Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Papua New Guinea
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Papua New Guinea to Sao Tome and Principe — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Papua New Guinea 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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Papua New Guinea to Sao Tome and Principe.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Papua New Guinea 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea 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
Papua New Guinea performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on infrastructure, though Papua New Guinea 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
share of people below the poverty line
Papua New Guinea generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in gdp per capita.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Papua New Guinea generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Papua New Guinea 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.
Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea
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?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Sao Tome and Principe has 2.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?
Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Papua New Guinea.
How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Papua New Guinea?
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 0.6 in Papua New Guinea. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Papua New Guinea: 30).
What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?
The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Papua New Guinea, the official languages are English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin.
