Moving to Virgin Islands from Sao Tome and Principe

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Virgin Islands, and you’d need to navigate life in English.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2012

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
VI
49.6

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

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
VI
0.0t

Virgin Islands performs significantly 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

ST
2.0
VI
8.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2022

share of households with internet

ST
51.0%
VI
64.8%

Virgin Islands performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
VI
12.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
VI
$46,200

Virgin Islands performs significantly 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

ST
67.1 yrs
VI
80.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
VI
7.7

Virgin Islands performs significantly 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 Sao Tome and Principe and Virgin Islands. To live, work, or study long-term in Virgin Islands, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Virgin Islands's immigration authority.

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Virgin Islands

Visa Required
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need a visa to enter Virgin Islands.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Virgin Islands?

With 8.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Virgin Islands can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Sao Tome and Principe and Virgin Islands.

Is Virgin Islands safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs better than Virgin Islands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Virgin Islands is 49.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

What language do they speak in Virgin Islands?

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

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At a Glance

ST VI
Population 217,164 105,413
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Portuguese English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +239 +1340
Time zones 1 1