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Sao Tome and Principe · Africa
U.S. visas issued to nationals of Sao Tome and Principe
The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics.
In September 2025, 8 nonimmigrant visas were issued to nationals of Sao Tome and Principe, the 189th largest count among 203 nationalities that month; that is down 50% on September 2024 (16).
For the full fiscal year the Department's Report of the Visa Office lists 76 nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of Sao Tome and Principe in FY2024, 0% of the 10,969,936 issued worldwide and the 188th largest nationality of 197. The previous year's figure was 40 (FY2023).
The largest classes in September 2025 were G2 (other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family) with 5, A1 (ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family) with 2 and B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 1. 1 immigrant visas were issued to applicants chargeable to Sao Tome and Principe in the same month, led by IR5 (1).
The Department's adjusted refusal rate for B (visitor) visa applicants who are nationals of Sao Tome and Principe was 25.00% in FY2025, below the Africa median of 55.57%; it was 50.00% in FY2024. The rate covers B visas only and is the Department's own calculation, counting each applicant once by their final status in the year.
In the Diversity Visa program, 3 entrants chargeable to Sao Tome and Principe were selected for DV-2025, 0% of all selectees that year; the count was 4 for DV-2022. Selection is not a visa; the Department's pages explain that selectees must still qualify and that more are selected than there are visas.
Nonimmigrant issuances by month
Compared with the Africa region and the world
| Measure | Sao Tome and Principe | Africa (54 nationalities) | All nationalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office | 76 | 539,434 | 10,969,936 |
| Median nationality, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office | — | 2,955 | 7,901 |
| Nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025 | 8 | 23,471 | 823,557 |
| Change on Sep 2024 | -50% | — | -11% |
| Immigrant visas, Sep 2025 | 1 | — | 45,966 |
| B-visa adjusted refusal rate, FY2025 | 25.00% | 55.57% | 31.28% |
| DV-2025 selectees | 3 | — | 131,060 |
Fiscal-year rows are the Department's Report of the Visa Office tables; monthly rows are the September 2025 report alone. Region and world refusal figures are medians across the nationalities listed in the Department's table for that year; regions follow the Report of the Visa Office grouping.
Visa classes, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued, FY2024 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 24 | 31.6% |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 16 | 21.1% |
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 12 | 15.8% |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 7 | 9.2% |
| A1 | Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family | 6 | 7.9% |
| C3 | Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit | 5 | 6.6% |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 5 | 6.6% |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 1 | 1.3% |
From the Department's annual NIV detail table (nationality by class). Older symbol spellings in the table (B-1,2; H-1B) are shown in the current form.
Visa classes, September 2025
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 5 | 62.5% |
| A1 | Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family | 2 | 25% |
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 1 | 12.5% |
Immigrant visa classes, September 2025 (foreign state of chargeability)
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR5 | Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age | 1 | 100% |
Nonimmigrant issuances by fiscal year, Report of the Visa Office
| Fiscal year | All classes | Visitors (B) | Students, exchange (F, M, J) | Temporary workers | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2015 | 90 | 34 | 5 | 1 | — |
| FY2016 | 68 | 25 | 7 | 0 | -24% |
| FY2017 | 72 | 25 | 8 | 0 | +6% |
| FY2018 | 66 | 17 | 8 | 0 | -8% |
| FY2019 | 68 | 17 | 7 | 0 | +3% |
| FY2020 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | -74% |
| FY2021 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -17% |
| FY2022 | 33 | 11 | 7 | 0 | +120% |
| FY2023 | 40 | 8 | 9 | 0 | +21% |
| FY2024 | 76 | 12 | 6 | 0 | +90% |
Fiscal years run October to September. Every row is the Department's final annual detail table for that year; the visitor, student and worker columns add the table's class columns within one year. No monthly reports are summed.
Adjusted B-visa refusal rate by fiscal year
Dark bar: Sao Tome and Principe. Grey bar: Africa median for the same year. The Department's rate covers B visas only; it counts each applicant once, in the status in which the fiscal year ended, so an applicant refused and later issued in the same year counts as an issuance. Source tables: FY2023, FY2024, FY2025.
Diversity Visa selectees by program year
| Program year | Selectees chargeable to Sao Tome and Principe | Share of all selectees | All selectees |
|---|---|---|---|
| DV-2016 | 2 | 0% | 91,563 |
| DV-2022 | 4 | 0% | 119,021 |
| DV-2025 | 3 | 0% | 131,060 |
Counts of selected entrants as published on the Department's "selected entrants" pages; no names are published or held. Selection is not a visa: the Department selects more entrants than visas available, and DV visas are issued only to selectees who qualify before the program year ends.
Questions and answers
What is the U.S. visa refusal rate for nationals of Sao Tome and Principe?
The State Department's adjusted refusal rate for B (business and tourist) visas was 25.00% in FY2025 against a Africa median of 55.57%. The Department publishes this rate only for B visas and only by nationality; it counts each applicant once, by the status in which the year ended.
How many U.S. visas were issued to nationals of Sao Tome and Principe last year?
76 nonimmigrant visas in FY2024, Report of the Visa Office, the Department's final annual figure. In September 2025, the latest monthly report, 8 were issued.
How does September 2025 compare with a year earlier for Sao Tome and Principe?
8 nonimmigrant visas, down 50% on September 2024 (16). Months are compared one to one; the Department says its monthly reports should not be added together.
Which visa classes do nationals of Sao Tome and Principe receive most?
G2 (24), A2 (16), B1/B2 (12), G4 (7) and A1 (6) in FY2024, Report of the Visa Office.
How many DV lottery selectees did Sao Tome and Principe have?
3 for DV-2025, 0% of all selectees. Earlier years: DV-2016 2, DV-2022 4. Being selected is not a visa; the Department selects more entrants than there are visas available.
Where do nationals of Sao Tome and Principe apply?
This site's post table lists no U.S. post in Sao Tome and Principe; nationals apply at posts in other countries.
Where does this data come from?
The State Department's monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by nationality, the annual Report of the Visa Office detail tables, the annual adjusted B-visa refusal rate tables and the Diversity Visa selectee pages. Data through 30 Sep 2025.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Nationality and Visa Class; Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Foreign State of Chargeability or Place of Birth and Visa Class; Report of the Visa Office NIV detail tables (workbook); Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality; Diversity Visa selected entrants pages. All public domain. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.