A Remote Citizenship Option Your Firm Can Triage For Fast Second-Status Planning

When your clients need a second citizenship for mobility planning, family contingency, or longer-term diversification, speed and operational simplicity often matter as much as the legal basis itself. São Tomé and Príncipe’s Citizenship by Investment Program is a contribution-based pathway that leads to citizenship through a one-time, non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund, with a fully remote process and no residency or relocation requirements. For Canadian practices, it can be a fit for globally mobile founders and families who value streamlined execution and clear family inclusion rules.

Who The Program Fits

This program tends to be easiest to position when a client’s priority is operational efficiency: a remote file build, a straightforward contribution structure, and citizenship as the end status. It can also suit multi-generational planning where the family wants a single application strategy that can include a spouse or civil partner, dependent adult children, and older parents or grandparents.

For advisors structuring broader “Plan B” conversations, São Tomé and Príncipe can be introduced as one of the options your team can triage early, then validate through eligibility screening and documentation readiness. Abroad Mobility typically supports this as a co-managed engagement where your firm stays client-facing and we run the international execution layer through our partner network.

Reference pages your team may use in early-stage screening include the program page at Abroad Mobility’s São Tomé and Príncipe program overview and the country page at Sao Tome and Principe. If your firm uses structured comparisons in discovery calls, you can also anchor mobility discussions to the GAMI Mobility Index.

Eligibility And KYC/AML

At launch, IMI Daily reported the program was open to most nationalities, including Russians and Iranians. North Koreans were the only restricted nationality.

From a case-management perspective, your intake should be built around a compliance-first workflow: identity, family composition, and funding narrative should be consistent across forms, supporting records, and any translations or notarizations your client supplies. Where the family intends to include parents or grandparents, confirm age and relationship early so the file structure is correct from the start.

For initial triage inside your practice, Abroad Mobility’s Eligibility Engine can help you route the matter to the appropriate program track before detailed documentation work begins.

Costs

The program is based on a one-time, non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund with the following structure. The total all-in cost will vary depending on the number of applicants, family structure, and any additional services required.

Cost Item	Amount (USD)
Single applicant contribution	90,000
Family of 2 to 4 applicants contribution	95,000
Application fee	5,000
Government fees per person, passport	350
Government fees per person, ID card	150
Government fees per person, registration	250

For professionals setting client expectations, the investment requirement is a minimum non-refundable contribution that currently starts at about 90,000 USD for a single applicant, with higher totals for family applications.

Process And Timeline

Clients can complete the process fully remotely, with no residency, travel, language, or interview requirements. The typical timeframe to obtain citizenship is about 5 to 6 months, and timelines depend on the authority and the case.

Family And Dependents

The program allows inclusion of:

• Spouse or civil partner
• Unmarried dependent children under 31
• Parents and grandparents aged 55 and over

Families of up to four are covered. Each further dependant costs USD 5,000.

Compliance Notes

• Confirm nationality early, given the stated exclusion for North Koreans and the acceptance of most other nationalities.
• Lock down family composition at intake, especially where adult children or older parents and grandparents are included, so relationship and age evidence can be assembled in a consistent file set.
• Map the funding narrative to the contribution amounts and the per-person government fees (passport, ID card, registration) so the client’s payment plan aligns with the application structure.
• Use a controlled document workflow for remote files, including clear versioning of identity records and any family evidence your client provides.

If São Tomé and Príncipe CIP looks like a plausible fit for a client conversation in your practice, the clean next step is a co-managed intake with Abroad Mobility so your team can keep the advisory relationship while we coordinate the program pathway and execution details. Request program details through our secure form: program enquiry.

This information is general and can change, and it is not legal advice.