How much does Sao Tome citizenship cost: NTF fee, fees and calculation per family

Briefly: how much does it cost to become a citizen of Sao Tome?

If you need a quick answer, here is the target for 2026. The main cost for one applicant consists of a non-refundable contribution to the national fund NTF (National Transformation Fund) from ~90,000 USD, filing fee ~5,000 USD and document fee ~750 USD. The total according to official articles is about 95 750 USD per person.

For a family of up to four people, the contribution to the fund increases to approximately ~95,000 USD, the filing fee remains the same, and documentary fees are paid for each participant. Total cost for a family of four - approx. 100 000-103 000 USD, excluding support services and translations.

This makes Sao Tome one of the most accessible citizenship by investment programs in the world. But it is important to understand: fees are always added to the contribution, and the final figure depends on the composition of the family. All amounts below are approximate - the program is new (regulatory framework - Decree 07/2025), and the thresholds should be checked at the time of submission.

Main expense: non-refundable contribution to the NTF fund

The heart of the program is a non-refundable donation (contribution) to national transformation fund, which is abbreviated as NTF (National Transformation Fund). The state allocates the funds from the fund to infrastructure, renewable energy, education, housing and ecotourism - that is, to the development of the country. The money is not refundable: this is not a deposit or the purchase of an asset, but a non-refundable deposit that gives the right to consider an application for citizenship.

The minimum contribution for one applicant is from ~90,000 USD. For a family of up to four people inclusive, the fee is approximately ~95 000 USD. That is, the difference between a single application and a family application in terms of the contribution itself is small - only about 5,000 USD, which makes family registration especially profitable.

For each additional family member above the basic composition, approximately ~5,000 USD is added to the contribution. That is why for large families the Sao Tome program is often cheaper per person than its Caribbean counterparts. The exact amount of the contribution for your squad should always be fixed in writing before the start - this is the basis of the entire estimate.

Filing Fee and Government Fee

In addition to the contribution to the fund, there is a mandatory application fee (sometimes called registration or administrative). Approximately, this is ~5,000 USD per application - that is, for a family set of documents, and not for each person separately. This payment covers the receipt and processing of the dossier by the government agency.

The application fee, like the contribution to the fund, is classified as non-refundable: even if citizenship is denied based on the results of the verification process, this money is usually not returned. Therefore, it is important to approach the submission stage with an already collected and verified set of documents - so as not to pay twice.

The government processing fee goes hand in hand with the due diligence stage: it is at the stage of checking the applicant’s reliability that the registration fee is fixed. This is a normal practice of investment migration: the state charges a fee for the procedure itself, regardless of its outcome. This item must be included in the estimate immediately, without confusing it with the costs of documents.

Due diligence fee

Due diligence is a check of the reliability of the applicant and adult family members. The state and its authorized providers study the biography, sources of capital, absence of sanctions and criminal risks. For applicants from the CIS, this is a particularly sensitive stage: the origin of funds, business reputation, and history are checked.

In the Sao Tome program, the formal verification fee is often included in the overall application fee or is allocated as a separate line - it is worth checking with the accompanying person at the start, since the fee structure of a young program can be clarified. The minimum inspection period is about two months, and it cannot be rushed artificially.

It is important to understand: payment for due diligence does not guarantee approval. This is a fee for the test itself, and not for the result. Therefore, a competent preliminary assessment of the dossier (the so-called pre-check) before the official submission saves both money and nerves: weak points are visible in advance, and not after paying non-refundable fees. We always recommend starting with a self-examination.

Fees for documents: passport, certificate, ID

A separate expense item is the issuance of the citizen’s documents themselves. Approximately, this is ~750 USD for each person and consists of three fees: for a certificate of citizenship (~250 USD), for a biometric passport (~350 USD) and for a national identity card - ID card (~150 USD).

