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Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Sao Tome and Principe

Afrique · Afrique centrale

In Sao Tome and Principe, the Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras (SMF) issues the entry authorization. Its frequently asked questions page states that there is no visa on arrival: the authorization must be obtained in advance through the online service eVisaST, which replies within 7 working days. Payment is announced at the border. A second online service, eCidadão, handles residence visas for applicants located in a country with no Sao Tomean representation.

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.

Machine-assisted draft, reviewed by a person on 23 September 2026. Only the authority cited is authoritative.

Published on 23 September 2026 · Reviewed by vg_admin on 23 September 2026 · Sources consulted on 18 September 2026

At a glance

Authority
Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras (SMF), migration and borders service of Sao Tome and Principe
Submission channel
Online portal of the SMF: eVisaST for the entry authorization, eCidadão for the residence visa of applicants located in a country with no Sao Tomean representation
Electronic visa
Yes: the SMF publishes the online service eVisaST, which issues an entry authorization (AE) applied for before the trip; the FAQ states that no visa is issued at the border
Portal language
Portuguese

Do you need a visa?

Choose a nationality to see the recorded entry rule. No answer is shown until reviewed data exists.

Documented visa types

Visto temporário — turismo (temporary visa, tourism)
According to the SMF frequently asked questions page consulted on 2026-09-18: category of temporary visa at the price of 490,000 STD (dobras). Official page (new tab)
Visto temporário — negócios (temporary visa, business)
According to the SMF frequently asked questions page consulted on 2026-09-18: category of temporary visa at the price of 1,470,000 STD (dobras). Official page (new tab)
Visto de trânsito (transit visa)
Category offered by the online eVisaST form, which asks an applicant in transit to show an entry authorization. Detailed conditions: not stated on the portal consulted. Official page (new tab)
Visto de residência — reagrupamento familiar (residence, family reunification)
Category of the eCidadão service, open to applicants located in a country with no diplomatic representation of Sao Tome and Principe. Official page (new tab)
Visto de residência — atividade profissional (residence, self-employed or salaried activity)
Two categories of the eCidadão service: self-employed professional activity and salaried activity. The portal asks for a contract for salaried activity, a business registration for self-employment. Official page (new tab)
Visto de residência — estudo, intercâmbio ou estágio (residence, study, exchange or internship)
Category of the eCidadão service. The portal asks for proof of admission from the institution. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

According to the SMF portal, the entry authorization is applied for online, on the eVisaST service, in three steps: choice of the visa type, completion of the form, review and then submission. A file number is issued on submission; it then serves to check the status of the application on the "Consulta Autorização de entrada" service.

According to the frequently asked questions page, it is not possible to obtain a visa at the border: the entry authorization (AE) must be obtained beforehand through eVisaST. The portal states a reply within 7 working days.

The eCidadão service handles residence visa applications and works, according to the portal, for applicants located in countries with no diplomatic representation of Sao Tome and Principe. The SMF also publishes its contact details: headquarters on avenue du 12 juillet, in Sao Tome.

Steps in the procedure

  1. Open the online service eVisaST and choose the type of visa applied for.
  2. Complete the form with the passport data and the travel information.
  3. Attach the scanned documents requested, including the passport in PDF format.
  4. Review the application, submit it and keep the file number issued.
  5. Await the reply: the portal states 7 working days.
  6. Check the status of the application with the file number on the "Consulta Autorização de entrada" service.
  7. According to the portal, payment is made at the border; for residence, a prior bank transfer to the SMF account is also provided for.

Documents mentioned by the authority

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page is authoritative. The list above gathers the documents read on the SMF's eVisaST and eCidadão pages.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-18: the frequently asked questions page states 490,000 STD for the temporary tourism visa and 1,470,000 STD for the temporary business visa, stating that previously all temporary visas cost 1,960,000 STD. The eVisaST page states "O pagamento será feito na fronteira!" — payment is made at the border. For residence, the portal provides for payment at the border or a prior transfer to the SMF account at the BISTP.

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-18: the reply to the application comes within 7 working days, for eVisaST as for eCidadão. The SMF's "Taxas" page publishes only passport prices, expressed in STD, and not visa prices.

After the decision

According to the portal, the file number issued on submission makes it possible to track the application on the "Consulta Autorização de entrada" service. The entry authorization must be obtained before departure, since the frequently asked questions page states that no visa is issued at the border.

According to the portal, payment takes place at the border on entry, or by prior transfer for residence applications. The length of stay allowed and what to do in the event of a refusal are not stated on the pages consulted.

Published procedures

No reviewed and published procedure for Sao Tome and Principe to date. We prefer an empty page to an invented requirement.

Explore procedures

Frequently asked questions

Is a visa required to travel to Sao Tome and Principe?

It depends on nationality and on the purpose of travel; the rule reviewed by VisaGuideline is shown with the nationality selector on this page. Always check with the authority.

Where is the application filed?

According to the portal: online, on the eVisaST service of the Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras, for the entry authorization; on the eCidadão service for a residence visa where the applicant is in a country with no diplomatic representation of Sao Tome and Principe.

Is there an electronic visa?

Yes: according to the portal, the SMF issues the entry authorization through its online service eVisaST, in three steps, with a file number to keep.

Can a visa be obtained on arrival?

No according to the SMF frequently asked questions page: the entry authorization (AE) must be obtained beforehand through eVisaST, which replies within 7 working days.

How much does the visa cost?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-18: 490,000 STD for the temporary tourism visa and 1,470,000 STD for the temporary business visa, according to the frequently asked questions page. The eVisaST page states that payment is made at the border.

What is the processing time?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-18: 7 working days for eVisaST as for eCidadão. The authority decides.

Consulted sources

Official pages read to write this guide, with the date they were read. A page may have changed since: check it before taking any step.

What this guide does not know yet

Points the official source does not specify and which this guide therefore left blank. Ask the competent authority about them before filing an application.

Prepare my case

This method is the same for every destination. It does not list any document as an official requirement: only the authority’s source is authoritative.

  1. Describe your situation

    Nationality, residence, purpose and dates. The checker tells covered routes apart from situations that are still unknown.

  2. Check at the source

    Open the destination’s official source and compare it with your situation before starting a procedure.

  3. Track what is left to do

    Your space keeps your answers and your declared checklist. A complete checklist does not announce a favorable decision.

Check my route Open my case

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.