The São Tomé and Príncipe CBI program launched in August 2025 and has already changed in 2026. The latest updates allow remote passport processing and delivery, removing the need for an in-person visit.
However, eligibility has tightened for some applicants, with applications suspended for those holding three or more nationalities.
Together, these changes make the program more accessible for some investors but more restrictive for applicants with multiple citizenships.
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São Tomé and Príncipe’s citizenship-by-investment scheme is a government-authorized route to full citizenship and a second passport.
It is offered through a non-refundable donation to the country’s National Transformation Fund (NTF).
The program operates under Decree Law No. 07/2025 and managed by the Citizenship Investment Unit (CIU), a public-private partnership headquartered in Dubai.
The program is notable for being donation-only, fully remote, and one of the lower-cost and faster-moving CBI programs currently available.
It requires no residency, no interview, and no language test.
The minimum investment is $90,000 for a single applicant to São Tomé’s CBI program. A family of up to four pays $95,000 total, with each additional dependent costing $5,000 more.
There are also mandatory government fees on top of the donation:
For a single applicant, the total prescribed cost reaches approximately $95,750 once all administrative fees are included.
Adding a spouse post-approval costs $10,000; adding a child or parent costs $5,000; a newborn under one year is $500.
The process for investment citizenship in São Tomé and Príncipe runs entirely online and takes approximately 6 to 10 weeks from application to passport delivery.
Here is how it works in practice:
Applicants must be at least 18, hold a clean criminal record, be in good health, and demonstrate a legal source of funds.
Notably, the program accepts cryptocurrency as a qualifying source of funds.
The biggest 2026 change is that São Tomé’s CBI process can now be completed entirely remotely, including passport issuance.
At the same time, the program introduced stricter nationality and dependent eligibility controls.
The 2026 updates affect three main areas:
Remote Biometric Verification and Passport Issuance Introduced
Until April 9, 2026, obtaining a São Tomé passport required in-person fingerprint and signature capture, either in São Tomé, Lisbon, or Brussels.
That requirement has been removed entirely.
A legislative amendment now permits remote identity verification via video session with the Civil Registry and Notary Office.
As of May 4, 2026, the CIU went further, canceling even the video conference requirement, with all investor information and documents now transferred exclusively through the licensed agent.
Passports and national ID cards are couriered directly to investors.
This creates one of the few CBI processes that can now be completed entirely remotely.
Suspension of Applications for Triple-Nationality Applicants
Effective immediately from the April 10, 2026 memorandum, new applications from individuals holding three or more foreign nationalities are suspended.
This enforces Nationality Law No. 07/2022, which prohibits granting São Toméan nationality to anyone already holding three or more foreign passports.
The matter remains under parliamentary review. Applicants holding one or two nationalities remain eligible.
Investors with three or more passports should monitor updates from the CIU before applying.
Changes to Dependent Eligibility (Adult Dependents Under Review)
The CIU confirmed in April 2026 that a revised dependency framework is being finalized.
Previously, adult children up to age 30 who were unmarried and financially dependent on the main applicant were eligible as dependents.
The new framework will formally define the eligibility criteria for this category.
CIU Director Disney Leite Ramos stated the revised dependency law is already underway and expected to be implemented in due course.
Until it is published, adult dependent applications will face extra scrutiny.
Pause on Passport Issuance for Certain Adult Dependents
Alongside the framework review, passport issuance for adult dependents above 18 years of age has been temporarily paused.
This affects applications where adult children are included.
For families with adult children as dependents, this introduces a processing delay.
The practical advice is to apply early, flag dependent ages clearly with your licensed agent, and seek confirmation on current issuance timelines before submitting.
Inclusion of Civil Partners in Applications
The program formally recognizes civil partners and de facto relationships as eligible dependents. A formal marriage is not required.
Non-married partners can qualify if the relationship is documented through evidence such as joint utility bills, shared bank accounts, or co-booked travel records.
This is an unusually flexible provision compared to most CBI programs and is particularly relevant for expats in long-term partnerships without formal registration.
Stricter Operational Oversight and Agent Regulation
In February 2026, the CIU revoked a marketing agent’s license after confirming the agent offered the program at $89,000, which is $1,000 below the prescribed minimum.
This was the first enforcement action since the program’s launch.
The CIU framed the revocation as a precedent, stating a zero-tolerance approach to violations and warning all licensed agents to act in a manner that safeguards the integrity, reputation, and credibility of the Program.
Agents earn a fixed $20,000 commission and have no discretion to adjust pricing.
For investors, this means the total cost is non-negotiable.
Any agent quoting below $95,750 for a single applicant should be treated as a red flag.
Impact on Investors
The 2026 changes make the program simultaneously more accessible and more tightly controlled.
Fully remote processing reduces friction and eliminates the need for travel to limited embassy locations.
