POSTERN

São Tomé and Príncipe

Employee residence visa and certificate. An employer must obtain a favorable labour-ministry opinion on a proposed employment contract, including review of whether a São Toméan or legal resident fits the role. The foreign applicant then seeks an employee residence visa and, after entry, the corresponding residence certificate based on the endorsed contract.

Free, with the law behind every answer

Employee residence visa and certificate

Residence for the approved subordinate employment; another role requires new authorization.

Who qualifies

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

1

Does it fit your family?

One question, from the program’s own rules.

Do you have a binding job offer in that country?

Not legal advice.

2

What it takes.

Time
Processing runs from submission of the complete file to the issuing authority’s decision.
Cost
Budget for the application documents, certification, police or medical records and travel in addition to any charge collected at filing.
The hard part
Employer labour-ministry review of the contract and local-worker availability.
3

Citizens by 2033.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

  1. 2027
    First residence permit

    1 year, renewable for 1 year at a time.

  2. 2028
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.

  3. 2029
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.

  4. 2030
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.

  5. 2031
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.

  6. 2032
    Permanent residence

    Five years of temporary residence opens the permanent residence certificate, subject to lawful stay, means, housing and good conduct.

  7. 2032
    Apply for citizenship

    With a language test.

  8. 2033
    Citizenship
Language
Sufficient Portuguese or one of São Tomé and Príncipe’s national languages.
Time away
At least five years of habitual lawful residence before applying; naturalisation is granted by government decree.
Two passports
It depends on the rules at the time and on your home country.
  • The employee residence certificate is renewable for the approved work, and five lawful habitual years open both permanence and naturalisation.
  • How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
  • Whether you can keep your current citizenship depends on the rules at the time and your home country.
The law behind these dates
4

Living there.

Time you must spend there
The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax
Where you become tax resident follows the days you spend there and where your home is. We map it for your family before you move.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

5

Start today.

  1. Secure the employer’s offer and supporting documents, then begin the published work-permit process.Open smf.st ↗
  2. Gather these documents.
    • The signed job offer, salary, and recognized qualifications
    • Request your FBI Identity History Summary
    • Health cover for the move
6

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

Options open to you today →
7
ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

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