Key point: Documentation fees are paid for each participant in the application. If there are four people in a family, then the documentary part will be approximately ~3,000 USD (750 USD x 4). This is already a noticeable amount that is easy to miss if you only count the contribution to the fund.

For a newborn or a child added later, document fees are also paid at the standard rate. When planning your budget, keep this formula in mind: contribution to the fund + filing fee + (documents x number of people). It is the documentary component that often explains the difference between the advertising figure and the real final price of a Sao Tome passport.

Support services and related expenses

In addition to government payments, there are expenses that are not included in the official estimate, but without which you cannot submit an application. This is professional support: preparation and verification of the dossier, legal support, interaction with the authority, control of deadlines. The amount of remuneration depends on the complexity of the case and family composition.

This also includes technical expenses: notarization and apostille of documents, sworn translations into Portuguese (the official language of the country), courier delivery, and sometimes obtaining certificates of the source of funds and bank statements. For applicants from the CIS, the list of certificates is usually wider due to enhanced compliance.

These amounts are individual, so in the general estimate we mark them as approximate. A reasonable approach is to request in advance a full breakdown of all payments: what goes to the state, what goes to the verification provider, what goes to translations and certifications, and what goes to support. A transparent estimate without hidden lines is the first sign that the program is being used correctly.

Indicative estimate for one applicant

Let's collect all the articles in one table. The figures are given approximately for 2026 and do not take into account individual support, translations and assurances.

Support services, translations into Portuguese and assurances are added to this amount - their amount varies individually. Thus, a realistic budget for a single application most often starts from ~95-100 thousand USD, taking into account associated costs.

Estimated estimate for a family of up to four people

Family style is where Sao Tome really shines. The contribution to the fund for a family of up to four people increases quite a bit, and the main increase comes from documentary fees for each participant.

It turns out that a family of four people through government payments costs approximately 100-103 thousand USD - that is, only 7-8 thousand more than a single application. In per person terms, this is one of the lowest entry prices for citizenship by investment among existing programs. Accompaniment and translations are considered separately and depend on the number of people and the complexity of the dossier.

How much does it cost to add a relative?

The Sao Tome program allows a wide range of dependents: spouse, children (approximately up to 31 years of age, subject to dependency), parents and grandparents over a certain age. For each additional family member above the base, approximately ~5,000 USD is added to the fee plus standard document fees (~750 USD per person).

A separate scenario is adding a relative after obtaining citizenship. Here the rates are usually higher: approximately ~10,000 USD for a spouse (joined both before and after approval), ~5,000 USD for a child or parent, and a symbolic ~500 USD for a newborn under one year old. These numbers should be verified at the time of submission.

Practical conclusion: if you are planning to expand your family or include parents, it is more profitable to apply for everyone at once, within one application. This is both cheaper in terms of fees and easier to administer - one package of documents, one verification cycle. For a specific family composition, estimates should always be calculated individually.

Bottom Line: The Real Cost of Sao Tome Citizenship

Let's put it together. Sao Tome citizenship by investment is primarily a non-refundable contribution to the NTF fund (from ~90,000 USD for one, ~95,000 USD for a family of up to 4), plus an application fee of ~5,000 USD, plus documentary fees of ~750 USD per person, plus individual costs for verification, translations and support.

Realistic benchmark for government payments: ~95,750 USD per personand~103,000 USD for a family of four. Considering the accompaniment and assurances, leave a small margin on top. All figures are approximate for 2026: the program is young, tariffs can be updated, so always fix the final estimate for your family composition in writing before the start.

Do you want to receive an exact calculation specifically for your situation - with a breakdown of all items, without hidden fees? BRIDGES GLOBAL experts will prepare a personal estimate and conduct a preliminary assessment of the dossier. Get a personal cost estimate.

What is important to check before paying: an expert’s view

A young program is always a combination of opportunity and accuracy. On the one hand, there is a low entry threshold and fast deadlines. On the other hand, tariffs and regulations may be updated, which means that each figure should be treated as a guideline that requires confirmation at the time of submission.

