Sao Tome and Principe eVisa is available to all nationalities. The eVisa is a two-step process. Before your trip, you must fill out an online form and obtain an approval letter. On arrival, you must pay a stamping fee and obtain your visa.
Quick summary:
- Eligibility: All nationalities are eligible
- eVisa validity: 30 days, single-entry only
- Processing time: Maximum 7 days
- eVisa fee: Free to apply, 20 EUR payable on arrival at the airport
- Ports of entry: Only through Sao Tome International Airport (TMS)
If you haven’t already, read the Sao Tome and Principe visa guide to familiarize yourself with visa requirements, available visa options and the application procedure at the embassy.
Table of Contents
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Understanding Sao Tome and Principe eVisa
Anyone traveling to Sao Tome and Principe for tourism or business is eligible to apply for the electronic visa online without visiting the embassy.
eVisa validity
The Sao Tome and Principe eVisa is valid for 30 days from the arrival date mentioned in the application. You must enter and exit the country within the validity of your eVisa.
Example:
- You applied for eVisa on 01 Feb 2024
- You mentioned your arrival date as 01 Mar 2024
- Your visa validity dates would be from 01 Mar 2023 to 30 Mar 2024
Duration of stay
You can stay up to 30 days or until your eVisa expiration date. If you need to stay longer, you would need to leave and come back on a new eVisa or apply for a tourist visa at any Sao Tome and Principe mission abroad.
Example:
- Your visa validity dates are from 01 Mar 2023 to 30 Mar 2024
- You entered STP on 05 Mar 2023
- You are allowed to stay until 30 Mar 2024
Allowed entries
Sao Tome and Principe e-Visa is single-entry only. You can only enter once with your approved STP eVisa.
The eVisa is also non-extendable. You would need to leave and come back again on a fresh eVisa if you need to stay longer in STP.
Allowed ports of entry
The only approved port of entry for eVisa is the Sao Tome International Airport (TMS). There have been reports that eVisas are accepted at the harbor, but based on the experience of Visa Traveler, that is not the case.
When to apply
You can apply for an STP eVisa anywhere between 7 days to 6 months before your trip.
The eVisa processing takes a maximum of 7 days. Therefore, it’s recommended to apply at least 2-3 weeks before your trip as delays in eVisa processing can happen.
- Earliest: 6 months
- Latest: 7 days
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Sao Tome and Principe eVisa Requirements
eVisa eligibility
All nationalities are eligible to apply for Sao Tome and Principe e-Visa. Since e-Visa allows for a 30-day stay, nationalities that are visa-exempt for 15 days are also eligible to apply for e-Visa.
Documents required
The following documents are required for the Sao Tome and Principe e-Visa application.
- Original passport valid for at least 1 year from the day of arrival
- A scanned copy of the passport biodata page
- Flight tickets in and out of Sao Tome and Principe
- Hotel booking for the entire duration of the stay
The following documents are required for “visa stamping” on arrival at the Sao Tome International Airport (TMS).
- Flight ticket out of Sao Tome and Principe
- Hotel reservations for the entire duration of the stay
- Financial proof in the form of cash of at least 100 EUR per day of stay
- Visa approval letter (eVisa approval print or copy on a smartphone)
- Visa stamping fee of 20 EUR in cash
eVisa fee
There is no fee to apply for Sao Tome and Principe e-Visa. But you are required to pay a 20 EUR visa stamping fee at the airport when you arrive. This 20 EUR must be paid in cash in Euro, US dollar or local currency. You cannot pay with a credit or debit card.
Below is the summary of the eVisa fee:
| Fee type | Amount |
|---|---|
| eVisa application fee | None |
| Stamping fee on arrival (18 years or older) | 20 EUR (cash only) |
| Stamping fee on arrival (Under 18 years) | 10 EUR (cash only) |
Processing time
The official eVisa processing time is 7 days maximum. You will normally receive a response within 2-3 days of application.
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Sao Tome and Principe eVisa Application Process
Apply for eVisa
The eVisa application may load slowly in your region or your browser may prevent it from loading for the following reasons.
- The eVisa website is slow when accessed from Asia. It is fast when accessed from North America or Europe.
- The eVisa website is non-secure, meaning it loads on HTTP instead of HTTPS. Because of this, your browser may not load this website or show an error.
If you are facing any of the above two issues, simply use a VPN connection. This might help fix the issues.
The eVisa must be applied on the official eVisa portal. It takes about 5 minutes to fill out the online application. You need the following information.
- Your personal details such as name, address, email and phone number
- Your passport details such as passport number, issue and expiry dates
- Your trip details such as your travel dates, flight and hotel information
The form has an option to upload ONLY one document. Therefore, you must combine your passport scan, flight reservation and hotel booking into a single PDF and upload it.
IMPORTANT
The eVisa home page says that uploading a flight ticket is MANDATORY. However, there is no option to upload a flight ticket in the application form. The way to handle this issue is to combine your passport scan, flight ticket and hotel booking into a single PDF and upload it under your passport.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I did not upload the flight tickets since I didn’t know where to upload them. They kept refusing my application on the grounds that I did not upload my flight ticket. So I tried combining all PDFs into a single PDF and uploading it under the passport. This worked and my visa was approved in 2 days.
When you submit your eVisa application, a Process Number will be displayed. You must note this process number as you would need this number to track and download your approved eVisa.
IMPORTANT
You will not receive any emails with the process number. It’s very important to make a note of the process number or take a screenshot of it. Without this process number, you won’t be able to download your approved eVisa.
For more information, read the step-by-step guide to apply for Sao Tome and Principe eVisa. This guide has instructions and screenshots to help you fill out the form, track your status and download your approved eVisa.
Track eVisa status
You can track your eVisa status from the SMF Entry Authorization page. You would need your process number to track your status.
The status of your eVisa is displayed in a popup. Your eVisa status can be any of the two below.
| eVisa Application Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| This request does not exist or is still being reviewed | Your eVisa is still in process. |
| Request rejected | Your eVisa has been refused. |
If your eVisa is refused, the reason for refusal will be displayed in the popup. It will be in Portuguese, so you will need to translate.
The reason for refusal is usually that you did not upload your flight tickets or you booked a hotel that’s not government-approved for tourists. Book a hotel that is at least $100 a night and you will be fine.
Download visa approval letter
If your eVisa is approved, your approved eVisa PDF will be displayed in the same popup as your eVisa status. Within the popup, you will see options to print or download the PDF. Download it as a PDF so you can print it later.
Make sure to carry a copy of the approval letter as a printed copy or on your smartphone when you travel.
eVisa customer service
If you need help with your eVisa, you can contact eVisa customer service via email, phone or chat.
- Chat: Click on the “Entre em contato com SMF” button at the right side bottom of the eVisa portal
- Email: direccaosmf@gmail.com
- Phone: +239 2222098
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I extend Sao Tome and Principe e-Visa?
No. Sao Tome and principe eVisa is non-extendable. If you need to stay longer than 30 days, you must apply for a tourist or business visa from Sao Tome and Principe embassy abroad.
Can my eVisa application be refused?
Yes. Your eVisa application can be refused due to incorrect information. The most common reasons for refusal are not uploading flight tickets or hotel booking or incorrect accommodation details. You are required to book your flight ticket and accommodation and provide the details in your eVisa application.
Do I need to print the approved eVisa?
Not necessary as your eVisa is linked to your passport. Immigration officers can scan your passport and retrieve your approved eVisa. But it’s a best practice to carry a print of your eVisa. Not just for Sao Tome and Principe but for any country that offers eVisas.
