This country - Sao Tome and Principe - is spread over islands in Central Africa. It consists of two islands, from which the state got its name. The island of São Tomé was discovered in 1471 and named after Saint Thomas. A year later, Principe was also opened. The country became independent in 1974.

The official language in the country is Portuguese. English is not spoken or understood here. By the way, the capital of the country of the same name is located on the island of Sao Tome, which occupies 90% of the total area of the country. This beautiful city includes beautiful examples of traditional colonial Portuguese architecture, as well as many beautiful parks. At the same time, remember: taking photos of the Presidential Palace, military, and other government buildings is strictly prohibited.

Citizenship of Sao Tome and Principe

Citizenship in São Tomé and Príncipe is governed by the 1990 National Law and the 2003 Constitution. The constitution provides that everyone born in São Tomé and Príncipe is a citizen, and allows both men and women to pass citizenship to their children. The law affirms very open access to citizenship for those born within the country, but for the majority of those born outside the country, citizenship is not automatically acquired by parents but depends on the child's application for citizenship.

Citizenship means that you are a citizen of that country and enjoy the rights and protections that citizenship provides. In general, this means that a citizen has the right to:

• live and work freely in this country;

• vote in elections;

• get a foreign passport and travel on it around the world;

• to receive protection and assistance in embassies in foreign countries.

How to get citizenship

By birth:

Being born in Sao Tome does not automatically confer citizenship. Exceptions are the following: a child born on the territory of São Tomé to (non-diplomatic) foreign parents who have settled in the country; a child born to unknown or stateless parents.

Originally:

A child born in Sao Tome with at least one parent who is a citizen of the country. A child is born abroad if at least one of its parents is a citizen of São Tomé if the parents register the child as a citizen of that country.

Marriage:

A foreign spouse of a Sao Tome citizen can obtain citizenship after renouncing their previous citizenship, establishing residency in the country, and declaring their desire to obtain Sao Tome citizenship.

Through naturalization:

Sao Tome citizenship can be obtained after the following conditions have been met: a person has lived in the country for at least five years, is of legal age, knows the language, is of high morals and integrity, has renounced previous citizenship, has viable means of support and is approved by the Ministry of Justice.

Dual citizenship is not recognized in the country.

Loss of citizenship

Voluntarily: a person voluntarily renounces citizenship. If it is allowed for her by law.

Involuntarily: if a person voluntarily acquired foreign citizenship or joins the service in foreign armed forces. Also, if a naturalized citizen cannot adapt to the customs of the country, or the person commits a crime.

Visa

To enter São Tomé and Príncipe, you must present your passport and proof of yellow fever vaccination. Holders of a valid US passport do not need a visa when visiting the country for up to 15 days. São Tomé and Príncipe do not currently have an embassy in the United States. Travelers transiting through Gabon can obtain the latest information on entry requirements from the Sao Tome and Principe Embassy in Gabon.

There are also no restrictions on the import of foreign currency. However, visitors leaving the country must report any amounts equal to or greater than €10,000 and be able to provide financial statements to prove that they entered the country with more than the amount with which they plan to leave. If you are going to this country, be aware that São Tomé and Príncipe may deny entry to people from countries affected by the Ebola virus. For a better understanding of all the nuances, we advise you to contact a specialist in legal matters.