Discussing São Tomé and Príncipe
This is the program that says yes, when others say no!
Never mind stocks and bonds, the savviest investors in today’s market are now diversifying with citizenship! In this episode of Global Investment Voice, Mona and Rebecca are joined with Tatiana Muntean from Global Freedom Capital to unveil one of the best kept secrets in the citizenship by investment community. São Tomé and Príncipe.
With Trump’s travel bans and pauses shaking up the immigration world and Caribbean CBI programs pricing out everyday investors, São Tomé and Príncipe has quietly entered the market, and it could be the smartest move for your global mobility.
With a price tag of just $90,000 (roughly one bitcoin), this small country, located just off the coast of western Africa, offers a fully remote and fast application process. Think of an overlooked pathway to citizenship in Portugal and Brazil, and the kind of privacy that doesn’t make Trump’s list.
One passport is no longer enough. Is this the best citizenship buy of 2026?
Tatiana Muntean
Tatiana Muntean is the Founder and CEO of Global Freedom Capital, a U.S.-based advisory firm specializing in global mobility, second citizenship, and international investment opportunities. With extensive experience advising high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and international partners, she helps clients strategically navigate residency and citizenship programs around the world.
Tatiana also works closely with governments and industry stakeholders, providing strategic advisory and on-the-ground support for the development, promotion, and responsible positioning of investment migration programs. She collaborates with partners across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean to expand global mobility opportunities for investors and their families.
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Transcript
This transcript was produced using AI and subsequently edited for style and clarity. The edits do not alter the substance of the speaker’s remarks
Mona Shah
(0:59) Hey Rebecca, it seems that one policy decision in DC has just made folk think that second citizenship may not be a luxury, it’s probably a necessity.
Rebecca Singh
(1:10) Well, Mona, I know this, there’s a popular term going around called citizenship diversification. I like that. Yeah, I know, no longer portfolio or investment diversification.
(1:21) We’re talking about multiple passports, I think. No longer the days can you get away with just, you know, the American passport or even the British passport. It seems that having two, three is the way to go these days.
Mona Shah
(1:32) Yes, as we’ve discussed on this podcast many times. But right now, I think as we’ve discussed in our previous podcast, this whole issue of Trump’s travel ban, and I call it a ban, but it’s supposed to be a pause. It really is making people outside of the US also think, what other passport should I get?
(1:51) And have you noticed, Rebecca, in his list of 75 or 73 countries, he has included many of the CBI countries.
Rebecca Singh
(2:00) Yes, yeah, he has. And what’s even more frightening is that, you know, these are supposed to be limited to immigrant visa processing for those who are getting like the green card or the permanent residence to the US. But just recently, he’s also cut the visa validity for Antigua and Dominica for the tourist visa from 10 years where you’re able to get it from multiple entries to just three months.
(2:25) That’s tough.
Mona Shah
(2:26) That’s tough because so many of these people have relatives and homes in the US, so that really is tough. But we have a secret, okay? A secret destination which Trump doesn’t know about, and please promise me you’re not going to tell him.
Rebecca Singh
(2:42) Well, I don’t know. Hopefully, he might get another country added on to this, but. But Mona, today joining us to give us a little bit more about the secret country out there is Tatiana Motian, who is a global investment advisor and the principal of Global Freedom Capital.
(3:03) Welcome, Tatiana.
Tatiana Muntean
(3:04) Thank you for having me on your well-known podcast. I’m honored to be here.
Mona Shah
(3:10) Thank you, Tatiana. So, a secret country, are you going to tell us what’s the secret country?
Tatiana Muntean
(3:15) Oh, well, imagine it’s a hidden jewel in the Atlantic Ocean, a southern island nation located off the west coast of Central Africa. And near Gabon, and it is one of the smallest and most peaceful countries in the world. Wow.
(3:33) Are you willing to know the name of the country? Yes. Well, let me tell you, this country is not about mass tourism or crowded cities.
(3:42) It’s all about nature, stability, and long-term global security. Well, wait, wait, wait. New Zealand isn’t on the African coast.
(3:53) Yes, exactly. New Zealand is becoming more popular right now, but it’s so far. We have something, we have a great country which is much closer and still pursuing.
(4:05) And it’s called Sao Tome and Príncipe. Well, Sao Tome and Príncipe, that’s a mouthful.
Mona Shah
(4:11) Well, Sao Tome and Príncipe, that’s a mouthful.
Can we just say Sao Tome?
Tatiana Muntean
(4:13) Oh, absolutely, Sao Tome.
Mona Shah
(4:16) Oh, wow.
(4:16) It is a beautiful place. I think Rebecca and I heard about it the first time at one of the conferences last year. In fact, it just got the citizenship by investment status, right?
Tatiana Muntean
(4:27) Yes, the country just launched a new programme and it’s becoming so popular. It’s like a hidden jewel, but I will tell you more.
Mona Shah
(4:38) Well, how much? Because it sounds like New Zealand, but what was that? New Zealand was 4 million, Rebecca?
Yeah, it’s very expensive.
