Sao Tome and Principe Citizenship for $90,000: A Second Passport Without Relocation

Sao Tome and Principe offers one of the most affordable investment citizenship programs: a full passport for $90,000 without requiring relocation, exams, or renouncing current citizenship. The program has been active since August 2025 and allows for permanent citizenship, transferable to future generations, though its travel benefits are limited.

Main Program Requirements

The program requires a non-refundable contribution to the national transformation fund. For a single applicant, the minimum amount is $90,000; for a family of up to four, it is $95,000. Government fees and document processing are paid separately.

The program allows inclusion of a spouse and children. It is also possible to include certain categories of adult and financially dependent relatives, though additional legal restrictions apply to them.

One condition: if an investor already holds three or more foreign citizenships, their application will not be accepted. The lawful origin of funds must be confirmed, and the applicant must pass a due diligence check.

Application Process Without Relocation

A personal visit to Sao Tome and Principe is not required to obtain citizenship. From April 2026, a remote identity verification procedure will be available.

The official processing benchmark is about two months. However, the program has existed for just over a year, so it is reasonable to allow extra time when planning.

Travel Benefits

This passport’s international travel benefits are relatively limited. Citizens of Sao Tome and Principe have visa-free access to 27 destinations, visa-on-arrival access to 39, and eVisa access to four.

Countries that can be visited without a prior visa include Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa, the Bahamas, Ecuador, and several others. However, key destinations are not on the visa-free list: a visa is required for the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

The Passport’s Value for Investors

For many applicants, the main value of Sao Tome and Principe citizenship lies not in visa-free coverage but in holding an alternative passport. It can open up opportunities unavailable with one’s original passport.

For Russian citizens, this passport is appealing because it allows participation in international investment and migration programs currently restricted for Russian nationals. For example, Greece maintains restrictions on new applications from Russian citizens under its golden visa program, but holding an alternative citizenship allows participation in that program.

What the Passport Does Not Provide

Sao Tome and Principe citizenship by itself does not grant visa-free access to the Schengen Area and does not provide the right to reside in the European Union. It is a second passport, not a migration route to Europe.