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São Tomé and Príncipe Launches US$90k Citizenship by Investment Program · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Santome and Principe has officially launched its citizenship by investment program.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: The West African Island Nations Citizenship Act came into effect on August 1st, establishing one of the newest pathways to second citizenship in the global market.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: The program requires a submission fee of$5,000 regardless of family size.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: Upon receiving approval in principle, single applicants pay a$90,000 US dollar donation.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Families of two to four members pay$95,000 total, and each additional dependent incurs a$5,000 US dollar donation.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: The government has set a processing time of six weeks and established the Citizenship Investment Unit, referred to as CIU, as a public-private partnership headquartered in Dubai.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: The unit will be led by STP Service Advisory, a newly established UAE-based firm working in close collaboration with the government of Saint Tomei and Principe.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: The CIU will start accepting applications in the first week of September.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: Alfredo Trinidad, head of the government's Promotion, Commerce and Investment Agency, also known as APCI, in Saint Omei and Principe, explains that this innovative structure sets Saint Ome apart from traditional citizenship programs.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: Quote, the CIU will operate as a standalone statutory entity that combines private sector efficiency with government oversight, essentially creating a successful public-private partnership.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: End quote.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: Trinidad notes that the Dubai location provides strategic advantages for global accessibility and operational efficiency.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: He emphasizes the benefits of this approach.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Quote, having qualified staff in a fast-paced environment will allow the CIU to process applications much faster than traditional government departments.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: They can flexibly respond to demand, recruit top talent from the industry, and clients can easily reach them in Dubai, which is an international travel hub.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: End quote.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: He says this PPP model enables the program to maintain government standards while leveraging private sector agility.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: The structure employs experienced professionals from both the citizenship by investment industry and Saint Tomei Nationals.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: A Sao Tomei citizen will head the unit.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: Additional costs apply upon approval:$350 US dollars for passport fees,$150 US doll for national ID, and$250 US doll for certificate of registration per person.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: So maintains an inclusive approach to applicant nationalities.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: Russians and Iranians can apply, reflecting the country's neutral international stance.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: North Koreans represent the only restricted nationality.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Qualifying dependents include spouses, children up to 30 years old who remain unmarried and financially dependent, and parents above 55 years old.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: Adding future dependence requires paying submission costs again, plus 10,000 US dollars for spouses and 5,000 US dollars per additional qualifying dependent upon receiving approval in principle.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: Newborn children cost$500 US dollars to include.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: The program does not have any interview requirements or residency obligations, following the biometric-based model used in previous iterations of the Caribbean CBI programs.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_00: Trinidad emphasizes the collaborative development process that shaped the final product.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: Quote, the government issued a tender and listened to experienced professionals in the investment migration industry, and we shape this program to benefit everyone involved.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: The clients, the agents, the government, and most importantly, the people of Sao Tome and Principe.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: End quote.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: The donations will go into a national transformation fund, which will then support local projects.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: The first key enterprise on the island will be a renewable energy infrastructure project, which will serve as the lighthouse project in the region, as it will enable the entire country will run on renewable energy.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: Trinidad explains the broader vision.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: Quote, these funds will flow directly into renewable energy first, then expand into housing, education, and extensive socioeconomic and infrastructure projects, including road development.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: End quote.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: He believes the economic impact extends beyond energy infrastructure.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: Trinidad anticipates, quote, genuine trickle-down benefits that will create jobs, increase foreign direct investment, strengthen the electrical grid, and support local businesses throughout the island economy.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: End quote.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Some Tomei passports provide visa-free access to 61 destinations, including South Africa.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: Travel to the European Union and the United Kingdom requires visas.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: According to Trinidad, the program targets sophisticated investors who recognize citizenship value beyond travel convenience.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: Trinidad positions the program for discerning clients who understand the true value of second citizenship and the comprehensive benefits of dual nationality beyond simple global mobility, including legal tax restructuring, global diversification, estate planning, business expansion opportunities, political risk mitigation, and enhanced privacy protection.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: Agents receive a flat$20,000 commission regardless of family size and can add their own office fees.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: The government plans to establish a Sao Tomei Embassy in Abu Dhabi, though the UAE-based Citizenship Investment Unit will handle passport renewals until then.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: This episode first appeared as an article by Ahmad Abbas on IMIDAily.com.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: Subscribe for free to the IMI newsletter for breaking news and updates from the investment migration industry, and upgrade your membership to IMI Pro to get access to our exclusive professional community, citizenship catalog, investment migration company Rolodex, private briefings, and more members only content.