The main item is a non-refundable contribution to the NTF fund. It is this that will not be returned under any circumstances, so before payment it is critical to undergo a preliminary due diligence check and make sure that the dossier is clean and the source of funds is confirmed. This is especially important for applicants from the CIS: enhanced compliance is the norm, not the exception.

Separately, it is worth checking the program page and the official source, and also correctly taking into account the obligation to notify of second citizenship in the country of primary residence. Read more about the conditions, terms and nuances in our São Tomé Citizenship by Investment Guide and review Sao Tome passports.

Why Sao Tome is one of the most affordable options

If we compare the entry threshold, Sao Tome today is one of the most budget-friendly ways to obtain second citizenship through investment. Caribbean programs start noticeably higher, and here the basic fee is from ~90,000 USD. For a family, the difference per person is even more noticeable, because the contribution for a family of up to four increases by only ~5,000 USD.

But price is not the only criterion. Let's note the limitations: a passport of medium strength (visa-free or simplified entry into approximately ~70 countries and territories, without Schengen and without USA - this point is important to understand in advance). The program is new, so law enforcement practice is still being developed.

But there is a rare advantage: Sao Tome is part of the Commonwealth of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP). This opens up a simplified path to naturalization in Portugal - but not instantly: legal residence and a language level of at least A2 will be required. Read more about this and the benefits for Russian-speaking applicants in the material about citizenship of Sao Tome for Russians.

Hidden costs that people forget about

The advertising figure and the actual total diverge precisely because of points that are easy to miss. The first is document fees for each person: for a family of four this is already ~3,000 USD. The second is sworn translations into Portuguese and notarizations with an apostille; the volume depends on the number of documents and applicants.

The third block is confirmation of the source of funds: bank statements, statements, and sometimes conclusions on the origin of capital. For applicants from the CIS, the list is wider, and the preparation of such documents requires time and sometimes money. The fourth is courier delivery of originals and, if necessary, consular legalization.

Finally, escort services. Their size is individual, and transparency is important here: a quality provider will show in advance the full estimate with a breakdown - what is for the state, what kind of verification, what kind of translations, what kind of work. If the total amount is stated in one line without decoding, this is a reason to ask clarifying questions. It’s better to spend a day reconciling estimates than to overpay on non-refundable fees.

How and when are payments made?

Investment migration payments are almost never made in one amount on the first day. The logic is usually this: first, a preliminary assessment of the dossier and a support agreement, then the collection and preparation of documents, and only after that the official submission with the payment of a registration fee and the launch of a due diligence check.

The main non-refundable contribution to the NTF fund is usually made at the final stage - closer to approval, after successful completion of due diligence. Document fees (passport, certificate, ID) are paid at the stage of issuing citizen documents. The exact schedule and details must be specified in the contract in advance.

The advice is simple: before the first payment, get a written estimate and schedule - indicating which amounts are refundable and which are not, and under what outcome. This protects both the budget and nerves. If you want to understand the payment procedure in relation to your case, start with Sao Tome Citizenship Review - the conditions and logic of the process are collected there.

Who benefits from the Sao Tome program?

In terms of price-to-opportunity ratio, the program is especially interesting for several categories of applicants. The first is families: due to a slight increase in the contribution for a family of up to four people, the price per person turns out to be very attractive, especially if you include parents.

The second is for those who need a quick and inexpensive second passport for mobility and diversification, without inflated expectations regarding the strength of the document. The third is applicants focused on a long-term strategy through the Portuguese-speaking area (CPLP) with an eye to future naturalization in Portugal, understanding that this is a journey over the years, and not an immediate result.

Who should think twice: those for whom visa-free entry to Schengen or the USA is critical - Sao Tome does not provide them here. In this case, it is more to compare alternatives in advance. To understand whether the program is right for you in terms of budget and goals, sign up for a consultation - we will select the optimal scenario and draw up an accurate estimate for your family composition.