Sao Tome and Principe: Updated 2026 Visa Rules and E-Visas

(SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE) Sao Tome and Principe’s 2026 entry rules are simple: many travelers get visa-free entry for short visits, while others must apply for e-visas or a consular visa before they fly. The most common pitfalls are passport validity, the yellow fever card, and arriving without the printed approval letter or cash for airport stamping. For families, business visitors, and people planning a longer stay, the choices also link to a new citizenship by investment program launched in September 2025.

Below is the full trip timeline, from checking eligibility to what immigration officers ask for at Sao Tome International Airport.

Fast map of the 2026 options

Start with your nationality and planned length of stay, because the country uses three main pathways.

• Visa-free entry: citizens of over 50 countries may stay up to 15 days; United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦 nationals are listed for visa-free stays up to 30 days.
• E-visas: a single-entry digital permit, usually approved within 7 days or less, valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
• Consular visas: stickers placed in your passport by an embassy or consulate, with processing that starts at 2–3 business days minimum and longer validity options.

A smaller group, including ordinary passport holders from China, Hong Kong, and Macao, can request a 15‑day visa on arrival, but advance paperwork still lowers risk.

Step 1: Confirm whether you need a visa at all

Sao Tome and Principe’s biggest convenience is the broad short-stay waiver, but it is time-limited.

• U.S. (🇺🇸) and Canadian (🇨🇦) citizens: visa-exempt for visits up to 30 days, provided passport and health rules are met.
• Other waiver nationalities: many holders get visa-free entry for up to 15 days.
• Holders of a valid U.S. or Schengen visa: may use that document to support visa-free stays up to 15 days.

If you don’t fit any of those categories, you must obtain an approved e-visa or a consular visa before travel.

Step 2: Build your document pack before you apply

Most rejections and airport delays come from missing basics, so treat your file like a checklist.

• Passport validity
• For e-visa: passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the entry date.
• For consular/regular visas: passport validity is stricter — 12 months.
• Blank pages: Keep at least one blank page for stamps (e-visa holders are still stamped).
• Health: International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required — bring the original and a copy.
• Travel documents: Confirmed return or onward ticket that matches your allowed stay.
• Proofs: Proof of funds and a short travel letter stating purpose (tourism/business) with names and numbers matching the passport.

Prepare everything before applying; mismatches or missing items cause refusals.

Step 3: Use the online eVisaST route when speed matters

For many travelers, e-visas are the default because the whole process is online and the permit arrives by email.

• The e-visa is single-entry, valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
• Typical approval timelines: often within 7 days, but plan 4–6 weeks before departure to allow fixes and payment issues.
• Apply and print confirmations to avoid airline check-in disputes.

A typical e-visa journey follows four actions:

1. Complete the online application with details that match your passport exactly.
2. Upload a passport photo and supporting files, including your yellow fever certificate and travel ticket.
3. Pay the fee by card, then save the payment receipt.
4. Watch for the approval letter by email and print it for the airline and border control.

Fees and airport stamping (euros):

• Bring exact euro notes for the airport stamping fee — payment is cash only at the airport.
• E-visas cannot be extended beyond the 30-day validity. Options if you need more time:
• Exit the country before expiry and reapply, or
• Apply for a longer-term visa (consular route).
• Entry points for e-visa holders: Sao Tome and Principe International Airport or Ana Chaves Harbour.

Step 4: Choose a consular visa when you need longer validity

Consular visas suit travelers who want multi-entry documents or longer windows.

• Tourist consular visas:
• Single-entry valid up to 3 months.
• Multiple-entry valid up to 6 months.
• Processing: 2–3 business days minimum (can be longer depending on the mission).
• Published fees: $40–$60, plus $5 rush service fee where offered.
• Consular posts may require in-person submission or specific local procedures.

Extension rules for conventional tourist visas:

• A conventional tourist visa can be extended once for an additional 60 days.

This route is preferable for those needing greater flexibility or multiple entries.

Step 5: What to expect at check-in and on arrival

Airlines are the first gatekeepers — keep documents in hand luggage.

• E-visa holders: must present the printed approval letter at check-in and again at immigration.
• Passport consistency: apply with and present the same passport at the border; multiple-passport mismatches invalidate the e-visa.
• Immigration officers will typically ask for:
• Return ticket,
• Proof of funds,
• Yellow fever certificate.
• Expect to pay the euro stamping fee in cash at arrival if not already collected.
• Entry can be refused for conflicting documents, typos, or false information.

Keep documents consistent and readily available. Airline check-in staff and immigration officers will check the same items.

Transit and same-day onward flights

• Transit passengers must hold a confirmed ticket for a flight departing on the same calendar day and remain in the airport transit area.
• Leaving the airport during transit requires the appropriate visa or authorization in advance.

Longer-term plans: the September 2025 citizenship route

Sao Tome and Principe launched a citizenship by investment program in September 2025. This program targets investors seeking residency and a passport without a required stay in-country.

Key program features and timeline:

• Review and approval: 30–60 days after submission, then an oath of allegiance before documents are issued.
• Non-refundable submission fee: $5,000 (flat, regardless of number of relatives included).
• Donation amounts after Approval in Principle:
• $90,000 for a single applicant.
• $95,000 for a family of 2–4 people.
• Each additional dependent (starting with the fifth) adds $5,000.
• Additional government charges (per person):
• Passport issuance: $350.
• National ID: $150.
• Certificate of registration: $250.

Required documentation (heavier than tourism):

• Certified birth certificates (and marriage certificates where relevant).
• Police clearance certificates from every country where you lived in the past five years.
• Proof that funds come from legal, verified sources (recent bank statements).
• Medical certificate confirming good health.

Other points:

• No residency or travel requirements for the program.
• Family members may be included in one application.
• Promoters advertise visa-free access to 61 destinations, including South Africa, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The European Union and the United Kingdom still require visas.

Policy notes that affect U.S. travelers

As of October 23, 2025, Sao Tome and Principe appears on the U.S. State Department list of countries subject to visa bonds, a tool the United States 🇺🇸 uses for selected visa applicants.

• Travelers should read the U.S. State Department’s official Sao Tome and Principe travel information before departure:
• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SaoTomeandPrincipe.html

Practical timeline from planning to departure

Follow this checklist for a smoother trip:

1. Six weeks out

– Check passport expiry.
– Book a yellow fever vaccination appointment.
2. Four weeks out
– Submit your online request via https://www.evisast.com/ or contact the nearest mission for a sticker visa.
3. One week out
– Print two copies of the approval letter and your return ticket.
4. Day of travel
– Carry cash euros for stamping and proof of funds in hand luggage.
– Present documents at check-in and be ready to answer questions clearly at immigration.

If you need a total stay of 60 days, plan to extend a consular visa or follow the extension rules for conventional visas.

Important reminders:
– Always match names and passport numbers exactly across documents.
– Carry original yellow fever certificate.
– Bring exact euro cash for stamping at arrival.