How São Tomé and Príncipe’s CBI Program Is Growing: First-Year Results

Key figures from the first year

548 applications were submitted during the first year of São Tomé and Príncipe’s citizenship-by-investment program. Of these, 350 were approved, 12 were rejected, and 186 were still being processed as of 1 September 2026.

117 citizenships had been granted by 1 September 2026. By 1 September 2026, only 29 had received passports. To speed up the process, the government plans to streamline post-approval procedures, improve coordination between government institutions, and strengthen the capacity of the Program’s office in São Tomé and Príncipe. 

2 months was the average time from application to approval. The fastest approval took 26 days, while the average time to receive a passport was 4 months.

Applicants represented 72 nationalities. Chinese nationals submitted the most applications — 159, or about 30% of the total. Russia was second with 122 applications, or 22%, followed by Iran with 50, Germany with 28, and stateless applicants with 10.

47% of applications were submitted by families of two to four people. Individual applicants accounted for 43%, while families of five to eight made up the remaining 10%.

More than $9.8 million was paid into the National Transformation Fund. The money came from around half of the applicants whose applications had already been approved and who had completed their qualifying contribution payments.

The money has already funded energy and digital infrastructure projects. New power generators were installed to strengthen the electricity supply, and IT equipment was upgraded across government institutions.

During the program’s second year, investor contributions are expected to support new projects in energy, water supply, wastewater treatment, waste management, and the further digitalisation of public services.

Timeline of the program’s first year

September 2025. São Tomé and Príncipe launched its citizenship-by-investment program and received its first applications that same month. The program’s head office opened in Dubai, where applications are processed, documents are verified, and applicants undergo due diligence checks. According to the report, São Tomé and Príncipe became the first country to establish its citizenship-by-investment unit outside its own territory.

January 2026. A legislative amendment allowed national ID cards and passports to be issued remotely, without applicants having to travel to São Tomé and Príncipe. The first passport under the program was also issued that month.

April 2026. São Tomé and Príncipe opened an embassy in Abu Dhabi. 

The rules for some applicants were also tightened that month:

1. Applications were no longer accepted from investors who already held citizenship in three or more other countries. This means São Tomé and Príncipe can become an applicant’s third citizenship, but not a fourth.
2. Passport issuance was temporarily suspended for financially dependent children over 18. The restriction was introduced pending new rules governing how adult children can be included in the main applicant’s application.

August 2026. The program received its 500th application, less than a year after its launch.

How to obtain São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment

São Tomé and Príncipe offers citizenship by investment through a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund. The minimum contribution is $90,000. For a family of up to four, it is $95,000, with an additional $5,000 for each family member from the fifth onwards.

A $5,250 application fee is charged regardless of the number of family members included in the application.

The main applicant must be over 18, have no criminal record or serious medical conditions, and must not be subject to sanctions or entry restrictions in countries that have visa-free arrangements with São Tomé and Príncipe. The main applicant can include close family members: a spouse, children aged up to 17, and parents aged 55 or older.

Russian and Belarusian citizens are eligible to apply for São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment. Citizenship is granted for life, while the São Tomé and Príncipe passport must be renewed every 7 years.

Passportivity helps investors obtain residence permits and second citizenship by investment. Book a free consultation with our experts.