What you need to enter Sao Tome and Principe with a Panamanian passport
Panamanian citizens need an electronic visa for Sao Tome and Principe, applied for online before the trip.
- Minimum passport validity
- 6 months
Why is this passport validity required? →
Last verified: 3 October 2026
Verified practical details
The visa is applied for before your trip, and the procedure is Electronic visa (eVisa) from the Migration and Borders Service. Here are the verified details:
Authorisation system
Electronic visa (eVisa) from the Migration and Borders Service
The application is made online and the authorisation is checked on the Migration and Borders Service website with the process number, which you should keep. You attach a scan of the passport and the return ticket, payment is made at the border, and there you must show 100 euros per day of stay.
Apply on the official site →Visa, e-Visa, or electronic authorisation? What's the difference →
Processing time
The Migration and Borders Service replies within seven working days, and Spain's Foreign Ministry advises applying at least seven days before travel.
Required documents
- Passport valid for at least six months for tourism.
- eVisa authorisation.
- A return ticket.
- Funds of 100 euros per day, shown at the border.
Transit rules
Some airlines flying to São Tomé from neighbouring countries are on the EU air safety list or banned under it. Flights between São Tomé and Príncipe are sometimes interrupted, and the only international airport is on São Tomé. Driving requires an international permit, and Spain's Foreign Ministry advises against travelling at night.
More Sao Tome and Principe rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the Sao Tome and Principe page:
Official portal: https://www.smf.st/. Destination data verified on 3 October 2026. Sources: exteriores.gob.es (travel advice of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for São Tomé and Príncipe, updated 1 June 2026: 15 days visa- free, eVisa, passport validity, yellow fever, currency, air safety); smf.st (Migration and Borders Service: eVisa, seven working days, funds, payment at the border); gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sao-tome- and-principe (UK Government: entry fee for British nationals); data.unesco.org (World Heritage List). All checked on 3 October 2026.
Travel insurance for Sao Tome and Principe
It isn't listed as mandatory for this entry, but without insurance, medical care during the trip can get expensive.
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Things to see and do in Sao Tome and Principe
Tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of Sao Tome and Principe can enter Panama visa-free. See the Sao Tome and Principe → Panama page.
All 8 passports from Central America that VisaRadar tracks need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival to enter Sao Tome and Principe. Same result as Panama: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.
With a passport from Panama, in the rest of Middle Africa you can enter Angola visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Cameroon, Chad, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon; you need a visa for Central African Republic and Republic of the Congo.
A passport from Panama ranks 67 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 125 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do Panamanian citizens need a visa for Sao Tome and Principe?
Yes, but it's processed online before you travel (e-visa), no consulate visit required.
How long does it take to get the entry permit?
The Migration and Borders Service replies within seven working days, and Spain's Foreign Ministry advises applying at least seven days before travel.
What minimum passport validity is required?
Passport valid for at least six months for tourism.
What currency is used in Sao Tome and Principe?
São Tomé & Príncipe Dobra (STN).
What do Panamanian passport holders need for the countries near Sao Tome and Principe?
With a passport from Panama, in the rest of Middle Africa you can enter Angola visa-free; you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Cameroon, Chad, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon; you need a visa for Central African Republic and Republic of the Congo.
Related pages
See Sao Tome and Principe requirements for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.