São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment

A donation route, written into law in August 2025

São Tomé and Príncipe's citizenship program lists US$95,750 in government fees for one applicant. It requires no move to the islands. The country is a sovereign island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the west coast of Central Africa. Portuguese is the official language, and several local languages are spoken too. ^{1, 4}

The route is a donation to a state fund, and it is young. The program names Decree-Law 07/2025 and Nationality Law No. 07/2022 as its legal basis. ^{3, 4}

Every application goes through a licensed Marketing Agent. Every fee on the schedule is set in US dollars. ^{5, 1}

What does the program cost?

The contribution depends on household size, and fees sit on top of it. A single applicant gives US$90,000 to the National Transformation Fund. A family of two to four gives US$95,000. Each dependent beyond that adds US$5,000. The amounts are written into the decree-law itself, in Annex I. ^{1, 3}

Add the fees up and the bill climbs in steps. The second person adds US$5,750. The contribution rises to US$95,000, and a second document fee applies. The third and fourth people add only their US$750 document fees. From the fifth person on, each adds US$5,750 again. ¹

These are the government's lines. MMT's guide to the real cost of citizenship by investment adds the professional fees around them. Caribbean citizenship by investment compared sets five Caribbean programs side by side.

The National Transformation Fund: where the contribution goes

The contribution is a donation to a state fund, and the law sets rules for how it is used. Decree-Law 07/2025 says contribution proceeds revert in full to the Fund. It prohibits any use for other purposes. An independent auditor must audit the Fund every year, and the Court of Auditors and the Central Bank oversee it. ³

The Unit's projects page names four priorities for the money. ⁷

• Renewable energy initiatives.
• Eco-tourism development.
• Education and infrastructure.
• A deep sea port.

The decree-law's Annex II sets out a longer list of 13 eligible project types, including these. ^{3, 7}

• Airport modernization.
• Sustainable urban development.
• Transport networks.
• Housing.
• Health.
• Waste management.
• Water treatment.
• A larger presence for São Tomé and Príncipe in bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Weigh it as a donation. The money goes to public projects. The question is what the citizenship itself is worth to your household at that price. MMT's citizenship by investment countries page sets this program beside the others MMT covers.

Which family members can be included?

One application can include a spouse or partner, children up to 30, and parents and grandparents. The principal applicant must be at least 18, with no criminal record and good financial standing. ^{4, 6}

Adding someone after approval in principle costs more than including them from the start. The Unit's pages and the decree-law's Annex I set a separate schedule for later additions. ^{2, 3}

Married or partnered already? Include your spouse in the first application and save US$9,250 in listed fees. A baby born after approval is the low-cost case, at US$500. ^{2, 1, 3}

What documents and identity evidence are required?

Six kinds of document make up each applicant's file. The Unit asks for official documents that verify identity, background and financial standing. Your agent advises on the exact set for your case. ⁸

• A valid passport and national ID, to confirm identity and nationality.
• A birth certificate, for date and place of birth.
• Civil status documents, such as marriage or divorce records, for current family and marital status.
• Criminal record certificates or police clearance.
• Recent bank statements and proof of the source of funds.
• Recent passport-size photographs.

Order the slowest records first. Check that names and dates match across every family member's papers. A benefactor who sponsors the application provides documents too, and their records join the same file. ^{8, 4}

How long does approval take?

Plan on about 2 months to a decision, then 3 to 4 more to the passport. That makes 5 to 6 months in all, by the program FAQ's own estimate. ⁴

1. 01

   Select a licensed Marketing Agent

   Applications go only through an authorized Marketing Agent. The agent guides the applicant through each step. ^{5, 8}

2. 02

   Prepare the documents

   The agent advises on the documents the application needs, from passports to proof of the source of funds. ⁸

3. 03

   Submit the application

   The finished file goes to the Unit for review and processing. The US$5,000 submission fee is paid as part of the application process. ^{8, 1}

4. 04

   Due diligence

   Every applicant goes through background checks against the requirements for citizenship. ⁸

5. 05

   The decision

   The government tells your agent the outcome. By the FAQ's estimate, that comes about 2 months in. ^{8, 4}

