Includes steps involved in establishing a local office.
Last Published: 8/15/2016

There are no agencies or brokers that provide services to simplify the procedures for establishing an office in STP, but there is now a one-stop window to assist in simplifying the process.  Some companies prefer to hire a legal office for assistance, but recent progress due to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) program significantly reduced the cost and waiting period to start a new business.  It now takes between on average four days and costs about USD 230.  The following is a general description of how a foreign company can establish a local office:

  1. Provide full company related documentation, translated into Portuguese.
  2. Check the uniqueness of the proposed company name and reserve a name.
  3. Notarize the company statutes with the Registration Office in the Ministry of Justice. 
  4. File a company declaration with the Office of Taxation in the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
  5. Register with the Social Security Office in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.
  6. Publish the incorporation notice in the official gazette (Diario da Republica).
  7. Publish the incorporation notice in a national newspaper. 
  8. Register the company with the Commercial Registry in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
  9. Apply for a commercial operations permit (alvara). 
  10. Apply for a taxpayer identification number with the Office of Taxation in the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
  11. Register employees with the Social Security Office.
  12. Other documents needed include: 1) copies of the by-laws of the parent company and of the minutes of the meeting of the board of directors in which the opening of the STP branch is approved; 2) a certificate of appointment of the general manager in STP; 3) a copy of any agreement signed with a Saotomean company or with the government of STP; 4) two copies of the application to the Court for authorization to operate; and 5) two photographs and a copy of the passport of the General Manager.

For more information contact:
GUE – Guichê Único para Empresas (Single Window)
Ministério da Justiça, Administração Pública e Assuntos Parlamentares (Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Parliamentary Affairs)
Avenida Amílcar Cabral, Edificio da Sat Insurance 1.ºAndar
Tel: (+239) 22-21-040, (+239) 22-22-402, (+239) 99-17-711
Fax: (+239) 22-22-256
s_ilma3@hotmail.com; ilmasal3@gmail.com
www.gue-stp.net 

Direção de Comercio (Trade Department)
Ministério de Comercio, Industria e Turismo
Rua Viriato da Cruz
São Tomé, São Tomé e Príncipe
Tel. +239 22-21-484

Direção dos Impostos (Tax Department)
Ministério de Plano e Finanças
Praça da Independência
Tel. +239 22-21-518
São Tomé, São Tomé e Príncipe

Instituto de Segurança Social (Social Security Institute)
Ministério da Saude e Assuntos Sociais (Ministry of Health and Social Affairs)
Praça Yon Gato
São Tomé, São Tomé e Príncipe
Tel. +239 22-21-382, +239 22-21-110

Câmara do Comercio, Industria e Agricultura (Chamber of Commerce)
Avenida 12 de Julho
São Tomé, São Tomé e Príncipe
Tel.: +239 22-21-409, +239 22-22-723

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More Information

Sao Tome and Principe Business Registration