Sao Tome and Principe:Visa Requirements

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Sao Tome and Principe Visa Requirements Map

Sao Tome and Principe: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • A valid passport or a valid travel document accepted under the relevant international regulations must be carried for visa-free entry. The current visa exemption page requires the passport to be valid for at least three more months on the date of entry into the country.
  • If the exemption is based on a valid Schengen visa or a United States visa, the passport must be valid for more than three months, the underlying visa must remain valid on the travel date, and the duration of stay must not exceed 15 days.
  • The general foreigner legislation also accepts, under certain conditions, laissez-passer documents issued by states or international organizations, on-duty flight crew documents, and identity documents of seafarers on duty in accordance with the relevant international convention. The alternative document to be used must be appropriate for the traveler's status and the applicable agreement.
  • The standard short-term visa exemption allows a stay of up to 15 days. It may be possible to extend the stay up to 90 days. Since longer visa-free stay periods based on bilateral agreements may exist, the permitted period may vary according to the agreement applicable to the traveler.
  • The traveler must have sufficient financial means to cover accommodation and subsistence. If it is proven by document that food and accommodation are fully covered, an exemption from the additional obligation to show daily financial resources may apply. The exact daily amount required for visa-free entry is not specified definitively in the central official source.
  • Border authorities may request the presentation of a return or onward travel ticket. The format of the ticket, whether the reservation must be confirmed, and the common document standard applied to all visa-exempt travelers are not specified definitively in the central official source.
  • Entry must take place through authorized border crossings and under the control of the Immigration and Borders Service. The traveler may be required to complete an entry-exit or embarkation-disembarkation form upon arrival and be subject to legal border controls.
  • The basic foreigner legislation lists the International Certificate of Vaccination among the entry conditions. Which vaccination is mandatory for travelers arriving from which routes is not specified definitively in the current central official source.
  • If a foreigner under eighteen years of age travels without a parent or legal representative, the person who will assume responsibility for the stay in São Tomé and Príncipe must be authorized by the legal representative. Otherwise, the child's entry into the country may be refused.
  • The number of blank pages in the passport, biometric or machine-readable passport requirement, acceptance of damaged passports, travel health insurance, minimum insurance coverage, and routine biometric data processing are not specified definitively in the central official source.

