Yes, citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe need a visa for Vietnam. The country is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Sao Tome and Principe citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, and most trips to Asia start with a flight to Lisbon or Luanda. Many Santomeans also hold a Portuguese passport, but Portugal is not on Vietnam’s exemption list, so a visa is needed either way. This page covers the steps, payment, flights, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Sao Tome and Principe citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Santomean passport: visa needed. The country is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Portuguese passport: e-visa needed as well.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of São Tomé.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers the country from Luanda; no Santomean mission in Vietnam.
How many Santomean visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted only 4 arrivals on Santomean passports in 2019 and none from 2020 to January 2023, so trips are rare and each one deserves careful planning.
Vietnam visa for Sao Tome and Principe citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday, study or work trip |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Several trips, or side trips to Cambodia or Thailand |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Whichever passport you use, use it for the whole trip: for the airline check-in, Vietnamese immigration on arrival and departure, and the hotel registration. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list if you hold another nationality.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa from Sao Tome and Principe
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Type your name without accents. Copy the Portuguese spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, with the given names and surnames split exactly as shown there.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry, matching the airport where you land.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Sao Tome and Principe citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. The payment is made online in US dollars by international card. Local cards are often not enabled for this, so a relative or employer in Portugal or elsewhere usually pays with an international Visa or Mastercard. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
When to apply: flight schedules, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of São Tomé and Príncipe all year. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 11 am on a Friday in São Tomé arrives at 6 pm in Hanoi, after office hours, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Few flights: international flights from São Tomé run only a few times a week, so get your e-visa before you book and leave a buffer of several days.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers fly through Lisbon or Luanda, then on to Asia via the Middle East or Europe. Check the transit rules where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for São Tomé and Príncipe. There is no Vietnamese embassy in São Tomé. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Luanda, Angola, covers the country. You need the embassy only for paper visas or special cases, not for an e-visa.
São Tomé and Príncipe for Vietnam. The country has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in São Tomé.
Worked examples
- Cocoa exporter from São Tomé meeting chocolate makers in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa with “business” as the purpose and the buyer’s details on the form.
- Santomean-Portuguese student from Lisbon, 3 weeks in Vietnam: an e-visa on either passport, since neither is exempt.
- Official from Príncipe at a regional conference in Hanoi: a single-entry e-visa, with the organiser’s details on the form.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Sao Tome and Principe citizens
Do citizens of Sao Tome and Principe need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. The country is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Luanda covers the country. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
