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São Tomé and Príncipe

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
14,551
Top destination, 2023
Portugal
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
70
UK visas issued, 2025
32
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
0.9%
NationalitySTISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<STSAO<TOME<AND<PRINCIPE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
ST3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 14 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from São Tomé and Príncipe move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Portugal14,504
  2. Hungary10
  3. Belgium10
  4. France7
  5. Luxembourg7
  6. Netherlands5
  7. Japan3
  8. Switzerland2
  9. Finland1
  10. Denmark1
  11. Italy1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

7,27615k200020032006200920122015201820212023
7,27615k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000615
20012,660
20021,620
2003851
2004931
2005731
2006688
2007869
20081,119
20091,131
20101,320
20111,364
20121,057
2013814
2014624
2015553
2016606
2017815
20181,204
20191,579
20201,621
20212,017
20222,832
202314,551
Share going to the top destination
99.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
11
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in São Tomé and Príncipe who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Portugal23,121
  2. Angola7,062
  3. Gabon7,058
  4. Equatorial Guinea1,936
  5. Cape Verde1,893
  6. Luxembourg192
  7. Central African Republic82
  8. Togo40
  9. Guinea29
  10. Denmark9
  11. Norway6
  12. Greece4

Living abroad by year

21k41k19901995200020052010201520202024
21k41k19902000201020202024
Data table
199013,668
199518,868
200024,414
200528,200
201029,623
201533,671
202037,872
202441,433
Living abroad, 2024
41,433
Change since 2000
+69.7%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
55.8%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. G226
  2. B1/B218
  3. J19
  4. A27
  5. A14
  6. G43
  7. G12
  8. F11

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

3876201720182019202020212022202320242025
387620172019202120232025
Data table
201750
201866
201969
202018
202115
202233
202340
202476
202570
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. GV36
  2. IR54
  3. GV12
  4. GV22
  5. F41
  6. DV1
Immigrant visas, FY2025
16
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in São Tomé and Príncipe who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

102020152016201720182019202220232024
102020152017201920232024
Data table
201510
201610
201710
201810
201910
202220
202310
202410
Green cards, FY2024 (born in São Tomé and Príncipe)
10
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in São Tomé and Príncipe)
10
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
80
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of São Tomé and Príncipe (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in São Tomé and Príncipe (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor21
  2. Other9
  3. Family1
  4. Study1

Visas issued by year

3774201020122014201620182020202220242025
3774201020132016201920222025
Data table
201044
201143
201228
201337
201466
201574
201632
201748
201833
201952
202043
202164
202242
202357
202443
202532
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Japan

Citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

36201420162018202220242025
36201420162018202220242025
Data table
20141
20151
20161
20174
20184
20192
20225
20236
20244
20254
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services3
  2. Designated Activities1
Residents, December 2025
4
In work-related statuses
3
Share in work-related statuses
75.0%
Students
0
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in São Tomé and Príncipe

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in São Tomé and Príncipe, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Portugal10,3379,532890.9%

Applications by year

5,16910k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
5,16910k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20092,066
20102,452
20112,354
20122,073
20131,957
20142,490
20152,738
20163,066
20173,726
20183,504
20193,548
20201,002
20211,461
20224,133
20239,582
202410,337
Refusal rate, 2024
0.9%
Refusal rate, 2019
15.4%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Work3,161
  2. Other reasons2,140
  3. Education656
  4. Family373
First permits by country
  1. Portugal6,230
  2. Hungary23
  3. France16
  4. Belgium14
  5. Spain11
  6. Switzerland10
  7. Luxembourg10
  8. Romania6
  9. Serbia4
  10. Germany2
  11. Netherlands2
  12. Italy1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)18
  2. Researchers2
  3. Other paid activities3,141
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
0
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
808
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
1,031
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
95
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
32,743
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
32
Changed status into work, 2025
4
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Austria2025101
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in São Tomé and Príncipe

Countries with an embassy or consulate in São Tomé and Príncipe, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Brazil1——
China1——
France1——
India1——
Nigeria1——
Portugal1——
South Africa1——
Countries
7
Missions
7
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by São Tomé and Príncipe, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

18362000200320062009201220152018202120242025
1836200020052010201520202025
Data table
20000
20011
20021
20032
20041
20052
20062
20072
20083
20092
20106
20117
20126
201327
201427
201520
201618
201718
201818
201911
20209
202111
202225
202320
202414
202536
Remittances received, 2025
US$36 million
Share of GDP, 2025
3.7%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from São Tomé and Príncipe

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • São Tomé and Príncipe → Portugal
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more