São Tomé and Príncipe is a two-island nation in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa and one of the continent's longest-standing democracies. Citizenship is obtained lawfully through an officially authorised program by way of a non-refundable donation to the National Transformation Fund, with three generations of a family covered by a single application and no physical presence required.
Located in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa, comprising two main islands.
A stable democracy and one of the oldest democratic systems in Africa.
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 60+ destinations, including South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong, with e-visa access to Qatar and the UAE; the list follows the destination policies in force.
Lawful citizenship through the officially authorised donation program, concluding with a citizenship certificate, passport and identity card.
A spouse under a lawful marriage.
Dependent children under 31.
Parents over 55, and grandparents.
Official fees are payable in two stages. All payments are made to the bank account of the officially authorised intermediary, which forwards them to the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe. Our service fee is quoted separately. The table below is a summary; the formal quotation prevails.
| Item | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Official fee · application (stage 1, on filing) | |
| Main applicant | $5,000 |
| Benefactor (if any) | $5,000 |
| Official fee · donation (stage 2, after approval in principle) | |
| Single applicant | $90,000 |
| Main applicant and up to 3 dependants | $95,000 |
| Each dependant beyond three | +$5,000 |
| Official fee · documents (per person) | |
| Citizenship certificate | $250 |
| Passport | $350 |
| Identity card | $150 |
Document fees total $750 per person. Official fees for a single application total $95,750 (application fee $5,000, donation $90,000, document fees $750). Our service fee is quoted separately; translation, notarisation, courier and other third-party costs are charged separately.
Only the application fee is due on filing; the donation and document fees become payable after approval in principle.
All payments are made to the bank account of the officially authorised intermediary, which forwards them to the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe.
An instant estimate based on the fee table above. Indicative only; the formal quotation prevails.
Excludes translation, notarisation, courier and other third-party costs.
The complete document set is gathered and the case opened.
The intermediary conducts a preliminary due-diligence screening of all applicants.
The application is formally filed with the program office.
After the office completes its checks, the file is referred to the Cabinet for review.
The second official payment is made and the case proceeds to the passport stage.
Passport documents are submitted to the relevant authorities.
The citizenship certificate, passport and identity card are issued, completing the process.
Official fees for a single applicant total USD 95,750: an application fee of 5,000, the donation of 90,000, and document fees of 750 covering the citizenship certificate (250), passport (350) and identity card (150). Our service fee is quoted separately; translation, notarisation and courier costs are charged separately.
One application may cover three generations: a lawfully married spouse, dependent children under 31, parents over 55 and grandparents. The donation is 95,000 for the main applicant with up to three dependants, plus 5,000 for each additional dependant. Applicants holding three or more citizenships are not eligible.
Official fees are paid in two stages. Only the application fee is due when the file is submitted; the donation of 90,000 and the document fees are paid after approval in principle, so the principal payment is made only once the case has cleared vetting and Cabinet review.
Each approved applicant receives three documents: a citizenship certificate, a passport and a national identity card. The document fee of 750 per person covers all three. They are issued at the final step, after the passport application has been filed with the relevant authorities.
All payments are made to the bank account of the officially authorised intermediary, which forwards them to the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe; funds never pass through a personal account. Written confirmation of the receiving account should always be obtained before any transfer, as is standard practice in this industry.
The passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 60 destinations, including South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong, with e-visa access to Qatar and the UAE; the list changes with destination policies. A current destination list is available on request, and travellers should always confirm the destination's latest official requirements.
A benefactor is a third party who pays the fees on the applicant's behalf. Where a benefactor is involved, the authorities charge a separate application fee for the benefactor and screen them as well (see the fee table above). We recommend settling the funding arrangement before engagement so that costs are calculated correctly and the appropriate source-of-funds evidence prepared.
São Tomé and Príncipe is a two-island nation in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa, politically stable and one of the longest-standing democracies on the continent. Its donation-based citizenship program is officially authorised; approved applicants receive a citizenship certificate, passport and identity card.
Leave your details and we will provide a complete fee schedule and a family-specific plan within one business day.
Book a free consultation