Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from New Zealand
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New Zealand to Sao Tome and Principe — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from New Zealand 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 New Zealand and Sao Tome and Principe stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
New Zealand performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: 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 New Zealand and Sao Tome and Principe.
Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?
The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
