São Tomé & Príncipe · Citizenship by Investment

The World's Most
Affordable Citizenship
by Investment

A government-authorised route to citizenship established under Decree-Law No. 07/2025. Fully remote, advisor-led, with no residency, travel, or language requirements — from USD 95,000 all-inclusive.

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USD 95K

Single applicant

60–90

Days processing

~75

Visa-free countries

Residency required

Government-Authorised · Decree-Law No. 07/2025

From USD 95,000 — World's Most Affordable CBI

Typically 60–90 Days Processing

100% Remote — No Residency Required

Family Inclusion — Spouse, Children & Parents

About the Program

São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment

The São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program is a government-authorised route to citizenship established under Decree-Law No. 07/2025. Designed for qualified applicants seeking a fully remote, advisor-led pathway with outstanding value for money.

The program is administered by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (UCID), and is open to most nationalities with no residency, travel, or language requirements. VIMB manages your application from start to passport delivery.

Contributions are channelled into the National Transformation Fund — supporting renewable energy, housing, education, infrastructure, and eco-tourism development across the archipelago.

Legal Basis

Decree-Law No. 07/2025 of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe — establishing the Citizenship by Investment Program administered by the UCID.

World's Most Affordable CBI USD 95,000 all-inclusive for a single applicant — the lowest entry point of any government-authorised CBI program globally

Fast Processing — 60–90 Days From submission of a complete file. Some cases completed in as little as 30 days

100% Remote Process No travel, no residency, no language requirement — entirely online from onboarding to passport delivery

Comprehensive Family Inclusion Spouse, dependent children up to age 30, and parents or grandparents aged 55+ included in one application

Pre-Approval Before Full Payment Approval in Principle issued by the UCID before the remaining contribution and fees are due

~75 Visa-Free Destinations Including CPLP member states and key global travel destinations

Tax Advantages No capital gains, inheritance, or wealth taxes for non-residents; favourable conditions for CPLP-connected business and trade

Fees & Investment

Simple, Transparent Pricing

All-inclusive fees with no hidden costs. The Stage 1 fee is paid first; the remaining contribution is due only after Approval in Principle from the UCID.

Single Applicant

Principal applicant only — no dependents included

USD 95Kall-in

Stage 1: USD 5,000 · Remaining: USD 90,000

All government & UCID fees included

Pre-Approval before remaining payment

Full VIMB advisory included

Best Value

Family of Up to Four

Principal applicant + up to 3 dependents in one application

USD 100Kall-in

Stage 1: USD 5,000 · Remaining: from USD 95,000

Spouse + 2 dependents included

Children up to age 30 eligible

Parents / grandparents aged 55+ eligible

Full VIMB advisory included

Additional Dependents

Each dependent from the 5th applicant onwards

USD 5Kper person

Added to the family of four fee above

Unlimited additional dependents

Same eligibility criteria apply

Added to main application

Stage 1 — Registration Fee

USD 5,000

Paid at the start to initiate onboarding and UCID due diligence. Deducted from the total program fee.

Non-refundable

Stage 2 — Fund Contribution & Balance

From USD 90,000

Contribution to the National Transformation Fund plus remaining fees — paid only after Approval in Principle is issued by the UCID.

Due after Approval in Principle

Refund Policy

Stage 1 fee (USD 5,000) — Non-refundable under all circumstances.

Fund contribution / remaining payment — Refundable in full if the application is, for any reason, unable to complete following government processing.

No refund applies where rejection results from misrepresentation — including forged documents, undisclosed criminal history, or other material misstatements.

* The above figures reflect government-mandated contribution amounts. Travel-related expenses, apostille and translation costs, and professional service fees are separate and payable by the client.

Application Process

Nine Steps to Your New Citizenship

VIMB manages every stage on your behalf — from online onboarding and eligibility assessment through to passport delivery. No travel required at any point.

Typically 60–90 days from file submission

Begin Your Application

Start with a complimentary eligibility assessment — no commitment required.

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Online Onboarding & Eligibility Assessment

VIMB conducts a confidential eligibility assessment to confirm suitability and advise on the optimal application structure for your family composition. No commitment required at this stage.

Stage 1 — Document Submission & Registration Fee

Service agreement is signed, Stage 1 documents are collected (passport copies, police clearances, proof of address, source of funds), and the registration fee of USD 5,000 is paid. VIMB reviews all documents before submission.

UCID Due Diligence & Background Checks

The Citizenship by Investment Unit (UCID) conducts due diligence and background checks on the applicant and all included dependents. VIMB coordinates all communications and responds to any information requests.