Tatiana Muntean
(4:47) Tell us how much. Well, let me tell you, it’s under 100,000. It’s only a 90,000 donation to a great nation for the development of the country.
Mona Shah
(4:59) That is so affordable. But Tatiana, what about people who are stateless? Would it accept them?
Tatiana Muntean
(5:05) Yes, the programme is very flexible. You know, when Caribbean programmes started, they were also very flexible and the price was around 100,000. But look what is happening now.
(5:17) The price is almost doubled. The due diligence is thorough, it’s difficult. Sao Tome is still offering many opportunities, even for those who are stateless.
Mona Shah
(5:30) Wow, I got to think this is a great secret here compared to the others.
(5:35) What is the processing time, Tatiana?
Tatiana Muntean
(5:38) Well, the processing is under two months. It’s very fast. We will need only good copies of the documents.
(5:45) Some of the documents should be notarised. We will collect all the documents. We will do preliminary due diligence.
(5:51) We will immediately tell the investor if they are qualified to apply before we even onboard the investors. And then we collect the documents. We submit the documents to the government.
(6:03) And only after the government gives us a green light that they are willing to accept the investors’ funds, now only in that case, the investor will transfer the donation. So, no risk at all.
Rebecca Singh
(6:16) So what are some of the other requirements? Because the issue is with this, as we talked about with the CBI programmes and Trump’s travel ban or pause, is there any residency requirements? What is the process?
(6:29) Do they have to go through any testing? How else can they qualify?
Tatiana Muntean
(6:33) Actually, everything is done remotely.
(6:35) The investors don’t need to visit the island at all even after they get the citizenship unless they would like to build emotional connection and visit the island. Otherwise, they don’t have to travel, and the passport will be delivered to them.
Mona Shah
(6:51) I can imagine that that small island probably couldn’t handle so many people visiting them at the same time. But, Rebecca, do you think that residency, not having residency or not going there is going to be an issue later? Because that seems to be what the US government is looking at.
Rebecca Singh
(7:07) Yes, yes. I think it’s the whole point of are you developing ties to the country? And I think it’s going to be the issue of, Tatiana, vetting, are they, is Sao Tome vetting the investors and giving citizenship?
(7:21) Because that was the issue with some of these CBI countries as well. Are you doing enough due diligence on each person?
Tatiana Muntean
(7:28) Oh, absolutely. We run a very thorough due diligence. We understand that European Commission is all against all the CBI programmes.
(7:38) So when the programme was launched, they took seriously all the European Commission requirements. And yes, they do thorough due diligence, but they do not require the residency yet. So as all the Caribbean countries, they are talking about the 30 days every five years residency, but the law is not accepted.
Mona Shah
(8:01) Well, I did read one of the big things about the Sao Tome programme is that they keep citizenship private. They do not publish the approvals, which is what a lot of people are looking for. And if you don’t care about just about these issues, because right now it’s not on any ban or any pause.
(8:19) I don’t even know if the Trump administration knows where it is. But I had to look at the map, I have to say. But it could go the way of Vanuatu because that’s how Vanuatu started, no?
Tatiana Muntean
(8:32) You’re right. When Vanuatu started, they had access to Schengen and UK and Sao Tome immediately when the investors are opting for Sao Tome and Príncipe, they know that the passport is not about mobility. Sao Tome and Príncipe passport does not give you a visa-free access to Schengen zone, neither to UK.
(8:53) So it will not be watched, I believe, as Vanuatu. So at this point, Vanuatu did lose the access to Schengen and UK, but the price for Vanuatu stays the same. And you’ll be surprised that this passport is still in high demand.
Mona Shah
(9:08) Yes, it is. It is because it is a passport at the end of the day. And there are people out there who do want to use multiple passports.
Rebecca Singh
(9:17) With it being able to give you dual citizenship, then again, bringing it back to the 75-country ban, you’re still allowed to come in on that other passport that’s not on the ban. So that could work for anyone who’s looking for that.
Mona Shah
(9:33) And it also, Tatiana, it differs from other Caribbean programmes because of its cost. I mean, most of the programmes are 250,000 euros, which right now with the dollar being so low, that’s like about $300,000. But $90,000?
(9:48) Is that $90,000 or 90,000 euro?
Tatiana Muntean
(9:51) $90,000.
Rebecca Singh
(9:53) Yeah.
Tatiana Muntean
(9:53) It’s about one Bitcoin, right? A little bit more. And you’ll be surprised, but this passport does give you an access to Singapore, visa-free access.
Mona Shah
(10:07) That’s a good one.
(10:09) That is a good one. I believe it also allows you some kind of pathway to Portugal’s EU system.
Tatiana Muntean
(10:16) Yes. This is a big secret actually right now. And those people would drive-
Mona Shah
Quiet, quiet!
(10:22) We don’t want anyone to hear.
Tatiana Muntean
(10:24) Yeah, we created a package for the Golden Visa applicants. As you know, those who apply for the Golden Visa in Portugal, there are now talks about extending the citizenship application and the investors will be able to obtain passports only in seven or 10 years, actually in 10 years.
