São Tomé and Príncipe at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | None |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | There is no U.S. visa section in São Tomé and Príncipe; nonimmigrant visas are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Luanda, Angola, and the State Department's immigrant-visa list points residents to Libreville, Gabon, so confirm the post before filing. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to São Tomé and Príncipe right now
- São Tomé and Príncipe is not under a travel-ban restriction, but since October 23, 2025 its nationals applying for B-1/B-2 visitor visas can be required to post a visa bond, a program made permanent in August 2026.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from São Tomé and Príncipe
Marriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseFamily petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsGreen card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countriesB-1/B-2 visitor visaVisit the U.S. for business, tourism or familyF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language school
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from São Tomé and Príncipe visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. São Tomé and Príncipe is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from São Tomé and Príncipe get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on São Tomé and Príncipe nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between São Tomé and Príncipe and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from São Tomé and Príncipe enter the green card lottery?
São Tomé and Príncipe was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from São Tomé and Príncipe have their visa interview?
There is no U.S. visa section in São Tomé and Príncipe; nonimmigrant visas are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Luanda, Angola, and the State Department's immigrant-visa list points residents to Libreville, Gabon, so confirm the post before filing.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in São Tomé and Príncipe?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
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Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.