Electricity

Electrical current in Sao Tome and Principe is 220 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the European-style two-pin plug and Schuko two-pin.

Language

The official language is Portuguese, and French is widely spoken, along with local languages.

Money

Credit cards are accepted in a very limited number of places; travellers should confirm with the hotel or restaurant in question. There are a limited number of ATMs, but cash is available from the main bank in Sao Tome if travellers are using a Visa card. It's best to carry sufficient cash.

Tipping

Tipping is at the customer's discretion, though five percent goes a long way locally.

Health

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, measles-mumps-rubella, and tetanus are all recommended as pre-travel immunisations; all eligible travellers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Schistosomiasis may be acquired through contact with contaminated water, and travellers are advised to avoid swimming, wading, or rafting in bodies of fresh water, such as lakes, ponds, streams, or rivers.

Malaria is not as common a concern as it once was in Sao Tome, though visitors are still advised to take precautions, including insect repellent, netting, and antimalarial tablets. It is recommended to wear long sleeves, long pants, hats, and closed shoes in forested areas to prevent tick bites. Rabid dogs are commonly found, so visitors should consider a rabies vaccination before their trip, especially if their activities mean they will be around dogs or wildlife

Medical facilities in Sao Tome and Príncipe are extremely limited, and serious medical problems will require air evacuation to a country with state-of-the-art medical facilities. It is also recommended that travellers carry a personal supply of basic first aid and antibiotics.

Safety

Crime rates are generally low, but burglaries and armed robberies do occur. Travellers should be cautious with cash and valuables, especially at the beach, and should keep copies of important documents such as passports in a hotel safe.

Local customs

Manners are important to locals, so it's important to greet and ask after someone's health and family in social encounters. Older men and women are customarily treated with respect, especially if they have many children and grandchildren. Drug smuggling and the use of drugs for recreation are are offences that attract severe punishments; same sex relationships are legal, though public displays of affection between gay partners may not be well received.

Doing business

Sao Tome and Principe has small markets, poor infrastructure, high transportation costs, and a lack of trained personnel and entrepreneurs, so opportunities to do business in the country may be limited. However, a general strategy to enter the market would include visiting the country, finding and developing a relationship with a good partner, and using agents.

Duty free

Visitors to Sao Tome and Príncipe may import a reasonable quantity of tobacco and perfume for personal use. Alcoholic beverages and lottery tickets are prohibited.

Communications

The country code for Sao Tome and Principe is +239, and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). Visitors can purchase local prepaid SIM cards; public WiFi is non-existing or very slow.

Passport & Visa

It is highly recommended that travellers' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry requirements

A passport is required for US travellers and must be valid on arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to 15 days.

A passport is required for UK travellers and must be valid on arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to 15 days.

A passport is required for Canadian travellers and must be valid on arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to 15 days.

A passport is required for Australian travellers, along with a visa. No visa is required for passengers with a visa issued by USA or a Schengen Member State together with a passport valid for a minimum of three months from the arrival date for a maximum stay of 15 days.

A passport is required for South African travellers, along with a visa. No visa required for passengers with a visa issued by USA or a Schengen Member State together with a passport valid for a minimum of three months from the arrival date for a maximum stay of 15 days.

A passport is required from Irish travellers and must be valid on arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to 15 days.

A passport is required for visitors from New Zealand, along with a visa. No visa required for passengers with a visa issued by USA or a Schengen Member State together with a passport valid for a minimum of three months from the arrival date for a maximum stay of 15 days.

Useful contacts

Police: 2222222. Medical assistance: 221221. Firefighters: 112.

Embassies / consulates in other countries

Embassy of São Tomé and Príncipe, New York, United States: +001 317 0644.

Honorary Consulate of Sao Tome and Principe, London, United Kingdom: +44 208 877 9186

Honorary Consulate of São Tome and Príncipe, Montreal, Canada: +001 514 989 0395

South African High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Sao Tome and Principe): +27 12 342 4222.

Embassies / consulates in Sao Tome and Principe

Embassy of U.S., Libreville, Gabon (also responsible for Sao Tome and Principe): +241 01 45 7100

British Embassy, Luanda, Angola (also responsible for Sao Tome and Principe): +244 222 334 583

Canadian High Commission, Abuja, Nigeria (also responsible for Sao Tome and Principe): +011 234 9 461 2900

South African Embassy, Sâo Tomé, Sao Tome and Principe: + 239 225 733.