents from 55. Siblings are not provided for.

Can citizens of Russia apply?

Yes. Russia was the second country by number of applications in the CIU report as of 1 September 2026, quoted by BRIDGES. Due diligence on the source of funds is strict.

Can I travel to Europe with this passport?

Not without a visa. Schengen and the UK require one. The European benefit is the CPLP route to residence and, after 7 years, naturalisation in Portugal.

Who writes this guide. Darya Melnik, Senior Investment Programs Consultant at BRIDGES, based in Budapest. This is not a government website. See how facts are checked and about the author.