São Tomé & Príncipe Citizenship by Investment
Your complete guide, including the cost of the National Development Contribution, who can be included, how long the Citizenship Investment Unit takes to decide, the tax position, and what happens between the first enquiry and the passport arriving.
Prepared by Advance Citizenship Pty Ltd, the Government's Officially Appointed Authorised Marketing Agent under Decree Law No. 07/2025.
An established democracy in the Gulf of Guinea, with a record of stable government since 1991.
Quick Answer
The Programme
Single applicant · all-inclusive
From
US$90,000
Submission Fee: US$5,000 per application (non-refundable). You pay the programme fee only after your application is approved.
Editorial note: All figures on this site are government fees and agent fees for the São Tomé & Príncipe National Development Contribution, held in a single source of record and applied identically on every page. Fees are set by the Government of São Tomé & Príncipe and may be revised by decree.
Why Advance Citizenship
Advance Citizenship is the Officially Appointed Authorised Marketing Agent for the São Tomé & Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program, accredited under Decree Law No. 07/2025, and one of a small number of agents worldwide permitted to promote the programme and lodge applications.
The firm is headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Clients are accepted regardless of country of residence, with the sole exclusion of North Korean nationals. Applications are prepared, certified and lodged remotely, so no client is required to travel to Australia or to São Tomé & Príncipe. Consultations are held by video call or WhatsApp in the client's time zone.
Consultations and correspondence are conducted in English and Portuguese. This website can be read in 9 languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Vietnamese. Supporting documents in other languages are handled through certified translation.
Verification
The Process
Here is how the process runs, from the first enquiry through to the passport being couriered to you — usually about 8 weeks from formal application.
Free, confidential call to confirm eligibility and discuss the program.
KYC, source-of-funds review, document collection, certification and application file preparation.
Application formally submitted to the CIU. Government decision typically within 6–8 weeks.
Contribution made upon approval. Citizenship granted. Passport couriered to your nominated address.
Who you will speak with
Founder & CEO — Advance Citizenship
Dean Kolthek is Founder and CEO of Advance Citizenship, the officially appointed Authorised Marketing Agent for the São Tomé & Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program under Decree Law No. 07/2025. He has operated authorised CBI programmes since 2017, with more than 300 successful applications across two government-authorised programmes and clients in over 40 countries.
What happens after you make contact
No obligation and no sales pressure. Enquiries are handled in strict confidence and nothing is shared without written consent.
Regional Advisory Hubs
Compliance, source-of-funds and mobility considerations differ by region. Select your hub for guidance specific to it.
FATCA-Compliant Global Mobility for US Persons
Open hub →CPLP Network Access and Lusophone Mobility for EU Nationals
Open hub →Compliant Source-of-Funds Pathways for Russian Nationals
Open hub →Pacific and Lusophone Diversification for Australians
Open hub →Strategic Mobility for Greater China, Singapore and Asian Family Offices
Open hub →Shariah-Compatible Citizenship for GCC and Levantine Principals
Open hub →CPLP and Commonwealth Mobility for African Principals and Diaspora Families
Open hub →Where the Contribution Goes
Advance Citizenship is the officially appointed Authorised Marketing Agent for the São Tomé & Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program — one of only a small number of agents globally authorised to promote and process applications.
Contributions are directed to renewable energy, education and infrastructure projects in São Tomé & Príncipe. In return the applicant receives citizenship and the mobility that follows from it.
If you've been declined by Vanuatu, Dominica, St Kitts, or any other program — you may well qualify here.
Investor Benefits
A low entry cost, an eight-week timeline, and citizenship that does not expire and passes to your descendants.
Permanent, with no expiry and no renewal obligation, and inheritable by direct descendants.
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 61+ countries including Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Africa.
Zero tax on foreign-sourced income and global wealth for non-resident citizens.
Entire application handled remotely. No travel, no residency obligation — ever.
Open to applicants of every nationality except North Korea, the programme's only nationality restriction.
Eligibility for simplified residence, work, and study routes across Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique.
Who It's For
Diversify jurisdictions and hold a second passport at a cost below comparable programmes.
Favourable tax treatment, CPLP trade access, and greater international operating freedom.
Include spouse, children under 30, and parents 55+ in one application. Inheritable for life.
We work with professional introducers globally. Get in touch if you have qualifying clients.
Compliance & Trust
— Begin Your Application —
Most people start with a call. It is confidential, it is with the authorised agent directly, and there is no obligation at the end of it.
No obligation · 100% confidential
