About Sao Tome and Principe
Whether your company is sending employees to São Tomé and Príncipe or expanding your worldwide footprint—Fragomen is here to help. Our experienced immigration professionals partner with businesses of all sizes to develop immigration strategies that can help you achieve your goals.
- São Tomé and Príncipe’s immigration laws provide limited options for employers of foreign nationals. Requirements, processing times, employment eligibility, and benefits for accompanying family members vary by permit type.
- Business visitor program: São Tomé and Príncipe does not offer a specific visa category for business visitor purposes. However, several visa categories are available, including transit visa, official, diplomatic, and courtesy visa, and a temporary visa – awarded for cultural, tourism, or other purposes accepted by the immigration authorities when no other visa type applies. While a temporary visa could potentially cover business meetings or prospect exploration visits, foreign nationals cannot conduct any professional activities that generate a profit.
- Work authorization types: A residence visa may be granted for employment, self-employment, research, highly qualified professional activity, family reunification, study, and voluntary work. There is no formal short-term work visa. In practice, however, authorities (notably SMF) have, on an exceptional and case-by-case basis, issued temporary visas for work purposes—notably in the oil and gas sector—for stays of up to 180 days. Stays exceeding 180 days may be eligible for a residence visa, also subject to case-by-case approval.
Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.
Get in touch with Fragomen and one of our team members will be in touch with you shortly.
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Firmwide services
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Business Visa Services and Technology
Guidance, support and technology to help you get your business travelers on the ground quickly and compliantly.
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Consular Services
Personalized support to help ease the burden of complex immigration consular processing.
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Corporate Immigration Program Development
World-class corporate immigration services to help you optimize your immigration operations.
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Crisis Management Services
The help you need, when you need it most.
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Digital Nomad Services
Advice and planning for your growing Digital Nomad population.
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Document Services
Proactive planning and on-the-ground support to streamline the immigration document process.
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Employment Verification Services
Modern, streamlined employment verification solutions to increase your compliance and minimize your exposure to risk.
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Government Advisory Services
Strategic and tailored consultation to help you achieve your business goals.
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Immigration Analytics, Benchmarking and Knowledge
Robust resources to help you understand immigration in a changing world.
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Immigration Compliance Services
Experienced guidance to help manage your most complicated immigration activities and maximize your compliance.
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Immigration Enforcement Defense Services
Enforcement defense and internal investigations assistance to help defend your business against immigration noncompliance.
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Immigration Litigation Services
Experienced, skilled immigration litigation to help you resolve complex situations.
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Immigration Technology Solutions
Pragmatic, leading-edge technology solutions that support our clients’ immigration experiences.
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Immigration Training
Unmatched training means better immigration experiences for your employees.
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Immigration Work Permit Services
Comprehensive, end-to-end immigration services and technology to help streamline business immigration.
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Private Client Services
Sound, holistic alternative residency and citizenship solutions to help you seize your opportunities.
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Remobilization Services
Strategic support to help remobilize quickly and prepare for the future of work.
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Remote Work Strategic Services for Employers
As the world moves forward from the pandemic, some companies are calling employees back to the office full-time, while others are implementing or formalizing hybrid work schedules.
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Value-Added Services
A wealth of complimentary benefits to enrich your immigration experience.
