Embassy
Embassy of the People's Republic of China, São Tomé
São Tomé
Avenida Kwama N’Kruma, 24B
São Tomé and Príncipe visa requirements for Chinese citizens
Chinese citizens get a visa on arrival in São Tomé and Príncipe, for up to 15 days.
Passport
CHN
China
Going to
STP
São Tomé and Príncipe
Visa on arrival
The law lets border staff grant visas in limited cases, but approval is uncertain.
- Visa
- On arrival
- Max stay
- 15 days
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Make your trip easier
Do you already have any of these?
Some countries make entry easier if you hold a valid visa or residence permit from another country.
Special rules for Chinese citizens in São Tomé and Príncipe
Visa on arrival for 15 days
- Chinese ordinary passport holders can get a 15-day visa on arrival.
- With a US or Schengen visa, you do not need a visa.
- Diplomatic, service and public affairs passports get 30 visa-free days.
What to do
Bring the arrival fee in cash, in a widely accepted currency, plus a passport photo.
Have your return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready.
Queue at the visa-on-arrival desk before immigration in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Ways into São Tomé and Príncipe
Some visitors need no visa. Others must apply before travel.
Visa not requiredUS visa exemptionPeople with a valid US visa can visit without a visa for 15 days.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check your passport and US visa expiry dates.
- Show both documents when you arrive.
Documents required
- Passport
- Valid US visa
- Passport must have over 3 months left; the starting date is not stated.
- A US residence permit is not listed as a replacement.
Visa not requiredSchengen visa exemptionPeople with a valid Schengen visa can visit without a visa for 15 days.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check your passport and Schengen visa expiry dates.
- Show both documents when you arrive.
Documents required
- Passport
- Valid Schengen visa
- Passport must have over 3 months left; the starting date is not stated.
- A residence permit is not listed as a replacement.
eVisaOnline entry approvale-VisaST gives advance entry approval to travellers who meet its rules.
- Fee
- Pay at border; amount not stated
- Processing
- 7 days
How to apply
- Choose your visa type on e-VisaST.
- Fill in the form and upload your papers.
- Check, submit and save your reference number.
- Use your reference number to check the decision.
- Show your approval and pay when you arrive.
Documents required
- Passport scan as PDF
- Return ticket
- Booking and travel plans
- Host or accommodation contact details
- Children: birth record and guardians' declaration
- Transit: proof of next country's permission
- Proof of funds: 100 EUR daily
- Replies take up to 7 working days; submitted details cannot be changed.
- Passport must last 3 months beyond your stay; approval does not guarantee entry.
eVisaOnline residence entry applicatione-Cidadão accepts entry applications for people planning to live here.
- Fee
- Border or bank payment; amount not stated
- Processing
- 7 days
How to apply
- Choose family, work, study, exchange or training.
- Fill in the form and upload the required papers.
- Check, submit and save your reference number.
- Use your reference number to check the decision.
Documents required
- Passport PDF, valid over 1 year
- Criminal record certificate
- ID of person requesting residence
- Papers for your reason to stay
- Proof of housing and support funds
- Travel and booking details
- Proof of funds: 100 EUR daily
- Return ticket
- Hotel booking
- The 7-working-day reply does not mean your residence certificate is ready.
- Check your document list; some wording appears copied from other application types.
Visa on arrivalExceptional border visaThe law lets border staff grant visas in limited cases, but approval is uncertain.
How to apply
- Get advance approval or direct confirmation from immigration.
- Show border staff your valid passport or travel document.
- Show why you could not get a visa before departure.
Documents required
- Valid passport or travel document
- Proof no embassy or consulate exists
- Or proof visa unavailable before departure
- Border staff decide whether to grant this visa.
- Do not rely on this route without advance approval or direct immigration confirmation.
Visa requiredTourist visaThis visa is for tourists who need a visa before travel.
- Processing
- 4 days
How to apply
- Ask the consulate for its tourist visa form.
- Send the required papers and payment.
Official pageDocuments required
- Passport valid 6 months
- Return ticket
Sources (15)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras — Migration and Border Service
- e-VisaST — official entry authorisation portal
- e-Cidadão — official residence-related entry application portal
- Law 5/2008 — legal regime for foreign citizens
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities
- Foreign ministry — external services
- Foreign ministry — consular affairs directorate
- São Tomé and Príncipe consulate in Marseille — visas
- Marseille consulate — visa exemption list
- Marseille consulate — conventional tourist and business visas
- Marseille consulate — other diplomatic representations
- Official tourism portal — entry requirements attributed to immigration
- São Tomé and Príncipe health ministry — traveller information
- Community of Portuguese Language Countries — member states
- European Union — member countries
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from China
- Plugs C FAdapter needed
- MoneySTN Db
- Time−8h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguagePortuguese
- Emergency112 police
Planning your São Tomé and Príncipe trip
- Obo National ParkExplore the forested interior of São Tomé with a local guide. Look for waterfalls, birds and orchids.
- Boca do InfernoWaves enter an underwater cave and force water upwards through this blowhole on southern São Tomé.
- Príncipe's beachesThe island has beautiful, isolated beaches with very few visitors.
- Fort São SebastiãoBuilt in 1575, the fort now houses the São Tomé National Museum. It is especially attractive at night.
Scams to watch for in São Tomé and Príncipe
- Unspecified scams targeting touristsScams targeting tourists have been reported in the capital. The methods are not described, so no particular trick or payment demand can be identified.
- Reported roadblocks near SantanaRoadblocks have been reported near Santana. Their purpose is not explained. It is unclear whether they involved fraud, theft, payment demands or another type of obstruction.
About São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe is a two-island republic in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Gabon.
- Capital
- São Tomé
- Money
- São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (Db)
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Time zone
- UTC
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +239
Other Asia passports
Going to São Tomé and Príncipe
Easier trips nearby
Places close to São Tomé and Príncipe with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Are there special rules for Chinese citizens visiting São Tomé and Príncipe?
Chinese ordinary passport holders can get a visa on arrival for a stay of 15 days.
Do chinese citizens need a visa for São Tomé and Príncipe?
Chinese citizens get a visa on arrival in São Tomé and Príncipe, for up to 15 days.
How long can chinese citizens stay in São Tomé and Príncipe?
Up to 15 days each visit with the visa on arrival rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Can I get the São Tomé and Príncipe visa at the airport?
Yes. Chinese citizens get the visa when they land in São Tomé and Príncipe. Carry cash for the fee, a passport photo, your return ticket and hotel details.
Is it easier to visit São Tomé and Príncipe if I already have a US, UK or Schengen visa?
With a valid visa from Schengen and US, the rule becomes "no visa needed".
Do sao tomean citizens need a visa for China?
Sao Tomean citizens need a visa for China, from its embassy or consulate.
Do other Asia passports get easier entry to São Tomé and Príncipe?
Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Qatar South Korea, and 4 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near São Tomé and Príncipe are easier for chinese citizens?
Angola, Benin, Mauritius, Morocco Senegal, and 3 more let chinese citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to São Tomé and Príncipe?
Bring the arrival fee in cash, in a widely accepted currency, plus a passport photo. Have your return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready.
What money is used in São Tomé and Príncipe?
São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (Db). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in São Tomé and Príncipe?
Portuguese.
Reviewed by @snuck