About São Tomé e Príncipe

Travel Advice

It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.

If your return journey to the UK transits another country, you should check whether it is subject to a travel ban or any other additional requirements. If so, contact your travel provider.

Consular support is limited in São Tomé and Príncipe as there is no British Embassy. The Honorary Consul/Consular Agent in São Tomé and Príncipe can offer limited consular assistance. Contact the British Embassy in Luanda, Angola who can provide consular support.

Most visits to São Tomé and Príncipe are trouble-free.

Crime rates are generally low, but armed robberies do occur. See Crime

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in São Tomé and Príncipe, attacks can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism

Coronavirus travel health

Check the latest information on risk from COVID-19 for São Tomé and Príncipe on the TravelHealthPro website

See the TravelHealthPro website for further advice on travel abroad and reducing spread of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entry and borders

See Entry requirements to find out what you will need to do before and on arrival to São Tomé and Príncipe.

Check what you must do to travel abroad and return to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.

Be prepared for your plans to change

No travel is risk-free during COVID-19. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example due to a new COVID-19 variant. Check with your travel company or airline for any transport changes which may delay your journey home.

Plan ahead and make sure you:

• can access money
• understand what your insurance will cover
• can make arrangements to extend your stay and be away for longer than planned

If you test positive for COVID-19 in São Tomé and Príncipe before returning to the UK, you must self-isolate in private accommodation or in a hotel, for 10 days. If you are visiting and staying in a hotel, you may be asked to self-isolate in your room.

If you test positive, the São Tomé and Príncipe authorities may occasionally conduct wellbeing checks during the period of quarantine, to ensure self-isolation compliance. You are not permitted to leave your accommodation during self-isolation. Food and household essentials can be ordered online and will be delivered to your hotel room or private accommodation.

Travel in São Tomé and Príncipe

The government of São Tomé and Príncipe has declared a “State of Calamity”. This has resulted in the imposition of a number of restrictions and public health measures to limit the spread of the virus.

Public places and services

The majority of shops, banks and restaurants continue to operate, with some restrictions (e.g. reduced opening hours) and coronavirus precautionary measures in place.

• people are advised to maintain hygiene standards, which includes regular hand washing, wearing face masks in public and maintaining social distancing
• face masks are compulsory in all closed public areas and inside vehicles
• public gatherings are permitted but market places and churches continue to operate at 50% capacity
• nightclubs and festivals are closed or not permitted

Accommodation

Some hotels remain closed while other hotels and private rentals continue to operate with some restrictions and coronavirus precautionary measures in place. You should contact your accommodation provider before booking to confirm whether your preferred accommodation is open and what restrictions are in place.

Healthcare

If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should contact your nearest clinic or medical centre. Dial 115 for emergencies.

View Health for further details on healthcare in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Finance

For information on financial support you can access whilst abroad, visit our financial assistance guidance.

Further information

If you need urgent consular assistance, you should contact the British Embassy in Luanda, Angola.

Crime

Crime rates are generally low, but burglaries and armed robberies do occur. Safeguard valuables and cash, particularly at the beach. Use a hotel safe where practical, and keep copies of important documents, including your passport.  

Road travel

You should bring a valid International Driving Permit if you wish to hire a car. Traffic is light but the majority of roads are in poor condition and unlit, particularly outside the capital. You should avoid being on the road at night as you may encounter animals on the roads and during periods of heavy rainfall as landslips and mudslides can occur.

Taxis and motorbike taxis (known as “motoqueiros”) are the only forms of public transport. You should note that it is common practice for taxis to be shared. You should take the same safety precautions as in the UK and check your travel insurance.

Air travel

The UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in São Tomé and Príncipe that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Political Situation

São Tomé and Príncipe is generally peaceful. Economic difficulties and political rows over the handling of investments in the islands’ development occasionally lead to civil unrest. 

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in São Tomé and Príncipe, attacks can’t be ruled out.

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.

Drug smuggling and the use of drugs for recreational purposes are offences. Punishments can be severe.

Same sex relationships are legal in São Tomé and Príncipe; however, public attitudes towards homosexuality are less tolerant than in the UK and public displays of affection may attract negative attention. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.

This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in São Tomé and Príncipe set and enforce entry rules. If you’re unsure how São Tomé and Príncipe entry requirements apply to you, contact its UK embassy, high commission or consulate.

All travellers

There are currently no restrictions on UK nationals entering São Tomé and Príncipe, provided you comply with the entry requirements outlined below.

All air passengers arriving or departing in São Tomé and Principe are not required to have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test.

