São Tomé and Príncipe visa and entry requirementsEntry authorisation (AE) via eVisaST
- Fee
- Not published
- Processing
- up to 7 business days
São Tomé and Príncipe visa and entry requirements
São Tomé and Príncipe exempts citizens of the EU, the US, Canada and the member countries of the Portuguese-speaking CPLP from visas under Law 5/2015, and the UK and US governments say their citizens can visit without a visa for up to 15 days, Canada's for stays of less than 15 days. The law also exempts nationals of countries covered by visa-abolition or free-movement agreements, and for up to fifteen days nationals of third countries set by Government decree; no official source we could read lists those countries. Otherwise, Law 5/2008 requires foreigners to hold a valid entry visa to enter. The Migration and Border Service says someone living abroad where there is no São Toméan consulate cannot get a visa on arrival at the border and needs an entry authorisation (AE), requested through its eVisaST portal and presented on arrival.
Every fact on this page verified on or after: Oct 2, 2026· How this site works
Check requirements for your passport
Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.
Compare every country: Where a visa you already hold gets you in somewhere else
Visas & entry authorisations
Extension of stay
- Fee
- Not published
- Processing
- —
- Stay per entry
- 30 days
Entry requirements
Passport validity
eVisa applicants upload a scanned passport valid for three months beyond the last day of stay shown on the visa. The UK government tells British visitors only that the passport must be valid for the duration of the stay.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: smf.st (opens in a new tab) · Decree-Law 11/2009Compare every country: How long your passport must be valid, country by country
Vaccinations
Conditional- Yellow fever (International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (yellow card)) — The UK government says a yellow fever certificate is required if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
Travel insurance
Not officially statedNo official source we could read states a travel insurance requirement for São Tomé and Príncipe.
Verified Oct 7, 2026 · Source: smf.st (opens in a new tab)
Onward or return ticket
RequiredeVisa applicants must attach a return ticket to the application.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: smf.st (opens in a new tab)
Proof of funds
RequiredThe eVisa page lists, as additional information at the border, proof of means of subsistence of €100 per day.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: smf.st (opens in a new tab)
Staying past your permitted stay
A foreigner who exceeds the authorised period of stay is fined Dbs. 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 for up to 30 days; Dbs. 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 for more than 30 and up to 90 days; Dbs. 9,000,000 to 12,000,000 for more than 90 and up to 180 days; and Dbs. 13,000,000 to 19,000,000 for more than 180 days. For overstays of up to 180 days the foreigner must also pay the fees that would have been due had the stay been authorised. The same penalty applies when the overstay is detected on departure. The Migration and Borders Service applies the law's fees and administrative sanctions.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: smf.st (opens in a new tab) · Lei n.º 5/2008Compare every country: What staying past your permitted stay costs, country by country
Customs & currency
- Canada's travel advice says penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict: pack your own luggage, monitor it closely and never transport other people's packages, bags or suitcases.
Yellow fever certificate
The UK government says a yellow fever certificate is required if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
The 42 countries WHO lists as a yellow fever risk
Requirements normally count any country you have been in shortly before arrival, not only where you boarded.
- Angola
- Argentina — Misiones and Corrientes Provinces
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Colombia
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ecuador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- French Guiana
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Republic of the Congo
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- Venezuela
International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36 and Annex 7; WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1, 18 November 2022 (revised 3 January 2023)
Country in a nutshell
- Currency
- São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN, Db)
- Safety — Generally safe
- Canada advises taking normal security precautions in São Tomé and Príncipe. It says petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching occurs, particularly in crowded public areas such as markets, beaches and busy streets near hotels, and that, although rare, violent crime occurs, including armed robberies, burglaries and home invasions.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: travel.gc.ca (opens in a new tab) · archived copy Aug 13, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Power plugs
- C, F · 220V 50Hz
- Emergency numbers
- Police: 113 · Ambulance: 222 22 22 · Fire: 112
- Time zone
- UTC+0
Best time to visit
Canada's travel advice says the rainy season extends from September to May, and that seasonal flooding can hamper overland travel and roads may become impassable.
Tips & warnings
The UK and US governments say their citizens can visit without a visa for up to 15 days, and Canada's says for stays of less than 15 days. Under Law 5/2008 a longer stay can be granted as an extension, which is for the director of the Migration and Border Service to grant.
The US State Department says credit cards are not widely accepted and ATMs mostly accept cards from local banks, and Canada says foreign bank cards cannot be used to withdraw money from ATMs and that US dollars, euros and CFA francs are widely accepted for exchange at banks.
