Home / The Brief / São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe · Citizenship · · 5 minute readNew citizens no longer need to travel for fingerprints, thanks to video verification. But applications from people already holding three foreign nationalities are on hold, as are passports for adult children.
São Tomé and Príncipe's citizenship by investment program, launched in August 2025 under Decree Law 07/2025, has issued its first significant operating update. In a memorandum to licensed marketing agents dated April 10, 2026, Disney Leite Ramos, Director of the Citizenship by Investment Unit, the government office that runs the program, set out three changes. One removes a practical obstacle for new citizens. The other two put parts of the program on hold.
The memorandum also apologises for recent delays and says the changes are part of an effort to align procedures with the country's legal framework.
Until April 9, a successful applicant could not receive a passport without enrolling biometrics in person. São Tomé issues the national identity card first and the passport after it, and both required fingerprint and signature capture, either in São Tomé and Príncipe itself or at designated embassies in Lisbon or Brussels. For families living in Asia, the Gulf or the Americas, that meant a long and costly trip just to collect documents.
A legislative amendment now allows the national identity card to be issued remotely. Applicants will complete a short video verification with the Civil Registry and Notary Office, the agency that records births, marriages and identity. The Citizenship by Investment Unit says it will coordinate the process and issue detailed guidance in the coming days. Because the passport follows the identity card, this should open the way to completing the whole process without travel, although the practical steps are not yet published.
The second change is a restriction. The memorandum says that under the current Nationality Law No. 07/2022, São Toméan nationality cannot be granted to anyone who already holds three or more foreign nationalities. An amendment to that rule had been expected, but parliament has not yet completed the legislative changes.
As a result, with immediate effect, new applications from people holding three or more foreign passports are on hold. This is a pause rather than a refusal: the unit says further updates will follow once the legal position is clear. In practice it affects a small but distinct group, mainly people who have already collected several citizenships and want to add another. A typical applicant with one or two nationalities is not affected.
The third point concerns dependants. The program allows unmarried, financially dependent children up to age 30 to be included, but the memorandum says a revised dependency framework covering adult children over 18 is being finalised. Until it is issued, passport issuance for adult dependent children remains on hold. Families with children over 18 in their application should expect a delay for those family members, and should wait for the new rules before assuming how they will apply.
São Tomé and Príncipe is the least expensive citizenship by investment program on offer, from a US$90,000 contribution for a single applicant and US$95,000 for a family of up to four. Remote issuance makes it more practical for applicants anywhere in the world, and is a sign that the government is investing in the program's operation.
The other two changes show the risks of a young program. Its rules sit in a decree and in an older nationality law that do not yet fit together perfectly, and gaps are being closed as files move through. The opposition party ADI asked the Constitutional Court in August 2025 to review the decree that created the program, which adds a layer of legal uncertainty. Rules can change mid process, and applicants should build that into their planning.
For most single applicants and couples, the update is good news: once the guidance is out, collecting documents should no longer require a trip to São Tomé, Lisbon or Brussels. If you already hold three foreign nationalities, or plan to include children over 18, wait for the legal changes before committing money, and get the current position in writing.
It is also worth planning around a new passport's limits. Banks are still getting used to São Tomé passports, so keep your existing passport for account opening and consider a backup account before you need one. We help clients apply through our local teams, review whether their family's situation fits the current rules, help with international banking arrangements, and quote fixed fees in writing.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice.
Satellite internet went live the day São Tomé and Príncipe presented its long term plan to investors in Brussels, where the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and BADEA signalled support for key infrastructure.
Read
Galp and Petrobras have each taken 27.5 percent of an offshore exploration block operated by Shell. Three major energy companies are now committing money to the same patch of São Tomé’s waters.
Read
A small Portuguese speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea has opened the lowest priced citizenship by investment program on the market. Here is how it works and what to weigh.
ReadThis is a big decision, and there is a lot of information to take in. That is why we start with a free 15 minute call: we look at your situation and your goals, then tell you which programs genuinely fit you, and which do not. We never push one program over another. If staying where you are is your best move, we will tell you that and sell you nothing.
