Immigration to Gabon for São Tomé & Príncipe citizenship

If you intend to stay in Gabon for a long period, you can apply for a residence permit in Gabon. In most cases, you first apply for a short-term visa (e-visa), and after entering Gabon, you apply for a residence permit at the Gabon Immigration Department.

Procedure

Basic documents required to apply for a residence permit in Gabon

• Residents of third countries who have expressed interest in obtaining a residency visa in Gabon must fill out the appropriate form; provided that the applicant has no criminal record and has an insured annual income of the appropriate amount
• Add a recent color passport photo;
• A copy of the repatriation guarantee + presentation of the original (for fee-paying residency permits);
• A copy of the first three pages of the applicant's currently valid passport, together with that bearing the last entry visa to the country + presentation of the original, or a copy of the consular card that is still valid
• A copy of the previous residence permit + return of the original (for extension).

The residence permit is valid for 2 years plus 1 month grace period. Formalities regarding the extension of the residence permit must be completed no later than the last month of the validity period.

Eligibility

Non-citizens have the right to receive a temporary 3-5-year residence permit (with the possibility of extension) in Gabon if they belong to one of the following categories:

1. Husbands who are not citizens of Gabon.

2. Children:

• Minor children who have the right to a special or ordinary residence by analogy with their father
• Adult children whose father has the right to a 3-year residence, provided they have a source of income.

3. Persons working in the government, state institutions, public sector companies, and in the public business sector.

4. Persons who work in government institutions and have retired from there.

5. Persons residing in Gabon for 10 years.

6. Non-citizens living in homes for the elderly and disabled.

7. Political refugees.

8. Refugees registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

9. Gabonese spouses who lost their citizenship of origin after marrying a non-citizen and obtaining the latter's citizenship.

10. Spouses and children of those non-citizens who are exempt from residence permits and restrictions.

11. Non-citizens who, according to international treaties, have the right to receive a 3-year residence permit.

12. Persons who received a three-year residence permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Five-year residence

Non-nationals from France have the right to receive a temporary 5-year residence permit (with the possibility of extension) in Gabon if they belong to one of the following categories:

1. Investors.

2. Gabonese citizens and their minor children who have lost the citizenship of their country of origin in connection with the acceptance of foreign citizenship.

3. Children:

• Whose father acquired Gabon citizenship.
• Adult children whose mother has the right to special, ordinary or 5-year residence in the event of the death of the father.

4. Individuals aged 60 and over who have lived in Gabon for 10 years, provided they have a source of income.

Fees

• Fees required for a French citizen: 250,000 francs
• Other nationalities: 150,000 francs
• Cost of reissuing the permit: 50,000 francs for any nationality