Relocation intelligence
🇸🇹 Moving to São Tomé & Príncipe: tax, residency and cost of living
Sao Tome and Principe levies progressive income tax rising to 25%, plus about 6% INSS contribution. The effective burden on an income worth roughly EUR 54,000 is around 29%. Corporate tax is 25%. The dobra is pegged to the euro. The two islands in the Gulf of Guinea are small, green and relatively safe, but poor, with a small economy heavily reliant on tourism, agriculture and aid.
Thinking of moving to São Tomé & Príncipe? Here is the tax, residency, property and quality-of-life picture in plain numbers, with sources.
Key facts
- Top income tax
- 25%
- Corporate tax
- 25%
- Capital gains
- 10%
- Wealth tax
- No
- Inheritance tax
- No
- Cost of living index
- 42
- Safety
- 4/10
- Internet quality
- 2/10
- Visa-free destinations
- 57
- Foreigners can own property
- Yes
- Residency in
- 6 months
- Citizenship in
- 5 years
Taxes
Progressive income tax up to 25% plus about 6% INSS, effectively around 29% at EUR 54,000. Corporate tax 25%.
Residency and visas
Residence and work are accessible, and the calm and safety make the islands attractive for those seeking a slow pace.
Property ownership
Foreigners can generally acquire property, though the market is small and limited in supply.
Cost of living and quality of life
Sao Tome is green, calm and relatively safe, but poor, with a small economy and limited healthcare and infrastructure.
Passport and mobility
The Sao Tomean passport gives visa-free access to about 57 destinations.
Why people move to São Tomé & Príncipe
Euro-pegged dobra
The dobra is pegged to the euro, so there is no exchange-rate risk for those coming from the eurozone.
Calm, green and safe
The islands offer a calm tropical life with low crime and pristine nature.
Honest trade-offs
- Sao Tome is arm, met een kleine economie die sterk leunt op toerisme, landbouw en hulp, en met beperkte gezondheidszorg.
- Het toptarief bedraagt 25% en de effectieve druk ligt rond de 29% inclusief INSS-premie bij een westers inkomen.
- De vastgoedmarkt is klein en beperkt in aanbod, wat de keuze voor buitenlanders inperkt.
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