Repatriation from São Tomé & Príncipe to Poland

Sao Tome and Principe: we confirm the post in your case

The website of the Polish Embassy in Luanda lists Sao Tome and Principe in its bilateral relations menu, together with Angola, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. It does not, however, state directly that Luanda handles consular matters for the islands. We confirm the competent Polish post for this country in your specific case. Before documents are submitted we check that copies and stamps are complete, and we inform the family of every step.

The islands lie in the Atlantic, so the deceased or the urn returns to Poland by plane. The order of steps is always similar: a local document confirming the death and the local authorities' consent to take the remains out of the country, in Poland the starosta's permit, the consul's certificate, and only then the booking of transport. We plan the route and connections in advance, together with the family. We clarify the detailed requirements of this country's authorities for your specific case on request.

Poland recognised São Tomé and Príncipe on 15 July 1975, three days after its independence, and diplomatic relations at embassy level were established on 20 November 1978. Poland has no mission of its own there: the Polish ambassadors in Luanda are accredited to the government of this state, so Luanda handles consular matters. The country uses the apostille, so a death certificate is given an apostille instead of legalisation, which usually shortens the paperwork. We collect the required documents locally, pass them on to Luanda and organise the whole transport to Poland, by air from the islands. Which local documents are required in a given case, we confirm in your matter before anything is submitted.