S茫o Tom茅 and Principe
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Warnings and insurance
Before you travel听
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:听
- 蝉别别听general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- 蝉别别听general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about听safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance听
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.听
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.听
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Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full 鈥楤ritish citizen鈥� passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government鈥檚 understanding of S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe鈥檚 current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe set and enforce entry rules. If you鈥檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the , or email the S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe authorities.听
Passport validity requirements听
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. 听
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.听听
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.听
Visa requirements听
You can visit S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe for tourism for a period of up to 15 days without a visa.听听
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must .听
Border control听
You must pay a 20-euro entry fee when you arrive in the country. You can also pay in US dollars or local currency.
Vaccine requirements听听
To enter S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe, you must have a certificate to prove you鈥檝e had a yellow fever vaccination if you鈥檙e coming from a .
For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see .听听
Customs rules听
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.听听
Safety and security
罢别谤谤辞谤颈蝉尘听听
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.鈥���
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.听
Terrorism in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe听
Although there鈥檚 no recent history of terrorism in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe, attacks cannot be ruled out.鈥��
Political situation听听
Economic difficulties and political rows over the handling of investments in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe鈥檚 development can occasionally lead to civil unrest.听
颁谤颈尘别听
The crime rate in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe is generally low, but burglaries and armed robberies can happen. You can take steps to reduce your risk and help protect your belongings, including:听
- not wearing expensive jewellery or carrying large amounts of cash听
- not taking valuables to the beach听
- keeping valuable documents somewhere secure, such as a hotel safe听
Laws and cultural differences听
Illegal drugs and prison sentences听
There are severe penalties for all drug offences. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.听听听
LGBT+ travellers听
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe. Attitudes towards same-sex relationships are less tolerant than in the UK and showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention.听
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.听
惭辞苍别测听
Credit cards are not widely accepted in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe. Check if your hotel or restaurant accepts credit cards. There are only a small number of ATMs. You can withdraw cash from the main bank in the capital city, S茫o Tom茅.听
Transport risks听听
Road travel听
If you are planning to drive in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe, see information on driving abroad.听
You鈥檒l need to have both the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car.听
Road conditions听
Many roads are in poor condition and unlit, particularly outside the capital. Animals often walk on roads at night. Landslides after heavy rain can block roads.听
Public transport听
Taxis and motorbike taxis (鈥榤otoqueiros鈥�) are the only forms of public transport. They are often unsafe and in poor condition. It鈥檚 common for people to share taxis.听听
Air travel听
The UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the鈥疍epartment for Transport, based on advice from the .听听
Health
Before you travel check that:听
- your destination can provide the healthcare you may need听
- you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation听
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.听
Emergency medical number听
Call 222 22 22 and ask for an ambulance.听
Contact your insurance company quickly if you鈥檙e referred to a medical facility for treatment.听
Vaccine recommendations and health risks听
At least 8 weeks before your trip:听
- check the latest 听
- see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the 听
See .
Medication听
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.听
Read .听
Healthcare in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe听
Medical facilities on S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe are limited and many health conditions need evacuation to Europe, South Africa, Ghana or Gabon for treatment. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.听
Travel and mental health听
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also .听
Getting help
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.听
Emergency services in S茫o Tom茅 and Pr铆ncipe听
Ambulance: 222 22 22听
Fire: 112听
Police: 113 or 222 22 22听
Contact your travel provider and insurer听
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.听
Refunds and changes to travel听
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.听
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:听
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider听
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim听
Support from FCDO听
FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:听
- dealing with a death abroad听
- getting help if you鈥檙e a victim of crime听
- what to do if you鈥檙e in hospital听
- if you鈥檙e affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack听
Contacting听FCDO听
Help abroad鈥�
See听 including in an emergency.听
Help in the UK听听
You can call鈥� FCDO鈥痠n London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.鈥�
Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)鈥�
Get travel advice updates鈥�
Sign up to鈥�get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.鈥�
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