If you’re fully vaccinated

If you’re fully vaccinated, you can enter São Tomé and Principe without needing to quarantine regardless of your reason for travel. However, you should check with your airline in advance of travelling as the rules may differ if travelling from a third country. Only vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency or by the World Health Organisation are accepted.

Proof of vaccination status

São Tomé and Principe will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and COVID-19 vaccination record and proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued in the Crown Dependencies. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.

If you’re not fully vaccinated

You can still enter São Tomé and Principe without vaccination provided you have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test.

If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year

Entry requirements for São Tomé and Principe are the same for all travellers, regardless of whether you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past year.

Children and young people

Children under the age of 12 years old do not need to show proof of vaccination on entry to São Tomé and Príncipe.

If you’re transiting through São Tomé and Principe

Transiting is when you pass through one country on the way to your final destination.

Check with your airline before departing.

Exemptions

There are no exemptions to São Tomé and Principe’s entry requirements.

Check your passport and travel documents before you travel

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required.

Visas

If you’re visiting São Tomé and Principe for tourism for a period of up to 15 days, you don’t need a visa. However, visitors are currently required to pay a €20.00 entry fee on arrival. For more information on visas, contact [email protected].

Yellow fever certificate requirements

Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.

If you have a health condition, or you are pregnant, you may need specialist healthcare abroad. Check whether your destination country can provide the healthcare you may need and ensure you have appropriate travel insurance for unexpected medical evacuation or local treatment.

Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures.

Check the latest country-specific information and advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website or from NHS (Scotland) on the fitfortravel website. Useful information and advice about healthcare abroad is also available on the NHS Choices website.

Medical facilities on São Tomé and Príncipe are limited and many health conditions require evacuation to Europe, South Africa, Ghana or Gabon for treatment. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

While travel can be enjoyable, it can sometimes be challenging. There are clear links between mental and physical health, so looking after yourself during travel and when abroad is important. Information on travelling with mental health conditions is available in our guidance page. Further information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).

Credit cards are accepted in a very limited number of places. You should confirm with the hotel, restaurant, etc. on arrival that they will accept your card. There are a limited number of ATMs. Cash is available from the main bank in São Tomé using a Visa card. Travellers cheques are not accepted in São Tomé and Príncipe.

In an emergency, it may be possible to remit funds via a money transfer service like Western Union. You are strongly advised to check the latest position with your travel agent/tour company prior to travel, and to carry sufficient cash.

Foreign travel checklist

Read our foreign travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe while you’re there.

Travel safety

The FCDO travel advice helps you make your own decisions about foreign travel. Your safety is our main concern, but we can’t provide tailored advice for individual trips. If you’re concerned about whether or not it’s safe for you to travel, you should read the travel advice for the country or territory you’re travelling to, together with information from other sources you’ve identified, before making your own decision on whether to travel. Only you can decide whether it’s safe for you to travel.

When we judge the level of risk to British nationals in a particular place has become unacceptably high, we’ll state on the travel advice page for that country or territory that we advise against all or all but essential travel. Read more about how the FCDO assesses and categorises risk in foreign travel advice.

Our crisis overseas page suggests additional things you can do before and during foreign travel to help you stay safe.

Refunds and cancellations

If you wish to cancel or change a holiday that you’ve booked, you should contact your travel company. The question of refunds and cancellations is a matter for you and your travel company. Travel companies make their own decisions about whether or not to offer customers a refund. Many of them use our travel advice to help them reach these decisions, but we do not instruct travel companies on when they can or can’t offer a refund to their customers.

For more information about your rights if you wish to cancel a holiday, visit the Citizen’s Advice Bureau website. For help resolving problems with a flight booking, visit the website of the Civil Aviation Authority. For questions about travel insurance, contact your insurance provider and if you’re not happy with their response, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Registering your travel details with us

We’re no longer asking people to register with us before travel. Our foreign travel checklist and crisis overseas page suggest things you can do before and during foreign travel to plan your trip and stay safe.

Previous versions of FCDO travel advice

If you’re looking for a previous version of the FCDO travel advice, visit the National Archives website. Versions prior to 2 September 2020 will be archived as FCO travel advice. If you can’t find the page you’re looking for there, send the Travel Advice team a request.

Further help

If you’re a British national and you have a question about travelling abroad that isn’t covered in our foreign travel advice or elsewhere on GOV.UK, you can submit an enquiry, or contact us on Twitter or Facebook. We’re not able to provide tailored advice for specific trips.