The US State Department lists malaria among the diseases prevalent in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Visa requirements by nationality
| Passports | Visas & entry authorisations | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | eVisa | — |
| Albania | eVisa | — |
| Algeria | eVisa | — |
| Angola | Visa-free | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | eVisa | — |
| Argentina | eVisa | — |
| Armenia | eVisa | — |
| Australia | eVisa | — |
| Austria | Visa-free | — |
| Azerbaijan | eVisa | — |
| Bahamas | eVisa | — |
| Bahrain | eVisa | — |
| Bangladesh | eVisa | — |
| Barbados | eVisa | — |
| Belarus | eVisa | — |
| Belgium | Visa-free | — |
| Belize | eVisa | — |
| Benin | eVisa | — |
| Bhutan | eVisa | — |
| Bolivia | eVisa | — |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | eVisa | — |
| Botswana | eVisa | — |
| Brazil | Visa-free | — |
| Brunei | eVisa | — |
| Bulgaria | Visa-free | — |
| Burkina Faso | eVisa | — |
| Cabo Verde | Visa-free | — |
| Cambodia | eVisa | — |
| Canada | Visa-free | — |
| Chile | eVisa | — |
| China | eVisa | — |
| Colombia | eVisa | — |
| Comoros | eVisa | — |
| Costa Rica | eVisa | — |
| Côte d'Ivoire | eVisa | — |
| Croatia | Visa-free | — |
| Cuba | eVisa | — |
| Cyprus | Visa-free | — |
| Czechia | Visa-free | — |
| Denmark | Visa-free | — |
| Djibouti | eVisa | — |
| Dominica | eVisa | — |
| Dominican Republic | eVisa | — |
| Ecuador | eVisa | — |
| Egypt | eVisa | — |
| El Salvador | eVisa | — |
| Equatorial Guinea | Visa-free | — |
| Eritrea | eVisa | — |
| Estonia | Visa-free | — |
| Eswatini | eVisa | — |
| Ethiopia | eVisa | — |
| Fiji | eVisa | — |
| Finland | Visa-free | — |
| France | Visa-free | — |
| Gambia | eVisa | — |
| Georgia | eVisa | — |
| Germany | Visa-free | — |
| Ghana | eVisa | — |
| Greece | Visa-free | — |
| Grenada | eVisa | — |
| Guatemala | eVisa | — |
| Guinea | eVisa | — |
| Guinea-Bissau | Visa-free | — |
| Guyana | eVisa | — |
| Haiti | eVisa | — |
| Honduras | eVisa | — |
| Hong Kong | eVisa | — |
| Hungary | Visa-free | — |
| India | eVisa | — |
| Indonesia | eVisa | — |
| Iran | eVisa | — |
| Iraq | eVisa | — |
| Ireland | Visa-free | — |
| Israel | eVisa | — |
| Italy | Visa-free | — |
| Jamaica | eVisa | — |
| Jordan | eVisa | — |
| Kazakhstan | eVisa | — |
| Kenya | eVisa | — |
| Kiribati | eVisa | — |
| Kosovo | eVisa | — |
| Kyrgyzstan | eVisa | — |
| Laos | eVisa | — |
| Latvia | Visa-free | — |
| Lebanon | eVisa | — |
| Lesotho | eVisa | — |
| Liberia | eVisa | — |
| Libya | eVisa | — |
| Lithuania | Visa-free | — |
| Luxembourg | Visa-free | — |
| Macau | eVisa | — |
| Madagascar | eVisa | — |
| Malawi | eVisa | — |
| Malaysia | eVisa | — |
| Maldives | eVisa | — |
| Mali | eVisa | — |
| Malta | Visa-free | — |
| Marshall Islands | eVisa | — |
| Mauritania | eVisa | — |
| Mauritius | eVisa | — |
| Mexico | eVisa | — |
| Micronesia | eVisa | — |
| Moldova | eVisa | — |
| Mongolia | eVisa | — |
| Montenegro | eVisa | — |
| Mozambique | Visa-free | — |
| Myanmar | eVisa | — |
| Namibia | eVisa | — |
| Nauru | eVisa | — |
| Nepal | eVisa | — |
| Netherlands | Visa-free | — |
| New Zealand | eVisa | — |
| Nicaragua | eVisa | — |
| Niger | eVisa | — |
| Nigeria | eVisa | — |
| North Korea | eVisa | — |
| North Macedonia | eVisa | — |
| Oman | eVisa | — |
| Pakistan | eVisa | — |
| Palau | eVisa | — |
| Palestine | eVisa | — |
| Panama | eVisa | — |
| Papua New Guinea | eVisa | — |
| Paraguay | eVisa | — |
| Peru | eVisa | — |
| Philippines | eVisa | — |
| Poland | Visa-free | — |
| Portugal | Visa-free | — |
| Romania | Visa-free | — |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | eVisa | — |
| Saint Lucia | eVisa | — |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | eVisa | — |
| Samoa | eVisa | — |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Free movement | — |
| Saudi Arabia | eVisa | — |
| Senegal | eVisa | — |
| Serbia | eVisa | — |
| Seychelles | eVisa | — |
| Sierra Leone | eVisa | — |
| Singapore | eVisa | — |
| Slovakia | Visa-free | — |
| Slovenia | Visa-free | — |
| Solomon Islands | eVisa | — |
| Somalia | eVisa | — |
| South Africa | eVisa | — |
| South Sudan | eVisa | — |
| Spain | Visa-free | — |
| Sri Lanka | eVisa | — |
| Sudan | eVisa | — |
| Suriname | eVisa | — |
| Sweden | Visa-free | — |
| Syria | eVisa | — |
| Taiwan | eVisa | — |
| Tajikistan | eVisa | — |
| Tanzania | eVisa | — |
| Thailand | eVisa | — |