(10:44) These are still the talks, but the investors are concerned. So what could be done with Sao Tomé and Príncipe passport because it’s a part of community of Portuguese language countries. Once the investor gets Sao Tomé and Príncipe passport and applies for the Portuguese Golden Visa, they will definitely be able to apply for the citizenship of Portugal in seven years.
(11:07) So that makes the programme faster as well.
Mona Shah
(11:10) It does. And the one thing about this passport as well, it really does target those countries where they can’t go anywhere else, like Iranians, which might be a big market right now with all that’s going on, and as well as the Russians. And of course, Tatiana, you deal, you speak Russian and you deal with a lot of Russians.
(11:30) Are they moving towards this passport?
Tatiana Muntean
(11:32) Oh, yes, absolutely. That’s a great intermediary passport for them. At the same time, Africa is an emerging market.
(11:40) So with Sao Tomé and Príncipe passport, they get an access to South Africa, to Kenya. Even Americans need a visa to Kenya or Ghana, but with Sao Tomé and Príncipe passport, the whole Africa is almost visa-free.
Mona Shah
(11:56) You know, this was something that was, we raised in one of our earlier podcasts when we talked about Jesse Jackson. That was one of his visions, Tatiana. He saw that money was going to be coming from Africa and that it was going to be an emerging market and that it should be included.
Tatiana Muntean
(12:12) It is, and I bet this programme will be much more expensive. I project maybe next year it could be doubled just because of the amount of, of the number of people who are applying for this passport.
Mona Shah
Oh, so we should get it now while it’s still so cheap.
Tatiana Muntean
(12:30) Yeah, grab it until it goes, you know.
Rebecca Singh
(12:32) No, that was one of my concerns is that it looks, it’s a great programme. It’s, you know, up and coming. And then I’m afraid because it’s going to become so popular, but at the same time, I hope it doesn’t kind of go down the wrong path as some of these other CBI programmes.
Mona Shah
(12:48) Well, it’s all about them. Are they, it’s really how well the country themselves, how they keep their due diligence standards. I mean, you can have this whole slogan that this is the programme which says yes when others say no, but in order to have a long-term reputation, you’ve got to maintain those due diligence standards.
Tatiana Muntean
(13:07) And they are doing a great job because yes, the investor doesn’t have to show all the funds that he will be investing and everything that what he has, like for example, when the investors apply for Malta programme, a Maltese government will really see everything what the investor does. But in this case, well, the amount has to be legitimate, but it’s very popular among crypto investors. So, the donation in crypto is also possible.
Rebecca Singh
(13:38) Oh, so that’s interesting. So, Tatyana, Mona, I wanted to bring this back around to then our investors out there who are looking for, is this going to help them on their taxes?
Mona Shah
(13:48) They’re looking for a tax haven, you mean?
Tatiana Muntean
(13:50) Yeah. Yeah. Well, definitely for some investors, not for the investors from the U.S. or with the U.S. passport, certainly we are taxed everywhere. But legal tax saving is also possible in some cases, but for the other countries, nationals, the country offers 0% tax for everything, for the worldwide income, 0% inheritance tax.
Mona Shah
What is the age of the children?
Tatiana Muntean
(14:20) Children up to the age of 30.
Mona Shah
(14:22) That’s not a child!
Mona Shah
(14:24) Exactly!
Tatiana Muntean
(14:26) And parents aged to 55 plus can be included in one application.
Mona Shah
(14:31) So the mother-in-law gets to go as well.
Rebecca Singh
(14:36) No, but that’s really good, Tatyana, because I know a lot of the other CBI countries, you have to be a dependent on the principal applicant. Is that a case here, or is it you just have to meet the age requirements?
Tatiana Muntean
(14:48) Yeah, just the age requirement. It would be great also for the child to be dependent, but in many cases, when we are under 30, in many cases, we are depending on the parents.
Mona Shah
(15:02) And one last thing I do want to ask you, Tatyana, because again, this is something which I see as very valuable for people considering this citizenship, is the fact that as everything is kept confidential, Sao Tome does not notify your home country either.
Tatiana Muntean
(15:18) No, this is the beauty of the programme, that citizenship is very private and approvals are not publicly published.
Mona Shah
(15:27) People do think that only wealthy people can afford second citizenship. That’s not true, not at $90,000. That’s very affordable.
Tatiana Muntean
(15:35) Mm-hmm. Yeah, now it’s becoming more and more affordable with all the young centi-millionaires coming to the market. Yes, definitely.
(15:46) Wow. One passport is not enough in 2026.
Mona Shah
(15:51) It sounds really promising, Tatyana. I do think that we are going to see activity here. And guess what, Rebecca?
Rebecca Singh
(15:59) Passports are the new portfolio. Yeah, Mona. And I think this one might be the best buy of 2026.
(16:07) Tatyana, thank you so much for appearing on Investment Voice and we look forward to having you back to discuss other programmes.
Tatiana Muntean
(16:12) Thank you. I will be honored to be back. Thank you, Mona.
(16:15) Thank you, Rebecca.