TRAVELLERS INFORMATION
IMPORTANT: All passengers must complete the PLC on flights to Portugal and must comply with the health regulations (COVID) in force in the country of destination.
São Tomé & Príncipe
Official name – the Democratic Republic of S. Tome and Principe
Capital – Sao Tome
Surface area – The archipelago is about 1001 Km2 (Sao Tome – 859 Km2, Principe – 142 Km2). There are also various small isles.
Climate – Equatorial, varying from super-humid to semi-arid. There are two well defined seasons, the hot season from September to May and the cool season from June to August. The average annual air temperature is 29.4ºC maximum and 21.4ºC minimum with extreme temperatures from 32.4ºC to 15.4ºC. The cool season is more pleasant with a constant, cool breeze.
Population – Approximately 153,000 inhabitants.
Languages – Forro (Sao Tome), Lunguye (Principe), Angolar (with Kimbundo origins) (Sao Tome) and Portuguese
Dominant religion – Roam Catholic (predominantly), Protestant, Adventist
Currency – Dobra
Measurements – Metric system
Hour – GMT (One hour less than European winter time)
Electricity – 220 Volts
Official holidays – 1 January; 3 February; 1 May; 12 June (Independence Day); 6 September; 30 September; 21 December (Swearing-in of the transition government in 1974) and 25 December
Working hours (Monday to Friday) – Public services: 07:00-15:30.
Financial institutions: 07:00-17:00.
Stores: 08:00-12:00 and 15:00-17:30 (Weekdays) and 08:00-13:00 (Saturdays)
Visas
Visas are not needed if you plan to stay for less than 15 days.
Under the terms of a decision by the government of Sao Tome and Principe about suppressing visas, citizens of the Community of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP), European Union (EU), United States of America (USA) and Canada who have valid passports can enter and stay in Sao Tome and Principe without a visa for up to 15 (fifteen) days. Citizens from any other country are also exempt from needing a visa for the same length of time as long as they meet all the following conditions:
- Their passport is valid for at least another 3 (three) months;
- They have a Schengen or United States of America (USA) visa.
If their stay is for more than 15 days, they can get a visa from the Sao Tome and Principe embassy in Lisbon:
The visa can be obtained from the Sao Tome and Principe embassy in Lisbon: http://www.embaixadas.net/1/13357/Sao-Tome-e-Principe-em-Lisboa
You can get the form to click here to ask for information.
Information from the Sao Tome and Principe migration and border service: