Exclusive Interview with New COO of São Tomé CIU as Program Opens for Applications

IMI Connect Rome-bound Trindade on São Tomé’s CBI: Six weeks processing time, $90k investment, Dubai CIU HQ, and why energy infrastructure comes first.

São Tomé and Príncipe has appointed Disney Ramos as Director of its Citizenship Investment Unit (CIU), marking the final step before the program begins accepting applications in September’s first week.

The government hopes that Disney Ramos’ appointment positions the West African island nation to challenge established programs with a Dubai-based processing center promising completion times under two months.

Disney Ramos, the former Minister of Economy, serves as Director with authority over official documents, including approval letters and Certificates of Registration.

Alfredo Trinidade, who serves as Chief Operating Officer, boasts dual-sector experience spanning private accounting and public administration, and will oversee day-to-day operations and external relations.

Educated in Portugal in accounting, audit, and corporate tax law, Trindade launched his career at PwC Portugal before transitioning to senior government roles. Since January 2023, he has served as executive director of São Tomé’s Trade and Investment Promotion Agency and president of the Central Bank’s Audit Committee.

The government established this leadership structure to create two complementary roles: Ramos provides official authority and government stature, handling compliance and due diligence processes, while Trindade manages marketing, agent relations, and international program promotion.

Ramos will initially operate from São Tomé before relocating to the UAE to oversee the program’s operational continuity.

The program requires a $90,000 donation for single applicants, with all-inclusive costs reaching $95,750 after government fees. Families of four pay $103,000, including passport issuance at $350 per person, national ID at $150, and certificate of registration at $250. Marketing agents can request licenses through info@stpcip.com.

Three-Year Legislative Journey

São Tomé’s parliament approved legislation enabling citizenship through investment in 2022, but implementation stalled through multiple government transitions. “We have had three governments that tried to implement this,” Trindade explained in an exclusive interview with IMI Daily, clarifying that the current administration finally established the regulatory framework specifying donation amounts and requirements.

Trindade explained that “we in São Tomé and Príncipe are trying to diversify our income for the country,” identifying CBI as one of the diversification strategies, pointing to “the successful countries in the Caribbean” as models.

Trindade confirmed the government drew inspiration from St. Kitts, Saint Lucia, and Nauru in designing the program since “these countries have made a lot of progress in terms of their growth.”

Meet Alfredo Trindade in person at IMI Connect Rome. Book your tickets here.

Six-Week Processing Through Private Partnership

The CIU will operate as a public-private partnership run by STP Advisory Services, a newly established UAE firm working under government oversight. Passport Legacy, which won the government tender to help create the program, will continue providing strategic recommendations to ensure what chairman Jeffrey Henseler describes as “an efficient application process without delays or unnecessary complications.”

Trindade explained that operating the CIU privately will allow São Tomé to become more competitive, noting that government processes “sometimes take time” while private sector operations focus on “key performance” metrics. The unit targets processing applications in under two months.

Trindade addressed concerns about balancing revenue generation with integrity, explaining that while the government wants to process as many applications as possible, it needs “to protect the country’s reputation as well” because “otherwise they will lose the opportunity to continue operating.”

After the CIU completes due diligence, “they will send all the processes to the government, and the government, through the country authorities, will also check the processes.”

Henseler emphasizes that “speed in the process is key” and confirms that with “qualified staff, the given timelines can be met while top-tier compliance checks will be done on the applicants.” He adds that “efficiency and transparency go hand in hand, ensuring applications are processed quickly without ever compromising on integrity.”

The Passport Legacy chairman believes that “with a robust framework and dedicated professionals, São Tomé and Príncipe can deliver results on time while setting a benchmark in compliance.” He maintains that “balancing speed with thorough due diligence is what will give the program credibility and long-term success.”

Renewable Energy Takes Priority

The citizenship funds will flow into a National Transformation Fund, with renewable energy infrastructure as the first priority. São Tomé currently experiences electricity for only “three, four hours” on some days, according to Trindade, who calls energy “the base” for development since “nobody will come to the country to invest without electricity.”

The government plans to achieve 100 percent renewable energy through solar and mini-hydro systems, requiring approximately “50 megawatts of clean energy” to supply current needs and accommodate growth for three to five years.

Trindade articulates an ambitious vision where “we want São Tomé to be a lighthouse project for other African countries when it comes to infrastructure, renewable energy, and the well-being of its citizens.” He believes “this initiative will position São Tomé and Príncipe as a pioneer in Africa, driving sustainable growth through innovation and responsible investment.”

The government’s vision extends beyond energy, aiming to “transform São Tomé and Príncipe into a regional hub where clean energy, modern infrastructure, and social prosperity go hand in hand.” Trindade emphasizes that “by setting the standard for good governance and long-term planning, São Tomé and Príncipe will inspire confidence among investors and pride among its citizens.”

