PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Sao Tome and Principe

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans need to apply online for an e-visa before travel to Sao Tome and Principe.

Permitted stay

Not published. The SMF e-VisaST pages do not state a stay length.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    SMF lists two temporary visa categories: tourism and business.

  • Passport validity

    e-VisaST asks for a scanned passport (PDF) valid at least 3 months beyond the intended stay.

  • How to apply

    Apply online at https://www.smf.st/evisa/index.php (Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras). Upload a PDF of your passport, travel booking, accommodation contact and return flight ticket. Keep the process reference number to track the application. SMF says it replies within 7 working days. The visa fee is paid on arrival at the border, not online. SMF's FAQ lists a tourism temporary visa at 490,000 STD and a business temporary visa at 1,470,000 STD (rates from February 2011, in old dobras before the 2018 redenomination). The UK FCDO also mentions a 20 euro entry fee on arrival, payable in euro, USD or local currency. Confirm current amounts before travel.

  • Where South Africans apply

    Online through e-VisaST at smf.st. Sao Tome and Principe has no embassy in South Africa that could be identified.

  • Return or onward ticket

    A return flight ticket is mandatory for the e-VisaST application. Transit passengers need proof of onward travel.

  • Proof of funds

    Proof of means of subsistence of 100 euro per day must be shown.

  • Accommodation or invitation

    Accommodation contact details are required in the e-VisaST application.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    Sao Tome and Principe asks for yellow fever vaccination proof from travellers arriving from a yellow fever transmission-risk country (UK FCDO). For South Africa: WHO classes Sao Tome and Principe as low potential for yellow fever exposure and it is exempt from South Africa's certificate requirement, so no certificate is needed to return to SA from there (unless you transited a risk country for more than 12 hours).

  • Transit

    Transit passengers applying through e-VisaST need proof of onward travel.

  • Travelling with children

    Minors need a birth certificate and a declaration from their legal guardians uploaded with the e-VisaST application.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras, Sao Tome and Principe (e-VisaST) (Official, smf.st) https://www.smf.st/evisa/index.php
  2. 2. Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras, Sao Tome and Principe (Official, smf.st) https://www.smf.st/fq.php
  3. 3. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sao-tome-and-principe/entry-requirements
  4. 4. DIRCO, South African High Commission Canberra (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
  5. 5. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_and_Pr%C3%ADncipe
  6. 6. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
  7. 7. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_in_South_Africa

From doineedavisa.co.za/sao-tome-and-principe. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.