São Tomé and Príncipe issued its first citizenship by investment (CBI) passport in January, four months after launching Africa’s newest CBI program.
The West African archipelago has processed applications from 98 individuals representing 27 nationalities since its launch in September 2025.
Russians lead the applicant pool with 22 submissions. Sanctions effectively closed EU golden visa programs and Caribbean CBI options to Russian nationals, leaving few alternatives for those seeking second citizenship.
Chinese applicants numbered 17, while Germans ranked third with 15 applications. These three nationalities alone account for 55% of the total volume.
Indians filed five applications and Nigerians four, rounding out the top five markets. Together, these nationalities generated 80% of the demand.
Eight European countries appear in the data beyond Germany. Serbians, French, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Ukrainians, and Belarusians all submitted applications, though in smaller numbers.
Americans submitted three applications, while Venezuelans, Kuwaitis, and Israelis submitted two each. One application arrived from individuals in Vanuatu, Syria, and Sudan.
Nearly half the applications came from individuals without dependents.
Single applicants submitted 47 applications, while 37 families of two to four members submitted applications, and 14 larger families (four or more members) rounded up the rest, meaning there is a near exact split between single applicants and family applications.
Men outnumber women five to one among main applicants.
Authorities have approved all 27 applications they’ve processed so far. Processing averaged 2.5 months, though one approval came through in four weeks.
The program began receiving applications in September 2025, meaning that the program has averaged around 20 applications per month.
Passport Legacy, the firm that helped design the program, predicted that the program would garner 500 applications in its first year. The CBI program’s strong start indicates the forecast was realistic.
During IMI Connect Rome, Passport Legacy Group Chairman Jeffrey Henseler said he believed the program “was on track” to achieve that target, and that he expects the number to double the next year.
Another 71 submissions remain under review, and 36 more await formal submission through marketing agents.