When pressed about fund allocation specifics, Trindade only confirmed that “the majority” of the $90,000 donation goes directly to development projects. Licensed agents will get a $20,000 commission for each successful file, regardless of family size.

“Most Players are Just Around the Corner”

The decision to base operations in Dubai reflects practical considerations about document processing and market access. “Most of the players are just around the corner” in Dubai, Trindade observes, eliminating shipping delays that affect Caribbean programs where processing can exceed one year.

“Dubai is the financial center in the world” and “a very cosmopolitan city,” making it easier to reach than São Tomé, according to Trindade. The location also carries marketing advantages, as a “Citizenship by Investment Unit in São Tomé is not the same” as announcing a Dubai-based operation.

The unit will initially hire experienced professionals from the investment migration industry already based in Dubai, gradually incorporating São Toméan nationals. “The beginning is crucial for us,” Trindade notes, explaining the need for experienced staff at launch.

The government also plans to establish an embassy in Abu Dhabi, though the Dubai CIU will handle passport renewals in the interim when the seven-year validity expires, or three years for minors.

Meet Alfredo Trindade in person at IMI Connect Rome. Book your tickets here.

Passport Renewal and Banking Access

Citizens can renew their passports either at São Tomé embassies in Beijing, Brussels, and Lisbon, or directly at the Dubai CIU. “You can go to the general consulate or the embassy of São Tomé and Príncipe or to the CIU,” Trindade confirmed, addressing a common challenge for economic citizens who often struggle to renew documents without visiting distant diplomatic posts.

São Toméan citizens face no particular banking challenges internationally, according to Trindade, who describes the country as “very well known as a neutral country.” Banks require standard documentation and due diligence, but “we are not facing any kind of problem opening bank accounts.”

Nationalities, Investment Currency, and Passport Power

The program accepts applications from all nationalities except North Koreans, including Russians and Iranians. Stateless individuals can also apply. Dependents include spouses, unmarried children up to 30 who remain financially dependent, and parents over 55.

The government will not publish the names of new citizens, maintaining privacy standards. “We are not planning to publish the names of people who acquire citizenship by investment,” Trindade confirmed. The program accepts only US dollar payments, not cryptocurrency.

São Tomé passports currently provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 93 destinations according to Trindade, including South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, and Qatar, though the European Union and United Kingdom require visas.

Trindade acknowledges that “we are aware that we need to improve access to more countries,” confirming the government’s commitment to expanding visa-free access.

Competing With Pacific Programs

Trindade identifies Vanuatu and Nauru as direct competitors rather than established Caribbean programs like St. Kitts or Antigua and Barbuda, which have been “in this sector for many years.” He believes that São Tomé can compete; however, due to its price point and speed, he argues that “with this amount and handing over the passport in less than two months, we will very quickly become the key player in this sector.”

The government expects “hundreds” of applications in the first year. The government has not set specific nationality targets. Trindade emphasized that “we are open to all nationalities except North Koreans.”

Trindade frames the program’s value beyond travel benefits, describing the passport as “insurance” during crises. “People holding São Tomé passports can go to São Tomé and Príncipe” during crises in their homeland, he notes, emphasizing the country’s “very low” crime rate and reputation as “a safe country.”

“Africa is the Continent of the Future”

São Tomé becomes the first Portuguese-speaking country to offer citizenship by investment, leveraging its membership in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), connecting to Portugal and Brazil. 

The island’s location provides proximity to “a market of around 400 million consumers” in West Africa, with Nigeria “only one hour flight” away and Ghana and the Ivory Coast “less than two hours flight” from the island.

“Africa is the continent of the future,” Trindade argues, adding that “if you are in São Tomé, you are in the heart of the future.” He encourages passport holders to look beyond CPLP benefits to “the sub-region of the Gulf of Guinea.”

Tourism remains “the main sector” of the economy, with healthcare infrastructure improvements planned to support the industry’s growth, as “when people are looking for vacation destinations, healthcare is the second thing they look for.”

Turning Dreams into “Visions”

Additional infrastructure plans include a deep-sea port that has been discussed for decades. “I remember since I was a kid, every government has had the desire, the goal, the dream to build a deep seaport,” Trindade recalls, adding that “now it’s not only a dream, because we have already woken up and now it’s a vision, not a dream.”

The government also aims to develop the airport as a Gulf of Guinea hub, leveraging what Trindade describes as São Tomé’s strategic position “at the center of the world” where “we can easily reach Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.”

Trindade will present the program at IMI Connect in Rome, where he plans to emphasize “the two main things that everyone in the sector is looking for: speed and price. Speed of less than two months and a price under $100,000.”

The Citizenship Unit indicates it “remains open to recommendations from marketing agents,” suggesting flexibility in program structure as market response becomes clear. 

Passport Legacy, having supported the government from the program’s inception, will continue providing strategic recommendations to the CIU to maintain what it describes as a framework that “combines strong government leadership with industry expertise.”

Meet Alfredo Trindade in person at IMI Connect Rome. Book your tickets here.