Approval in Principle Issued by UCID

On successful completion of due diligence, the UCID issues an Approval in Principle. Only at this stage is the remaining balance — fund contribution and Stage 2 fees — requested from the applicant.

Stage 2 — Citizenship Application & Remaining Payment

The completed citizenship application form is submitted alongside any additional documents requested by the UCID or government authorities. Evidence of registration fee payment is also included.

Contribution to the National Transformation Fund

The required contribution to the National Transformation Fund is made — from USD 90,000 depending on family composition. Funds are channelled into renewable energy, housing, education, infrastructure, and eco-tourism.

Government Approval & Citizenship Certificate

The São Tomé and Príncipe government grants formal approval and issues the citizenship certificate for the principal applicant and all approved dependents.

Online Oath of Allegiance Ceremony

The formal Oath of Allegiance ceremony is conducted online — no travel to São Tomé and Príncipe required. VIMB coordinates the scheduling and logistics of the ceremony.

Passport Issuance & Delivery

The São Tomé and Príncipe passport is issued and delivered to the client and all approved family members. Delivery is coordinated by VIMB to your preferred address.

Requirements

What You'll Need to Apply

All applicants must pass due diligence conducted by the UCID and provide civil and financial documentation. VIMB provides a full personalised checklist during onboarding.

📋 Stage 1 — Due Diligence & Registration

Your core identity, background, and financial documents are submitted to the UCID for due diligence review and registration clearance before any further commitment is required.

Certified passport copiesApplicant and all dependents included in the application

Criminal record certificatesFrom all countries of nationality and residence over the past 5 years

Proof of current residential addressRecent utility bill, bank statement, or official government document

Signed declaration & bank statementsVerifying lawful source of funds for the contribution

Due diligence reportFrom a UCID-recognised entity — VIMB advises on the appropriate provider

Full personalised checklist provided during onboarding

📄 Stage 2 — Citizenship Application

Following UCID Approval in Principle, the formal citizenship application is submitted. The remaining fund contribution and fees are due at this stage.

Completed citizenship application formSigned by the principal applicant and all included dependents

Evidence of registration fee paymentConfirmation of Stage 1 USD 5,000 fee previously paid

National Transformation Fund contributionFrom USD 90,000 depending on family composition — payable at this stage

Additional documents as requestedAny further documentation required by the UCID or government authorities

Full personalised checklist provided during onboarding

Good to Know

Program Details

Eligible Dependents

The following family members can be included in a single application, subject to individual due diligence.

Spouse or legally recognised partner

Unmarried, financially dependent children up to age 30

Parents and grandparents aged 55 or over, fully financially supported by the main applicant

Nationalities & Restrictions

The program is open to applicants of almost all nationalities, with only one restricted country.

Restricted Country

North Korea

Citizens of North Korea are not eligible for this program.

The program is open to applicants of all other nationalities, including stateless persons. Applications from Russian, Iranian, and other non-sanctioned nationalities are accepted subject to standard due diligence.

Processing Timeframe

Processing is subject to file quality, due diligence outcomes, and administrative scheduling.

Typically 60–90 days from submission of a complete due diligence file

Some cases completed in as little as 30 days where files are complete and due diligence is straightforward

Subject to accuracy and completeness of documents, due diligence outcome, and Oath of Allegiance scheduling

Advisor Support — Included

VIMB's full advisory service is included within the program fee. Your dedicated case advisor is with you at every stage.

Case Strategy & Eligibility GuidancePersonalised assessment and optimal application structure

Document Review & Pre-Submission ComplianceFull review before submission to avoid delays or rejections

End-to-End Process ManagementFrom Oath of Allegiance coordination through to passport delivery

Program Comparison

STP vs Vanuatu CIIP

How does São Tomé and Príncipe compare to the Vanuatu CIIP? Both programs are fully remote with no residency requirement — but there are key differences in cost, investment structure, and passport strength.

	🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe	🇻🇺 Vanuatu CIIP
Family of Four Fee	USD 100,000	USD 165,000
Investment Component	No	Yes (USD 50,000 redeemable)
Processing Time	60–90 days (some 30 days)	80–90 days
Residency Required	Not Required	Not Required
Dual Citizenship	Yes	Yes
Remote Process	Yes	Yes
Visa-Free Countries	~75	~100

* Figures reflect government-mandated contribution amounts. Travel, apostille, translation costs, and professional service fees are separate. Speak with a VIMB advisor to determine which program best fits your circumstances.

Begin Your Application