199 countries 39,402 visa rules 72,668 airports 7,028 languages 235 holiday calendars 1,260 news stories Visa data verified 13 Oct 2026
Free Passport Photo Maker
Check requirements
Travel photo of Sao Tome and Principe

Flag of Timor-LesteTimor-Leste Flag of Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe

Timor-Leste passport cover

Sao Tome and Principe Visa Requirements for Timor-Leste Citizens

Visa-free

Timor-Leste passport holders do not need a visa to visit Sao Tome and Principe.

Source: Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras — Law 5/2015 amending the Foreigners Act (Diário da República no. 146, 30 November 2015) · checked 4 Oct 2026

Check another trip

What the Sao Tome and Principe visa rules mean for Timor-Leste travellers

Timor-Leste citizens can enter Sao Tome and Principe without a visa. You only need a valid Timor-Leste passport at the border; immigration officers may still ask for a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and enough money for your stay.

Documents to prepare

Whatever your visa status, Sao Tome and Principe applies the same entry conditions to every traveller:

  • Passport validity: eVisa applicants upload a scanned passport valid for three months beyond the last day of stay shown on the visa. The UK government tells British visitors only that the passport must be valid for the duration of the stay.
  • Vaccinations: Yellow fever: The UK government says a yellow fever certificate is required if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
  • Travel insurance: No official source we could read states a travel insurance requirement for São Tomé and Príncipe.
  • Return or onward ticket: eVisa applicants must attach a return ticket to the application.

Sao Tome and Principe entry rules compared

Sao Tome and Principe lets 56 passports in without a visa, issues eVisas to 142. Timor-Leste citizens are treated the same way as Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, South Korea and Türkiye. Overall the Timor-Leste passport ranks #99 in the world with 56 visa-free destinations.

More travel options

Planning a longer trip in Africa? With a Timor-Leste passport you can also visit 3 countries in the region without a visa, including Angola, Cape Verde and Eswatini.

In the other direction, Sao Tome and Principe citizens need visa on arrival to visit Timor-Leste.

Flag of Sao Tome and PrincipeEntry requirements for Sao Tome and Principe

Overstay penalties

30 days

A foreigner who exceeds the authorised period of stay is fined Dbs. 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 for up to 30 days; Dbs. 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 for more than 30 and up to 90 days; Dbs. 9,000,000 to 12,000,000 for more than 90 and up to 180 days; and Dbs. 13,000,000 to 19,000,000 for more than 180 days. For overstays of up to 180 days the foreigner must also pay the fees that would have been due had the stay been authorised. The same penalty applies when the overstay is detected on departure. The Migration and Borders Service applies the law's fees and administrative sanctions.

Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras (SMF) — Diário da República n.º 47 of 12 August 2008, Lei n.º 5/2008 on the legal regime of foreign citizens✓ Checked 12 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do Timorese citizens need a visa for Sao Tome and Principe?

Timor-Leste passport holders do not need a visa to visit Sao Tome and Principe.

How long can Timor-Leste citizens stay in Sao Tome and Principe?

There is no fixed limit on the length of stay, though long stays usually require registering your residence.

How long must my passport be valid to enter Sao Tome and Principe?

eVisa applicants upload a scanned passport valid for three months beyond the last day of stay shown on the visa. The UK government tells British visitors only that the passport must be valid for the duration of the stay.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0). Entry rules can change — confirm with official sources before travel.

Flag of Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe

See also: Sao Tome and Principe requirements for other passports

All passports for Sao Tome and Principe →

Flag of Timor-Leste Timor-Leste passport

More trips for Timor-Leste passport holders

All visa-free countries →