| Timor-Leste | Visa-free | — |
| Tonga | eVisa | — |
| Trinidad and Tobago | eVisa | — |
| Tunisia | eVisa | — |
| Turkmenistan | eVisa | — |
| Tuvalu | eVisa | — |
| Uganda | eVisa | — |
| Ukraine | eVisa | — |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free | 15 days |
| United States | Visa-free | 15 days |
| Uruguay | eVisa | — |
| Uzbekistan | eVisa | — |
| Vanuatu | eVisa | — |
| Venezuela | eVisa | — |
| Vietnam | eVisa | — |
| Yemen | eVisa | — |
| Zambia | eVisa | — |
| Zimbabwe | eVisa | — |
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
North Macedonia
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweStay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
No official page we read states the rule for 25 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: Andorra, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Iceland, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Morocco, Norway, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, South Korea, Switzerland, Togo, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vatican City.
Similar destinations
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for São Tomé and Príncipe?
Citizens of the EU, the US, Canada and the member countries of the Portuguese-speaking CPLP are exempt from visas under Law 5/2015. The UK government says British visitors can visit for tourism without a visa for up to 15 days, the US government says the same 15 days for its citizens and Canada's says Canadians need no tourist visa for stays of less than 15 days. The law also exempts nationals of countries covered by visa-abolition or free-movement agreements, and for up to fifteen days nationals of third countries set by Government decree; no official source we could read lists those countries. Otherwise, Law 5/2008 requires foreigners to hold a valid entry visa to enter. The Migration and Border Service (SMF) says someone living abroad where there is no São Toméan consulate cannot get a visa on arrival at the border and needs an entry authorisation (AE), requested through its eVisaST portal and presented on arrival.
How can I stay longer than 15 days?
Under Law 5/2008 (articles 42 to 44), a foreigner admitted with or without a visa who wants to stay longer than allowed on entry can have the stay extended; for those admitted without a visa the extension is up to thirty days, extendable for an equal period, and granting it is the exclusive competence of the director of the Migration and Border Service.
Is yellow fever vaccination required for São Tomé and Príncipe?
The UK government says you need a yellow fever certificate if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
What money should I bring to São Tomé and Príncipe?
The US State Department says credit cards are not widely accepted and ATMs mostly accept cards from local banks; Canada says credit cards can only be used at major international hotels, foreign bank cards cannot be used to withdraw money from ATMs, and US dollars, euros and Central African CFA francs are widely accepted for exchange at banks.
Sources & verification
Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:
- Government of Canada — Travel advice and advisories for São Tomé and Príncipe (opens in a new tab)
- IEC World Plugs (International Electrotechnical Commission) — plug types, voltage and frequency by location (opens in a new tab)
- Lei n.º 5/2015 amending article 25 of Law 5/2008 (Foreigners Act) — Migration and Border Service of São Tomé and Príncipe (opens in a new tab)
- Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras — frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab)
- Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras — São Tomé and Príncipe e-Visa (opens in a new tab)
- Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras (SMF) — Diário da República n.º 47 of 12 August 2008, Lei n.º 5/2008 on the legal regime of foreign citizens (opens in a new tab)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — São Tomé and Príncipe entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — São Tomé and Príncipe travel advice: getting help (opens in a new tab)
- United Nations — Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13(2) (opens in a new tab)
- US Department of State — São Tomé and Príncipe international travel information (opens in a new tab)
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source