Apply for your São Tomé and Príncipe visa online

Eligibility depends on your passport and how long you plan to stay.

There are two main groups: visa-free travelers and travelers who need an e-Visa before departure.

Visa-free travelers

If you hold a passport from all EU countries, the UK, the US, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, you are exempted from visa for tourist stays up to 15 days.

Longer stays, or travel for work, study, or business, still require a visa.

Travelers from CPLP partner countries (Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Timor-Leste) also enjoy the 15-day visa-free access.

Nationals of Angola, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, and Togo can stay visa-free in São Tomé and Príncipe and for 90 days.

Travelers who need an e-Visa

Everyone else must apply for the e-Visa before they travel.

This includes travelers from Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico.

Even visa-free travelers need a visa in some cases.

If you plan to stay longer than 15 days, you need a visa. The same applies if you travel for work, study, or business purposes.

NOTE: Holders of Taiwanese and Kosovan passports cannot apply for the online visa and must contact the nearest São Tomé and Príncipe embassy instead.

Applying for the e-Visa involves several clear steps. Follow them in order to avoid delays or mistakes.

Each step only takes a few minutes to complete.

1. Fill in the form with your personal details exactly as shown in your passport.
2. Cover the necessary fee. Payment can be made using a debit/credit card or another available option.
3. Attach the necessary documents. Prepare your PDF passport scan, return ticket, and hotel booking confirmation in advance.
4. Print your approval notice after approximately 7 working days and bring cash to pay at the border.

Visa-free tourist stays are limited to 15 days. This applies to the eligible passport groups listed earlier.

Your e-Visa length depends on the visa type and dates you request. Your specific validity period will be printed on your approval document.

Conventional tourist visas are typically single entry, allowing a stay of up to 30 days. This is a common pattern, but your approval is the final word.

Always leave the country before your visa expires.

The official processing time is 7 working days. Therefore, we recommend applying at least 2 weeks before your departure date.

Working days exclude weekends and public holidays. This means your actual wait could be longer during holiday periods.

Plan ahead to avoid any last-minute stress.

You can check your application status by logging into your Passporta account. You will need your application ID, which is given to you after you submit the form.

We cannot promise faster processing than the official timeline.

Applications can be rejected at two different stages.

The first is during the online application review. The second happens at the border, even with an approved e-Visa.

Rejection at application

• A name or passport number that differs from your passport is a common cause.
• A passport that is not valid long enough is another frequent issue.
• False or incomplete answers on the form create serious problems too.

Always double check every field before you submit your application.

Refusal at the border

Even an approved e-Visa does not guarantee entry.

• Border officers can refuse entry if you cannot show €100 per day in funds.
• A missing return ticket at the border can also cause a refusal.
• Travelers arriving from another African country need a yellow fever certificate. Without it, border officers may refuse entry even with a valid e-Visa.

Always carry all required documents with you, not just your approval.