E-Visa Application Requirements

  • The eVisaST application is made online on the official Immigration and Borders Service platform. The application process consists of selecting the visa type, filling in the form, and confirming the application summary.
  • The electronic application route has been established especially for travelers in countries or regions where São Tomé and Príncipe has no diplomatic or consular representation to obtain entry authorization in advance. The applicable application route may vary according to the country of residence, the existing diplomatic representation, and the type of visa requested.
  • A readable scan of the passport in PDF format must be attached to the application. The passport's validity period must continue for at least three months after the end of the requested stay indicated on the visa. Which pages of the passport are to be scanned, the number of blank pages, and the maximum PDF file size are not specified definitively in the central official source.
  • The travel itinerary, addresses, reservation information, and accommodation or contact details in São Tomé and Príncipe must be entered on the application form. If not staying with a person, a hotel or other accommodation facility may be indicated as the contact point in the country.
  • A round-trip transportation ticket must be mandatorily attached to the application. Reservation information such as the reservation number, the person who made the transaction, and the person in whose name the reservation is issued may be requested.
  • If the applicant is a child, scanned copies of the child's birth registration certificate and the declaration of the legal guardians must be submitted.
  • In an electronic application made for transit purposes, a document showing that the traveler will be admitted to the final destination country must be scanned and uploaded. If the final country requires a visa, the relevant visa or entry authorization must be part of this evidence.
  • Proof of subsistence in the amount of 100 euros per day is required upon entry into the country. How the proof is to be presented, whether by bank statement, cash, card limit, or other financial document, is not specified in detail on the central e-visa page.
  • The application fee is paid at the border. The current fee amount and accepted payment methods are not specified definitively in the central official source.
  • The transaction or reference number generated after submitting the application must be kept. The application result is checked on the official system using this number. Since the submitted information cannot be changed afterwards, all data must exactly match the spelling in the passport.
  • The published standard processing time for the application is seven business days. The entry authorization application should normally be made at least seven days before travel. A longer application period may apply for preliminary authorization requests regarding a residence visa, and the relevant regulation provides for a 60-day advance period.
  • The electronic entry authorization must be presented upon arrival in the country. Whether the document must be presented in printed form or on an electronic device is not specified definitively in the central official source.
  • The electronic authorization does not constitute a guarantee of entry into the country. The passport, financial sufficiency, purpose of travel, and other entry conditions may be reassessed at the border.
  • The number and size of photos, background color, photo file format, travel health insurance, period of bank statement, minimum bank balance, fingerprint, and routine interview requirements for the e-visa are not specified definitively in the central official source.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • A consular visa application is made to the competent embassy or career consular authority of São Tomé and Príncipe. The application must be completed on the form used by the representation, signed by the applicant, and submitted together with the documents required for the visa type.
  • The application should normally be made to the representation in the country where the applicant habitually resides or in the consular district authorized for that country. If justified reasons exist, processing at another representation may be permitted.
  • It is the basic procedure for the applicant to apply in person. The diplomatic mission or consular authority may waive the requirement of personal appearance in exceptional cases, provided that the reason is recorded on the application form.
  • The application form must contain the applicant's full identity information, the type of travel document, its number, date and place of issue, validity period, issuing authority, purpose of travel, and intended duration of stay.
  • A responsibility undertaking must be submitted by the person who assumes the applicant's travel or stay in the country. The standard text of the undertaking, the identity documents to be submitted by the sponsor, and the manner of proving the sponsor's financial capacity are not specified in detail in the current central source.
  • If the intended stay is longer than 90 days, a criminal record certificate is requested from the competent authority of the country of nationality or from the competent authority of the country where the applicant has resided for more than one year.
  • Three identical, recent, color, passport-type photographs with a plain background must be submitted. The dimensions in centimeters, exact background color, maximum date of taking, and digital technical specifications of the photographs are not specified definitively in the central official source.
  • A medical certificate must be submitted for temporary visa applications exceeding 90 days and for residence visa applications. The content, validity period, and standard of the authorized medical institution for the medical certificate are not specified definitively in the central official source.
  • The International Certificate of Vaccination, documents showing accommodation conditions, proof of sufficient subsistence means, and a round-trip ticket must be submitted. The number of months of bank statement required for financial sufficiency and the minimum amount to be held in the account are not specified definitively in the central official source.
  • In a temporary visa application, a round-trip reservation and documents proving the purpose of travel and stay conditions must be submitted. If traveling for a family visit, a document showing the family link with a São Tomé and Príncipe citizen or a person legally residing in the country is requested.
  • For a child or a person legally incapable of applying, the form must be signed by the legal representative. For applicants under eighteen years of age, a document showing that the person exercising parental authority authorizes the travel must be submitted.
  • For a residence visa, supporting documents vary according to the purpose of travel. For dependent employment, an undertaking of an employment contract signed by the parties; for independent work, an undertaking of a service contract and authorization to practice the profession; for investment, a document showing the investment; for study, proof of income source or scholarship in the country; for volunteering, proof of subsistence means may be requested.
  • The travel document rule in the consular visa legislation stipulates that the document must be valid for at least 12 months longer than the intended stay. Since the current e-visa and visa exemption pages have different three-month validity thresholds, the current period to be applied in a consular application must be confirmed with the relevant representation.
  • A temporary visa may be issued with a validity of up to 180 days and for one or multiple entries. A single uninterrupted stay may not exceed three months, and the visa must be used within 90 days after issuance. The temporary visa does not grant the right to work in gainful activities other than cultural activities.
  • The residence visa is valid for two entries and allows its holder to stay in the country for two months and apply for a residence permit.
  • The current consular visa fee, accepted payment methods, and standard processing time are not specified definitively in the central official source. The representation applied to may request additional documents.
  • A current and centrally applicable checklist for all representations has not been published for translation of documents into Portuguese, notarization, apostille or consular legalization, travel health insurance, minimum insurance coverage, fingerprint, and routine interview requirements.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • In a transit visa application, a copy of the ticket or transport document showing transportation to the final destination country must be submitted. It must be proven that the traveler will be admitted to the final country, and if a visa is required for that country, a valid destination country visa must be presented.
  • The traveler must prove that they have sufficient subsistence means for the entire transit period they will be in São Tomé and Príncipe. The exact required amount for a consular transit visa is not specified definitively in the central official source. On the electronic application route, proof of financial sufficiency in the amount of 100 euros per day is required at the border.
  • A transit visa may be issued for single entry or, exceptionally, for two entries. Each transit stay may not exceed four days.
  • A transit visa is not required when the journey is interrupted solely due to a technical stop of the vehicle used and the journey continues uninterrupted. In such a case, the Immigration and Borders Service may determine the place where the traveler will wait.
  • In an electronic transit application, a document showing the right to enter the final country must be scanned and uploaded to the system. The published processing time for the application result is seven business days.
  • The transit visa fee, current payment method, technical specifications of the photograph, and separate travel insurance requirement for transit travelers are not specified definitively in the central official source.
Population
244,994(2026 est.)
Official language
Portuguese
Government type
Semi-presidential republic
Continent
Africa
Capital
São Tomé
Currency
São Tomé & Príncipe dobras
Area
1,001 km²
Phone code
+239

Sao Tome and Principe: Key Destinations

The capital of São Tomé and Príncipe is São Tomé, located on the main island of São Tomé. Most international visitors arrive via São Tomé International Airport, which connects to a handful of destinations in Africa and Europe. The city serves as the primary hub for exploring the country.

The islands feature a blend of Portuguese colonial heritage and Creole culture, with historic roças (plantation estates) scattered across the landscape. São Tomé and Príncipe is known for its lush rainforests, volcanic peaks, and pristine beaches, attracting nature enthusiasts and beachgoers alike.

Travelers typically base themselves in São Tomé city before exploring the island by road. Inter-island travel between São Tomé and Príncipe is possible via small aircraft or occasional ferry services, with Príncipe offering more secluded resorts and eco-lodges.