POSTERN

São Tomé and Príncipe

Independent-professional residence visa. A foreign independent worker may seek a residence visa after making a foreign investment operation or showing enough financial means to start the activity, and must be qualified or licensed to perform that activity where applicable. The residence certificate follows after lawful entry.

Free · The law behind every answer · Checked Sep 25, 2026

Independent-professional residence visa

Residence for authorized independent activity; switching to salaried work requires replacement of the residence title.

Who qualifies

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

1

It could fit.

A foreign independent worker may seek a residence visa after making a foreign investment operation or showing enough financial means to start the activity, and must be qualified or licensed to perform that activity where applicable. The residence certificate follows after lawful entry.

Every door that fits your family

Not legal advice.

2

What it takes.

Time
Ask the issuing authority for its current processing time.
Cost
Check the issuing authority's current fee schedule before filing.
The hard part
Showing a real investment or start-up funds and any required professional licence.
3

The road past the first permit.

Any later permanent residence or citizenship requires a separate application under its own rules.

  1. 2027
    Route candidate

    The residence and work authorization sequence still needs verification.

  • We have not yet confirmed this country’s road from residence to citizenship.
  • We have not yet confirmed how this route counts toward residence or citizenship.
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. Prepare the business or independent-activity documents, then begin the published residence process.Open smf.st ↗
  2. Round up the papers.
    • The business plan, and the endorsement or approval it needs
    • Request your FBI Identity History Summary
    • Health cover for the move
6

Or let us run it.

$900for your first year as a founding member. Then $399 a year, automatically.Standard first year: $1,200. Everyone renews at $399.One membership, the whole family. Accounts and activation included.

15 steps, from the first paper to every renewal. You do 4 of them: send what we ask for, sign, and show up. We run the rest, and keep every permit renewed on time. Accounts and activation are included, whether you move now or keep the plan ready. Accounts depend on provider availability. Government, record and approved third-party charges are extra.

Run it for my family →
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ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

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