🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe visa requirements for Chinese citizens
Chinese citizens can get a visa on arrival when entering São Tomé and Príncipe — no embassy visit needed beforehand.
Entry rules for China passport holders
Chinese travelers can obtain their visa directly at the border or airport when arriving in São Tomé and Príncipe. Bring a passport with at least six months' validity, passport photos, and the visa fee (often payable only in cash). Lines can be long at peak times, so check whether São Tomé and Príncipe also offers an e-visa to skip the queue.
Entry rules can change at short notice. Always confirm current requirements with the official São Tomé and Príncipe immigration authority or your nearest embassy before booking.
How this compares
The Chinese passport ranks #105 worldwide, opening 83 destinations without a visa arranged in advance (41 visa-free, 38 with a visa on arrival and 4 with an eTA). São Tomé and Príncipe is one of them.
This is not reciprocal — traveling the other way, Sao Tomean citizens need to arrange entry to China in advance (visa required).
Across Middle Africa as a whole, 2 of 10 destinations are open to Chinese travelers without arranging a visa in advance.
About São Tomé and Príncipe
- Capital
- São Tomé
- Region
- Middle Africa
- Currency
- São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (Db)
- Languages
- Portuguese
Planning a trip to São Tomé and Príncipe?
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- City attraction passes →
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Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for São Tomé and Príncipe?
Chinese citizens can get a visa on arrival when entering São Tomé and Príncipe — no embassy visit needed beforehand.
What currency is used in São Tomé and Príncipe?
The currency in São Tomé and Príncipe is the São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (Db). The capital city is São Tomé.
Is this information up to date?
Current status: Visa on arrival for Chinese citizens traveling to São Tomé and Príncipe. This page is built from the open Passport Index dataset, which was last updated on 2025-01-12. Visa rules can change between dataset updates, so always confirm with the São Tomé and Príncipe embassy or immigration authority before booking.
More of Africa for Chinese passport holders
Going the other way? China visa requirements for Sao Tomean citizens →
Source data last updated 2025-01-12.