Plain answers, no jargon.

The NDC is the sole route under the São Tomé & Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program. It is a direct, non-refundable contribution to the government's National Transformation Fund, which supports renewable energy, healthcare, education, and infrastructure in São Tomé & Príncipe.

The program was established under Decree Law No. 07/2025, signed into law by the Government of São Tomé & Príncipe in 2025. It is one of the world's newest citizenship by investment programs.

Yes. The program is established by sovereign law — Decree Law No. 07/2025 — and is administered by the Government of São Tomé & Príncipe. Applications are processed exclusively through officially appointed Authorised Marketing Agents. Advance Citizenship is one of only a small number of agents globally authorised under this decree.

São Tomé & Príncipe is a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa. It is a stable, democratic republic, a member of the United Nations and the African Union, and a founding member of the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries). Its economy is growing, supported by oil revenues, sustainable agriculture, and emerging eco-tourism.

STP offers several advantages over Caribbean programs: lower entry cost (from US$90,000 vs US$100,000–$250,000 for Caribbean programs), shorter processing time (8 weeks vs 3–6 months for most Caribbean programs), CPLP network access that no Caribbean program can offer, and a more inclusive eligibility policy. Caribbean programs currently have stronger overall passport rankings, but STP's trajectory is upward as the program matures.

Yes. São Tomé & Príncipe has been a multiparty democracy since 1990 with a strong record of peaceful transfers of power. It is consistently rated among the most stable and democratic nations in Africa. There is no military conflict, no significant civil unrest, and no history of political violence.

The US$90,000 is the government contribution for a single applicant. It does not include the due diligence fee, professional agent fees, or document preparation costs. All fees are disclosed in writing before engagement. The full fee schedule is: Single applicant US$90,000; Couple US$95,000; Family of 3 US$95,000; Family of 4 US$95,000; Additional dependant US$5,000 each; Due diligence US$5,500 per adult.

You pay the qualifying contribution only after your application has been approved by the São Tomé & Príncipe Citizenship Investment Unit. You are not required to make the government contribution before receiving Approval-in-Principle.

No. Once citizenship is granted there are no renewal fees, no annual fees, and no obligation to make further contributions. STP citizenship is permanent.

No. Professional agent fees are separate and disclosed in full before engagement. You will receive a complete fee schedule in writing before any commitment is made.

No. The government contribution is payable in a single transfer upon Approval-in-Principle. Instalment arrangements are not available for the government contribution.

18 years old. Dependants under 18 can be included in a parent or guardian's application.

There is no formal minimum net worth requirement beyond the ability to make the qualifying contribution. However, source of funds documentation is required to demonstrate that the contribution comes from legitimate sources.

A medical certificate is required as part of the application documentation. Applicants with serious infectious diseases may be declined. Advance Citizenship will advise on specific health documentation requirements during the consultation.

Applications with serious criminal convictions will be declined. Minor historical offences may be assessed on a case-by-case basis. All applicants undergo enhanced due diligence. We recommend disclosing all relevant history during your initial consultation so we can give you an honest assessment before you commit to the process.

Yes. São Tomé & Príncipe formally accepts stateless persons as eligible applicants — one of the few CBI programs globally to do so explicitly.

Children under 30 years of age who are financially dependent on the main applicant can be included in a single application.

Yes. Parents aged 55 or above who are financially dependent on the main applicant can be included in the application. Each parent costs US$5,000 as an additional dependant.

Each dependant requires: passport copy, birth certificate (for children), marriage certificate (for spouse), proof of financial dependency, medical certificate, and police clearance. Full documentation requirements are provided upon engagement.

Yes. São Tomé & Príncipe formally recognises de facto and unmarried partners as eligible dependants — one of the few CBI programs globally to do so explicitly.

For initial submission you will need: valid passport (6+ months validity), police certificate from your country of residence, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), bank reference letter, and source of funds documentation. A CV is not required. A full document checklist is provided upon engagement.

Yes. Most documents require notarisation and/or apostille certification. Advance Citizenship manages the full certification process on your behalf.

Documents not in Portuguese or English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Advance Citizenship coordinates translations as part of the application management service.

Yes. Advance Citizenship handles applications from clients in any country. The entire process is remote and we have no geographic restriction on clients.

Background checks are conducted by the government's authorised due diligence providers and cover criminal history, financial integrity, reputational screening, and source of funds verification. The process is included in the application preparation stage.

The Oath of Allegiance is a formal declaration of allegiance to São Tomé & Príncipe, required as part of the naturalisation process. It can be taken in person at a São Tomé & Príncipe consulate or virtually by video conference. No travel to São Tomé is required.

Your São Tomé & Príncipe passport is dispatched by the government and couriered to your nominated address worldwide by Advance Citizenship.

São Tomé & Príncipe has a limited number of tax treaties. Your tax obligations in your country of residence are governed by that country's laws regardless of your citizenship. We strongly recommend specialist tax advice in your country of residence before applying.

Citizenship alone does not change your tax residency. To change your tax status you typically need to establish tax residency in a new jurisdiction. STP citizenship is one component of a broader tax planning strategy — not a standalone solution. Consult a specialist tax adviser.

Yes. STP citizenship grants the right to open bank accounts in the country. The main commercial banks operating in STP include Banco Internacional de São Tomé e Príncipe (BISTP) and Ecobank.

61+ countries currently offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, including Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Türkiye, and most CPLP Portuguese-speaking countries. See the Henley Passport Index for the current full and up-to-date list.

Not directly via visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, but through CPLP membership, STP citizens have special residency, work, and study rights in Portugal — which provides access to European Union pathways through Portuguese residency.

Yes. You may hold and travel on both passports simultaneously.

The Government of São Tomé & Príncipe does not share citizenship records with other governments. Your STP citizenship is strictly confidential under STP law.

Advance Citizenship is formally appointed as an Authorised Marketing Agent under Decree Law No. 07/2025. We provide a copy of our authorisation letter to all prospective clients upon request.

Advance Citizenship is an Australian-registered company operating under Australian business regulations. We comply with international AML and KYC standards and have a formal Sub-Agent Agreement framework for all intermediary relationships.

The government due diligence fee of US$5,500 per adult is non-refundable. Professional fees are subject to the terms set out in the engagement letter. We do not charge the main programme contribution fee until Approval-in-Principle is received.