Citizenship by Investment / São Tomé & Príncipe / Route
São Tomé & Príncipe · Investment route
A non-refundable contribution from USD 90,000 under Decreto-Lei n.º 07/2025. São Tomé and Príncipe permits dual nationality — India does not.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
São Tomé and Príncipe — an archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea, off Central Africa — grants nationality for a non-refundable contribution from USD 90,000, under a decree in force since August 2025. There is no residence requirement. It is one of the least expensive citizenship programmes anywhere — and the passport is correspondingly one of the weaker ones, reaching around 58 to 61 destinations, with no Schengen and no UK access.
What you getالمزايا
One of the least expensive citizenship routes anywhere: a non-refundable contribution from USD 90,000.
No residence requirement and no minimum stay — Article 10(3) of Lei 07/2022 waives it.
Statutory basis in Lei n.º 07/2022 and Decreto-Lei n.º 07/2025, live since 1 September 2025.
Nationality is lifetime and inheritable, and São Tomé and Príncipe permits dual nationality.
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 58–61 destinations including Singapore, Hong Kong, Türkiye and the UAE.
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Qualifying investment
Contribution — single applicant
Non-refundable, to the fund named in Decreto-Lei n.º 07/2025.
Contribution — family of 2 to 4
Contribution — each additional dependant
Submission fee
Non-refundable, payable on submission.
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Make a minimum non-refundable contribution of USD 90,000 (single applicant) or USD 95,000 (family of 2–4) to the National Transformation Fund.
Pass due diligence and background checks, including criminal record and source-of-funds verification.
Submit valid travel documents, national ID, and health/medical clearance.
Comply with nationality, sanctions, and program-specific requirements.
Who cannot apply
Funding contribution through illegal or prohibited sources.
Failing government due diligence or background checks.
Adverse criminal records or being subject to international sanctions.
Document checklistالوثائق
Identity & Civil
- ✦Passport copies of main applicant and all dependents (validity ≥ 12 months)
- ✦Birth certificates of main applicant and all dependents
- ✦Marriage certificate (if spouse is included)
- ✦Proof of name change (if applicable)
- ✦De facto partnership proof (if applicable)
Proof of Address & Residence
- ✦Utility bills or bank statements showing current address
- ✦Residency proof of dependents (if different from main applicant)
Due Diligence & Background
- ✦Police clearance certificates for the last 5 years from all countries of residence
- ✦Declaration of lawful source of funds with supporting bank statements
- ✦Due Diligence Report from a UCID-recognized entity (if applicable)
Health & Miscellaneous
- ✦Medical/health clearance certificates
- ✦Proof of payment for NTF contribution, government fees, and due diligence charges
- ✦Additional documents requested by authorities (e.g., tax records, employment letters)
Your XIPHIAS advisor prepares a personalised document list at onboarding. The checklist above is indicative and may vary by family size.
Family scopeالأسرة
All eligible dependants can be included in one application or added after approval.
Age limits, dependency definitions, and addition fees vary by jurisdiction. Your advisor confirms exact rules at onboarding.
Risk notes
Indian citizenship ends automatically on acquiring São Toméan nationality. Read what this means for an Indian passport before committing funds.
There is no Schengen access (EU Annex I) and no UK access. The passport reaches around 58 to 61 destinations.
Article 11(1) of Lei 07/2022 bars naturalisation to anyone already holding more than two foreign nationalities, and applications from holders of three or more are on hold.
Passport issuance for adult dependent children aged 18 and over is on hold pending a revised dependency law.
The contribution is non-refundable.
The programme is administered under a ten-year exclusive concession whose contract is under audit scrutiny. The statute is sound; programme continuity is a live question.
Compliance
Full KYC, AML and government due diligence, with source-of-funds verification and police clearance, for all applicants.
Due diligence and government processing charges are quoted per file.
The programme accepts all nationalities except North Korean and accepts stateless applicants. That is more permissive than Caribbean programmes, and is a due diligence consideration in its own right.
XIPHIAS obtains the gazette copy of Decreto-Lei n.º 07/2025 for your file.
The decree names a Fundo Nacional de Transformação (National Transformation Fund); the programme's own channel describes the payment as a National Development Contribution.
Start the São Tomé & Príncipe route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.