How Much São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship Costs in 2026: Contribution, Fees and Family Examples
São Tomé has the shortest official price list among the programmes I work with. Below are the amounts from Annex I of Decree-Law 07/2025 and the CIU investment structure page, checked on 25 October 2026.
The contribution to the National Transformation Fund
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| Single applicant | $90,000 |
| Family of 2 to 4 people | $95,000 |
| Each additional qualifying dependant | + $5,000 |
The contribution is paid after approval in principle, not at filing. Under the decree you have 90 days from approval to pay it, otherwise the case lapses. It is a donation and is not returned.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Due diligence and processing, per application | $5,000 | Decree, Annex I |
| Citizenship documents (certificate of registration, passport, national ID), per person | $750 | CIU site |
| Due diligence on a benefactor, if someone else pays | $5,000 | CIU site |
The $5,000 fee is charged once per application, not per person, and is non-refundable after submission. The $750 and the benefactor fee appear on the official site but not in the decree text. BRIDGES splits the $750 into about $250 for the certificate, $350 for the passport and $150 for the ID card.
Worked examples
One person
$90,000 + $5,000 + $750 = $95,750. This is the figure BRIDGES quotes.
A couple
$95,000 + $5,000 + 2 × $750 = $101,500.
A couple with two children
$95,000 + $5,000 + 4 × $750 = $103,000.
A couple, two children and both parents of one spouse
Contribution $95,000 + 2 × $5,000 = $105,000, fee $5,000, documents 6 × $750 = $4,500. Total $114,500.
My own calculation from the published tables, not a quote. Ask your agent to confirm it in writing.
Adding family after approval
The CIU publishes separate amounts for dependants added after approval in principle: a $5,000 submission fee (not charged for newborns), then $10,000 for a spouse, $5,000 for each other dependant and $500 for a newborn up to one year. The decree has the same three amounts for relatives of an existing citizen. Including everyone in the first application is almost always cheaper.
What is not in the official list
The agent’s fee, sworn translations into Portuguese or English, apostilles, notarised copies, the medical certificate and courier costs. BRIDGES notes that a realistic budget for one person usually starts at about $95,000 to $100,000 with these costs. Also keep in mind that the decree allows the government to change the amounts by joint order; a change does not affect applications already admitted.
How these payments fit into the procedure is in the application guide.
Questions and answers
Is $90,000 the full price?
No. It is the contribution for a single applicant. With the $5,000 due diligence and processing fee and $750 for documents, one person pays $95,750 in official costs.
What does a family of four pay?
The contribution is $95,000 for two to four people, plus one $5,000 fee per application and $750 per person for documents: about $103,000 in total.
Is any money returned if the application is refused?
The $5,000 fee is non-refundable once the application is submitted. The contribution is paid only after approval.
Who pays if a relative or a company funds the application?
Sponsorship is allowed, but the CIU charges a separate $5,000 due diligence fee for the benefactor, who must also provide documents.
Sources
- Decree-Law 07/2025, Annex I (copy of the gazette)
- CIU: investment structure
- CIU: donation to the National Transformation Fund
- CIU: post-approval inclusion fees
- BRIDGES: how much São Tomé citizenship costs
Checked on 25 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm them with the official sources before you file anything.