Official programme rates. No provider add-ons. São Tomé and Príncipe only.
São Tomé and PríncipeCitizenship by Investment
Get a direct introduction to a specialist team working exclusively with the São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Programme.
The official programme charges are not increased. No professional fee, referral fee, translation fee, local-agent fee or post-approval fee is added.
Application preparation, translations, local coordination and support through citizenship and passport issuance are included.
The Chocolate Islands makes the introduction only. It does not handle applications, receive programme funds or charge for the introduction.
Request a Direct IntroductionSão Tomé citizenship by investment at a glance
How much does São Tomé citizenship by investment cost?
The programme has an official contribution and separate official add-on charges.
Official contribution
| Application | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Single applicant | US$90,000 |
| Family of two to four people | US$95,000 |
| Each additional dependent | US$5,000 |
Official add-on charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Submission fee | US$5,000 per application |
| Citizenship documents | US$750 per applicant |
The citizenship-document charge covers the Certificate of Registration, national identity card and passport.
These are official programme charges. They are not fees added by the specialist team.
There is no separate charge for:
One country and one programme
The specialist team works only with the São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Programme. It does not sell citizenship or residence programmes from multiple countries. Its work is concentrated on one legal framework, one fee structure and one administrative process.
This specialist focus covers:
Why this differs from a general citizenship provider
Several organisations promote São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment alongside programmes from many other countries. A general provider may divide responsibility between sales representatives, document teams, translators, external agents and local contacts.
Limited programme-specific knowledge
Experience with citizenship by investment does not automatically mean detailed knowledge of São Tomé and Príncipe. The programme is relatively new. Its legislation, documentation and administrative procedures require current, country-specific knowledge.
Multiple intermediaries
The organisation advertising the programme may not be the organisation handling the application. A file may pass between several businesses before reaching the people responsible for the process locally, making it harder to establish who is checking documents, completing translations or responsible for local coordination.
Additional provider fees
The minimum government contribution is often used as an advertised starting price. A provider may then add professional, administrative, translation, referral, local-agent or post-approval charges. The specialist team introduced through The Chocolate Islands does not add these charges.
Outdated information
Programme pages may remain online after procedures or requirements change. Applicants need current information about eligibility, documents, payments, processing stages and passport issuance. A specialist team focused only on São Tomé and Príncipe is better placed to work with the programme as it currently operates.
Is São Tomé citizenship by investment legal?
Yes. The programme is established under Decree-Law No. 07/2025 and operates alongside Nationality Law No. 07/2022. It provides a government-administered route to citizenship for applicants who satisfy the eligibility, documentation, due diligence and investment requirements.
Applications are subject to government assessment and approval.
Visit the official programme websiteWhat is the qualifying investment?
The programme currently has one qualifying route. Applicants make a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund after receiving approval in principle. There is no current real-estate, government-bond or private-business investment alternative.
Who can apply?
The principal applicant must generally:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have no disqualifying criminal record
- Demonstrate the lawful source of funds
- Pass the required due diligence checks
- Meet the programme's current eligibility requirements
Eligibility is assessed before an application is prepared.
Which family members can be included?
A qualifying family application may include:
- A spouse
- A qualifying de facto partner
- Children under 30
- Parents aged 55 or older
- Grandparents aged 55 or older
The official contribution depends on the number of applicants. The official citizenship-document charge applies separately to each applicant.
Is residence in São Tomé and Príncipe required?
No physical residence or relocation is required during or after the application process. Applicants are not normally required to move to São Tomé and Príncipe before receiving citizenship. Any identity or verification requirement applying to an individual case is explained during the application process.
How long does the application take?
The official programme information currently describes:
- Approximately two months to an application decision
- Approximately three to four additional months from approval to passport issuance
This produces a typical overall estimate of approximately five to seven months.
Processing periods are estimates and cannot be guaranteed. Timing depends on document quality, due diligence and government administration. Approval in principle is not the end of the process. Citizenship registration, identity documentation and passport issuance follow separately.
How does the application process work?
Eligibility assessment
The applicant's circumstances, family application, background and source of funds are reviewed.
Document preparation
The required identity, civil-status, police and financial documents are collected and checked.
Translation and local review
Documents are translated where necessary and reviewed for use in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Application submission
The completed application is submitted through the authorised programme process.
Due diligence
Identity, background and financial checks are completed.
Approval in principle
The government determines whether the application can proceed to the contribution stage.
Official payment
The contribution and official programme charges are paid through the approved process.
Citizenship registration
Following final approval, citizenship is registered and the Certificate of Registration is prepared.
National identity card and passport
The national identity and passport procedures are completed before final delivery.
What support is included?
The specialist team provides:
These services are included without increasing the official programme charges. A separate charge my apply for other services.
Questions to ask any São Tomé CBI provider
Before instructing a provider, ask:
The specialist team introduced through The Chocolate Islands works only with São Tomé and Príncipe, charges only the official programme amounts and includes translations, local support and post-approval coordination.
The role of The Chocolate Islands
The Chocolate Islands acts solely as an introducer.
It does not:
After the introduction, the applicant deals directly with the specialist team. The Chocolate Islands does not charge for the introduction or add anything to the official programme price.
Confidential. No obligation to proceed.
Request a direct introduction
A confidential introduction can be requested without any obligation to proceed. The initial discussion can cover eligibility, family applications, official programme charges, required documents, translation requirements, application stages, processing estimates and post-approval support.
Reviewed: August 2026. This page provides general information only. It does not constitute legal, tax, financial or immigration advice. Programme rules, official charges and administrative procedures may change. Current requirements should be confirmed before an application or payment is made.