São Tomé and Príncipe has taken steps to facilitate investment and improve the business environment in recent years. The following company types can be registered in Sao Tome and Principe.
Company Types
The types of companies and required numbers of shareholders are:
- Single-member joint-stock company or limited liability company: one shareholder
- Private limited company: two or more shareholders
- Joint-stock company: five or more shareholders
Share Capital
The minimum required share capital is:
- Single-member joint-stock company or limited liability company: STN 20,000 (approximately $890)
- Private limited company: STN 150,000 (approximately $6,677)
- Joint-stock company: STN 350,000 (approximately $15,580)
Requirements
The requirements for company or business registration are:
- A completed admissibility certificate application form requesting approval for the company name.
- A copy of the requester’s personal ID and TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number).
- A digital or hard copy of the company statutes or Articles of Association.
- For citizens: a copy of the national ID card and marital status; if married, full name of the spouse and the marital regime are required.
- For resident aliens: a copy of passport and copy of valid residence card; if married, full name of the spouse and marital regime are required.
- For non-resident aliens: a copy of the valid passport, a copy of a TIN, home address, email address, telephone number, post office box. In case of absence, the requester must provide a signed and verified power of attorney (granting powers of representation) to a representative in São Tomé and Príncipe.
All documents in foreign languages must be translated by a certified translator in São Tomé and Príncipe, except for copies of passports.
Branches
Branch registration requires:
- Two digital copies of the overseas company bylaws.
- Two copies of the overseas company registration certificate and business license or permit.
- Minutes of the general meeting ordering the branch opening in São Tomé and Príncipe. It must include:
- the headquarters of the parent company and the branch,
- the company’s tax information number (TIN),
- commercial registration number,
- share capital allocated to the branch,
- personal information of the representative in São Tomé and Príncipe, and
- the activity to be carried out.
- Proof that the company is not insolvent or facing an ongoing bankruptcy proceeding.
- Two copies of personal ID cards, passport or tax identification cards/numbers of the shareholders and the legal company representative in São Tomé and Príncipe.
The cost for the branch registration is:
- STN 5,965 (approximately $266), within 3-5 days
- STN 8,615 (approximately $383), within 24 hours