Sao Tome and Principe
STPSão Tomé and Príncipe is a small Lusophone island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, comprising two main volcanic islands off the west coast of Central Africa. With a population of around 228,000, it is one of Africa's smallest and least-populated countries. The economy depends heavily on cocoa exports, tourism, and foreign aid, though offshore oil exploration holds future potential.
Portuguese is the sole official language, reflecting three centuries of colonial history. The country is a stable democratic republic with regular elections. Visas on arrival are available to most nationalities. Naturalisation requires five years of legal residence. Healthcare and infrastructure are limited, but the islands offer a tranquil, low-crime environment with striking biodiversity and UNESCO-recognised cocoa heritage.
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- São Tomé
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 228,000
- Cost-of-living
- 38 /100
Passport Rank
#99
Visa-Free
57
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Sao Tome and Principe passport has visa-free access to 57 destinations. See the full Sao Tome and Principe passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Sao Tome and Principe without a prior visa (57)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Sao Tome and Principe
Current IRCC processing times for Sao Tome and Principe nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | No processing time available |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | No processing time available |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- São Tomé
- Currency
- São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN)
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Population
- 228,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical rainforest
- GDP per capita
- $4,084
- Life expectancy
- 69.91 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.98%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
38
Safety
62
Healthcare
32
Quality of Life
42
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| São Tomé | — | — | — | — | — |
| Trindade | — | — | — | — | — |
| Santo António | — | — | — | — | — |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist (on arrival)
- Business
- Work
- Family
- Student
- Authority
- Serviços de Migração e Fronteiras
- Official Portal
- www.gov.st
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- —
- Processing
- —
Safety
GPI Rank
—
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Sao Tome and Principe, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Servico de Migracao e Fronteiras
SMFOfficial migration and border service for Sao Tome and Principe online entry-visa, entry-authorization lookup, e-Cidadao residence-fixation authorization, passport and migration services.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Sao Tome and Principe, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Short-term / business
eVisaST Entry Visa
Short-term / businessOfficial SMF online entry-visa application route for travel to Sao Tome and Principe.
Work (sponsored)
Residence-Fixation Authorization - Subordinate Professional Activity
Work (sponsored)SMF e-Cidadao residence-fixation route for subordinate professional activity with an employment contract and ministry opinion.
Family
Residence-Fixation Authorization - Family
FamilySMF e-Cidadao residence-fixation authorization route for family-link cases in Sao Tome and Principe.
Study
Residence-Fixation Authorization - Study, Exchange, Internship or Volunteering
StudySMF e-Cidadao residence-fixation route for study, student exchange, professional internship or volunteering cases.
Entrepreneur
Residence-Fixation Authorization - Company or Business
EntrepreneurSMF e-Cidadao residence-fixation route for company or business cases with corporate, tax and social-security evidence.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified