Sao Tome and Principe - Establishing an Office STP - Establishing an Office
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:
- Provide full company related documentation, translated into Portuguese.
- Check the uniqueness of the proposed company name and reserve a name.
- Notarize the company statutes with the Registration Office in the Ministry of Justice.
- File a company declaration with the Office of Taxation in the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
- Register with the Social Security Office in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.
- Publish the incorporation notice in the official gazette (Diario da Republica).
- Publish the incorporation notice in a national newspaper.
- Register the company with the Commercial Registry in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
- Apply for a commercial operations permit (alvara).
- Apply for a taxpayer identification number with the Office of Taxation in the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
- Register employees with the Social Security Office.
- 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