Security Guard Services in São Tomé and Príncipe

Security Considerations in São Tomé and Príncipe

A program in São Tomé and Príncipe typically covers offices, branches and residences in São Tomé city, and sometimes hotels or facilities on Príncipe. Because the country is made up of two islands, supervision must take into account the air and sea connections between them. The program applies the same Post Orders, the same supervision and the same reporting format at every site.

Portuguese is the official and working language, and Forro and other creoles are spoken in daily life. Hotels and reception desks with foreign visitors call for English and French. The dry season, the gravana, from June to September, is the peak tourist period, and the rainy season affects roads in the interior. Coverage plans should include relief officers and reinforcement during the busiest periods.

• Avenida Marginal 12 de Julho
• Ana Chaves Bay
• Praça da Independência
• São Tomé Municipal Market
• São Tomé International Airport
• Santo António (Príncipe)

How Coverage Works in São Tomé and Príncipe

McCray designs the program, and officers follow McCray Post Orders.

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in São Tomé and Príncipe

According to an academic study, São Tomé and Príncipe has had legislation regulating private security since 2007, called the Regulation on the Exercise of Private Security (Regulamento de Exercício de Segurança Privada). Article 1(2) of that regulation defines private security as subsidiary and complementary to the activity of the public security forces and services.

Legal framework: Private security regulation approved in 2007 (referred to as the Regulamento de Exercício de Segurança Privada de São Tomé e Príncipe). It was not possible to confirm from an official source the exact number and title of the instrument, the body that licenses companies or the requirements that apply to guards.

Sources

Requirements change. Confirm current rules with the official regulator before submitting an application. This summary is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed November 2026.

Cities in São Tomé and Príncipe

• São Tomé
• Trindade
• Neves
• Santana
• Guadalupe
• Santo António

Coverage in other localities, including São João dos Angolares and Porto Alegre, is arranged on request.

Districts and Autonomous Region of São Tomé and Príncipe

• Água Grande
• Cantagalo
• Caué
• Lembá
• Lobata
• Mé-Zóchi
• Príncipe (Autonomous Region, Pagué District)

Frequently Asked Questions

What Languages Do the Officers Speak?

All officers speak Portuguese. For hotels and reception desks with foreign visitors, officers with working French or English are assigned, and the required level is set in the Post Orders for each post.

See the Africa overview for other countries.