São Tomé and Príncipe
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- No restrictions on entry or staying.
The types of restriction are:
- No restrictions.
Restrictions on entry to São Tomé and Príncipe
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to São Tomé and Príncipe based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, São Tomé and Príncipe does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Restrictions on short-term stay in São Tomé and Príncipe
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Sao Tomé and Príncipe based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Sao Tomé and Príncipe does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
The official e-visa website of Sao Tomé and Príncipe does not specify entry requirements beyond a valid passport and a return ticket.
Restrictions on long-term stay in São Tomé and Príncipe
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in Sao Tomé and Príncipe based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Sao Tomé and Príncipe does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.
Law 5/2008 The Legal Regime for Foreigners (Lei 5/2008 O Regime Jurídico dos Estrangeiros) states that public health considerations constitute a reason to reject a residence permit or to cancel or reject the renewal request for residence, however, this is only applied to diseases defined in relevant instruments of the World Health Organization.
Treatment access in São Tomé and Príncipe
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in São Tomé and Príncipe. There is some evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
Healthcare access in São Tomé and Príncipe for visitors is available but limited, with facilities providing only basic services. There is one main hospital, Hospital Central Ayres de Menezes, in São Tomé providing providing HIV treatment, including antiretroviral therapy and basic HIV-related healthcare services. Additionally, there may be some support from local clinics in collaboration with international organisations to provide HIV care, counselling, and support services. However, access to specialised HIV care is limited, and patients with specific treatment may need to seek care abroad or through partnerships with international health agencies.
Foreign nationals, particularly those with chronic conditions or requiring special medications, are advised to bring their prescriptions, as many medicines are not readily available locally. Foreign visitors typically need to cover medical costs out-of-pocket, making it essential to have travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation if necessary.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
There is no known HIV criminalisation in São Tomé and Príncipe. We are not aware of any HIV-specific criminal laws in force, and there have been no reported prosecutions for alleged HIV ‘exposure’, non-disclosure, and/or transmission under general criminal laws.
Visit the São Tomé and Príncipe page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
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