Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Seychelles

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Seychelles 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 Seychelles 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

SC
9.3
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SC
6.6
ST
11.7

Seychelles generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SC
$1,402
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SC
38.2
ST
4.9

Seychelles generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sao Tome and Principe 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

SC
43.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SC
7.2t
ST
0.6t

Seychelles generally does better on environment, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SC
35.0
ST
2.0

Seychelles performs 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

SC
3.0%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$29,500
ST
$5,500

Seychelles 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

SC
76.1 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SC
10.6
ST
44.4

Seychelles 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 Seychelles 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.

Seychelles passport

Seychelles passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

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

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Seychelles

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Seychelles.

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 Seychelles and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Seychelles generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.3 in Seychelles.

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

Seychelles 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 38.2 in Seychelles. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Seychelles: 75).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Seychelles, the official languages are English, French and Seychellois Creole.

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At a Glance

SC ST
Population 97,017 217,164
Currency Seychellois Rupee (SCR) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English, French, Seychellois Creole Portuguese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +248 +239
Time zones 1 1