Sobre APCI
Investidor Guide
Sobre APCI
Investidor Guide

Offshore companies

  • Eligibility conditions
    • Be incorporated and registered in accordance with Decree-Law nº 70/95, of 31 December;
    • Effectively and exclusively carry out the activities governed by the diploma on the free regime, or the extraterritorial activities covered by the offshore regime. offshore companies may also carry out activities ancillary to their main activity to the extent necessary to carry out their main activity;
    • Pay the registration fees and annual fees charged in a timely manner;
    • Do not own shares or voting rights or control directly or indirectly in another company governed by São Tomé and Príncipe law with company status
    • Not have rights to rural or real estate assets in the national territory, if not by way of lease, right of occupation or domicile for the purpose of carrying out their activity, with the exception of offshore companies that carry out activities in the country under the Decree-Law on the Franco Regime or the Decree-Law on offshore Banking activities;
    • Not having ownership and enjoyment rights over movable assets located in national territory, other financial assets and within the limits of what is necessary for the exercise of its activity, as provided for in its purpose
  • Minimum capital
    • offshore limited liability companies are required to have a minimum share capital equivalent to USD 5,000.00, fixed in a freely convertible currency.
  • Regime of offshore companies and those carrying out banking activities
    • offshore companies established in São Tomé and Príncipe and carrying out offshore banking activities are subject to their own regime.
    • The license to set up an offshore bank is granted by the Governor of the Central Bank upon proposal from the Approvals office (APCI).
    • The minimum share capital is equivalent to USD 1,000,000.00 (one million US dollars), in accordance with the Banking Regulations for the Order of Operation of Offshore Banks, which also establishes the requirements for licensing and order instruction.
  • Management competence
    • The Authority responsible for Free Zones is the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APCI), pursuant to article 3 of Decree-Law no. 57/2013 of 31 December .
    • The table of fees payable is authorized by the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.
    • The offshore Business Center of São Tomé constitutes the Registration Office for Offshore activities.