6. 06

   Pay within 90 days

   After approval in principle, the contribution to the Fund must be deposited within 90 days. If it is late, the process lapses under Decree-Law 07/2025. ^{3, 8}

7. 07

   Citizenship documents, then the passport

   Once the donation is complete, the government issues the citizenship documents. The passport follows, delivered through the agent. The FAQ puts it 3 to 4 months after approval. ^{8, 4}

The program's site gives six timing statements on three pages. Check which stage each one measures before a date goes into your plans. ^{9, 10, 4}

Set any fixed date, such as a school term or a visa expiry, against the longer figures. Keep current passports and residence papers valid until the new passport is in hand.

How do I check that an agent is licensed?

Only a licensed Marketing Agent can file. The Unit states that all applications must be submitted only through an authorized Marketing Agent. Under the decree-law's Annex I, each agent pays its own annual license fee of US$5,000. ^{5, 3}

The published lists are your check. The law has the Justice minister publish the list of licensed agents periodically. Agents whose licenses have been revoked are published too. The Unit's Marketing Agents page carries the directory. On 13 September 2026 it listed one agent as restricted from promoting the program. That agent is Shenzhen Jingmao International Consulting Co. Limited, of Shenzhen, China. ^{3, 5}

• The exact legal name on your contract appears among the licensed agents on the day you sign. ⁵
• The same name is absent from the restricted list that day.
• The quote separates each government fee on the schedule from the agent's own fee. ¹
• The written terms say which documents the agent gathers, translates and certifies, and at what price.
• Any sponsor's role and paperwork are agreed before money moves. The benefactor pays a US$5,000 due diligence fee. ⁴

What is the program's status in 2026?

The program rests on a decree-law just over a year old. The Council of Ministers approved Decree-Law 07/2025 on 10 May 2025. President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova promulgated it on 28 July 2025. It entered into force when the Diário da República published it on 1 August 2025. ^{3, 11}

The law creates the Unidade de Cidadania por Investimento e Doação (UCID) under the Justice minister. UCID can hand administration to a public or private managing entity under a concession contract. The homepage says any suspension or cancellation of the program would require a formal, legislative process. ^{3, 9}

Article 18 of the decree-law sets out these sanctions for breaking its rules, revocation of nationality (revogação da nacionalidade) among them. The person facing a sanction has the right to a prior hearing, and UCID applies the fines. ³

• A warning.
• A fine of up to 20% of the total investment value.
• Suspension or cancellation of a license.
• Revocation of nationality.
• Rescission of the contract.

The homepage's statement about a legislative process covers the program as a whole. Revocation under Article 18 reaches the individual citizen. ^{9, 3}

US entry restrictions: as of 13 September 2026, Proclamation 10998 does not name São Tomé and Príncipe. Signed on 16 December 2025, it partially restricts entry for nationals of 15 countries. Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica are among them. MMT's pages on Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment cover what it means for those programs. ¹²

At home, the decree drew public debate. The state broadcaster RSTP reported it in August 2025. Lawyer Carlos Semedo argued that citizenship is granted and should never be for sale. Commentator Arzemiro dos Prazeres, in favor, estimated it could bring about US$90 million to the state budget right away. Architect Liberato Moniz warned that the country lacks the means to vet and monitor new citizens. RSTP reported that the government had yet to respond publicly. ¹³

Do I need to relocate or change my tax status?

You can keep living where you live now. The program's FAQ states that no physical residence or relocation is required during or after the application process. Tax is its own test, set by the countries where you live and work. Ask a tax adviser there what a second citizenship changes for you. MMT's guide to citizenship, residency and tax residency takes the three apart. ⁴

The homepage claims visa-free access to over 93 countries, naming South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong. It also describes special residency, work and study opportunities across Portuguese-speaking nations such as Portugal, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique. It names no treaty behind them. São Tomé and Príncipe is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). Check each country on your list with its government before counting on access. ^{9, 4}

Drawn to the islands themselves? Plan a visit on its own terms with MMT's São Tomé and Príncipe travel guides.