Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Dominica

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Dominica to Sao Tome and Principe — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Dominica to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Dominica and Sao Tome and Principe stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

DM
27.1
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DM
11.0
ST
11.7

Dominica generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

DM
$968
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

DM
11.6
ST
4.6

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominica leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DM
1.3t
ST
0.6t

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Dominica across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

DM
20.9
ST
3.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DM
10.0%
ST
1.9%

Dominica generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

DM
23.0%
ST
9.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

DM
$10,989
ST
$4,084

Dominica generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

DM
71.3 yrs
ST
69.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DM
33.3
ST
9.2

Dominica generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in infant mortality.

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Dominica and Sao Tome and Principe. To live, work, or study long-term in Sao Tome and Principe, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sao Tome and Principe's immigration authority.

Dominica passport

Dominica passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Dominica passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.
Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Dominica

Visa Free
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can enter Dominica without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sao Tome and Principe?

With 3.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Sao Tome and Principe can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Dominica and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Dominica generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 27.1 in Dominica.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Dominica?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominica leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 4.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 11.6 in Dominica. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Dominica: 49).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Dominica, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

DM ST
Population 65,871 240,254
Currency East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English Portuguese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1767 +239
Time zones 1 1