Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Qatar

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Qatar to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

QA
0.1
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

QA
7.3
ST
11.7

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

QA
$2,901
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

QA
25.0
ST
4.9

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

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

QA
91.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

QA
47.3t
ST
0.6t

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than Qatar 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

QA
13.6
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

QA
431.0%
ST
1.9%

Qatar 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, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

QA
0.1%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

QA
$96,600
ST
$5,500

Qatar performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

QA
79.8 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

QA
6.6
ST
44.4

Qatar 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 Qatar 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.

Qatar passport

Qatar passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

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

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Qatar

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

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 Qatar and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Qatar 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 0.1 in Qatar.

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

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Qatar leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 25.0 in Qatar. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Qatar: 76).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Qatar, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

QA ST
Population 2,508,182 217,164
Currency Qatari Rial (QAR) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages Arabic Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +974 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999