Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Mozambique

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Mozambique to Sao Tome and Principe. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

Get free moving quotes to Sao Tome and Principe

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Mozambique to Sao Tome and Principe, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
102 ↓ 12% vs 2015

people born in Mozambique live in Sao Tome and Principe · UN DESA

Who's moving to Sao Tome and Principe?

Top countries of origin for Sao Tome and Principe's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2011

per 100,000 people per year

MZ
3.6
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MZ
20.1
ST
11.7

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Mozambique across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MZ
$143
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MZ
0.8
ST
4.9

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mozambique leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MZ
64.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MZ
0.3t
ST
0.6t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MZ
0.2
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MZ
1.8%
ST
1.9%

Mozambique generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MZ
3.5%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MZ
$1,500
ST
$5,500

Mozambique generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MZ
57.1 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MZ
61.4
ST
44.4

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on family life, though Mozambique leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mozambique 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.

Mozambique passport

Mozambique passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

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

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Mozambique

Visa on Arrival
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Mozambique.

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 2.0 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 Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Mozambique across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Mozambique.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mozambique leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 0.8 in Mozambique. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mozambique: 44).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

Both Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe share the same official language: Portuguese.

Share this

At a Glance

MZ ST
Population 31,693,239 217,164
Currency Mozambican Metical (MZN) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages Portuguese Portuguese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +258 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119