However, the triple-nationality suspension and adult dependent pause create immediate planning implications for a subset of applicants.
Indian, Chinese, Russian, and German nationals are the top nationalities historically using this program.
Most of them hold one or two existing passports and remain unaffected by the triple-nationality rule.
Investors already holding passports from, say, a Caribbean country plus their home nation should verify their nationality count before applying.
The agent licensing crackdown also signals that the CIU intends to run a tightly governed program.
Work only with CIU-licensed agents, verify their standing directly, and do not proceed with any agent quoting below the official prescribed cost.
The core structure of São Tomé’s citizenship-by-investment program remains unchanged in 2026. The minimum investment, donation-only model, no-residency requirement, and fast processing timelines all remain in place.
Most operational changes introduced in 2026 relate to compliance, applicant eligibility, and remote processing rather than pricing or investment structure.
Minimum Investment Still Starts at $90,000
The NTF donation threshold has not changed.
Single applicants pay $90,000, and families of up to four pay $95,000.
This remains one of the lowest CBI entry points globally.
No Residency or Physical Presence Requirement
Investors do not need to live in, visit, or establish any connection to São Tomé and Príncipe at any stage.
This appeals particularly to globally mobile investors managing multiple jurisdictions.
Fast Processing Timeline (Approx. 2 Months)
Total application-to-passport time remains approximately 2 to 2.5 months, with some approvals reportedly completed in as little as four weeks.
The removal of biometric travel requirements is likely to compress timelines further.
Donation-Based Model Only (No Real Estate Option)
The program accepts only contributions to the National Transformation Fund.
There is no real estate track, no business investment option, and no equity route.
This keeps the process simple but limits flexibility compared to multi-route programs like Vanuatu.
Family Inclusion Framework Largely Intact
Spouses, civil partners, children under 18, unmarried adult children up to 30 (pending framework update), and parents and grandparents aged 55 or older all remain eligible.
Up to four generations can be planned under a single application strategy.
Visa-Free Access and Passport Strength Unchanged
The São Tomé passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 58 to 96 destinations.
It depends on the index used, including Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Significant markets like the EU and the US still require a visa. Passport strength has not been altered by the 2026 program changes.
São Tomé remains one of the lowest-cost and most remotely accessible citizenship-by-investment programs in 2026, but it offers weaker global mobility than established Caribbean programs and no EU access.
The main trade-off is simplicity and cost versus passport strength. São Tomé now allows fully remote processing without travel, while competing programs such as Vanuatu still require in-person passport collection.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu remains the fastest CBI program globally, processing citizenship in 30 to 60 days.
Entry cost starts at approximately $130,000 for a single applicant under the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP).
This includes a $50,000 redeemable investment after four years, bringing the effective net cost closer to $80,000.
However, Vanuatu still requires in-person passport collection, unlike São Tomé’s now fully courier-based model.
Investors must still visit a Vanuatu embassy or consulate for passport collection.
Vanuatu’s passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 93 to 96 countries.
Malta
Malta formally ended its investor-based citizenship route in April 2025.
In July 2025, the Maltese Citizenship Act was amended to replace it entirely with a Citizenship by Merit framework.
There is no fixed monetary threshold under this new system.
Eligibility is assessed case by case based on scientific, cultural, entrepreneurial, or philanthropic contributions to Malta.
Malta EU citizenship is no longer available through direct investment, making it a fundamentally different category from São Tomé’s accessible donation model.
São Tomé and Príncipe is considered one of Africa’s most politically stable and peaceful nations, functioning as a stable multi-party democracy since independence.
Violent crime is low.
It is not a major travel destination for most CBI investors, but the political risk profile is favorable for a citizenship holding.
Yes. Dual citizenship is explicitly permitted under São Toméan law. Investors are not required to renounce their existing nationality.
Citizenship is granted for life and can be passed to future generations.
The only restriction introduced in 2026 is that applicants currently holding three or more foreign nationalities cannot apply until the parliamentary review is resolved.
The passport provides access to approximately 58 to 96 destinations on a visa-free or visa-on-arrival basis, depending on the index used.
It does not provide access to the EU, the US, or the UK without a visa, which is a meaningful limitation for investors whose primary goal is Schengen or transatlantic travel.
For those seeking broader global mobility, the São Tomé passport works best as a complementary second passport alongside a stronger primary document.
The key benefits are:
• Low cost: One of the world’s lowest CBI entry points at $90,000
• Fully remote process: No travel required at any stage
• Speed: Citizenship in approximately 2 to 2.5 months
• Dual citizenship: No renunciation required; inheritable by descendants
• Family inclusivity: Spouses, civil partners, children up to 30, parents, and grandparents eligible
• No tax burden for non-residents: No wealth tax or global income imposed on non-resident citizens
• Cryptocurrency accepted: Source-of-funds documentation can include crypto holdings
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