Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom and Sao Tome and Principe stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.0
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
ST
11.7

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GB
$6,606
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
ST
4.9

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

GB
13.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
ST
0.6t

United Kingdom 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

GB
41.4
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
ST
1.9%

United Kingdom 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

GB
4.1%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
ST
$5,500

United Kingdom 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

GB
81.9 yrs
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
ST
44.4

United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

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

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting United Kingdom

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

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 United Kingdom and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

United Kingdom 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 1.0 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to United Kingdom?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB ST
Population 67,791,400 217,164
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages English Portuguese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +239
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999