Getting a visa for Cape Verde is not that complicated. In this article we show you the way when & how you can obtain a visa. We indicate also why you need a visa and what kinds of visa there are.
Why a visa?
For several countries you will need a visa if you want to visit these. This also applies to the Cape Verde islands, unless you come from one of the visa-extempt countries. A visa is an official permission of the country to travel and stay there. There are different types of visas, for example a tourist visa, transit visa, residence visa and a residence permit. And there are different conditions per sort of visa. Without a visa, you can not legally enter or leave the country.
Tourist visas
A tourist visa for up to 30 days is required in Cape Verde, unless you come from one of the visa-extempt countries which are most in Africa or Europe. If a stay is longer than 30 days, the visa can be prolonged there. A visa is not required for people of Cape Verde origin (regardless their current nationality) and their spouses / children.
Applying for a tourist visa yourself is very simple. You can apply for a visa for Cape Verde in two ways:
- The Cape Verde embassy or consulate in your own country. As a reference, the cost in Belgium are approximately 45,- euro per visa excluding shipping. For children under 12 years the visa is free of charge;
- At the airport at one of the international airports of Cape Verde (Sal, Boavista, Santiago or Sao Vicente). You first take the queue to buy a visa and then pass the customs. The costs per visa are around 25,- euro. You can pay with euros or with a credit card. You have to wait in the queue a little longer but it is a cheaper alternative.
For a visa application, the following conditions are relevant:
- The passport must be valid for 6 months from the date of entry into Cape Verde. You can apply for a passport at your town hall. Do this in due time before leaving to the Cape Verde Islands;
- The passport data that you use when applying for the visa must correspond to your passport data;
- If you do the visa application through an embassy / consulate, you also must show the following: proof of return flight, proof of reservation of an accommodation or a reference and passport photo.
Visa extempt countries
For short stays a visa to enter Cape Verde is not needed for citizens from:
- European Union (30 day stay);
- Other Europe: United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Vatican City, San Marino, Andorra, Monaco (30 day stay);
- Asia: Timor-Leste, Singapore (30 day stay);
- Russia (60 day stay);
- North America: United States, Canada (30 day stay);
- South America: Brasil (30 day stay);
- Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkino Faso, Cote ‘d Lvoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierre Leone, Togo (30 day stay).
Note: You still need to register. See section ‘Mandatory registration & Airport Security Fee (TSA)’ at the end of this article.
Visa prolongation
A visa may be prolong during your stay on Cape Verde. The easiest way is to prolong your visa before it expires. You can have your visa prolonged at the office of “Direcção de Emigração e Fronteiras” in Sal, Boavista, Praia (Santiago), Mindelo (Sao Vicente) or at a police station. For the renewal of your visa you need: a valid passport with current visa, passport photo and usually also proof of where you are staying. If you are staying for a long time in Cape Verde for example for work, a rental or purchase contract is also needed.
Visa overstay
If you get beyond the maximum length of stay you will have to pay a fine. If this is only a few days then customs usually turn a blind eye to it. A fine can be up to a few hundred euros.
Passport
For a stay in Cape Verde your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Cape Verde.
Mandatory registration & Airport Security Fee (TSA)
Before travelling to Cape Verde you should register with the Cape Verde authorities via the online platform EASE. This is an electronic travel authorization for air passengers arriving on the Cape Verde islands, regardless of nationality or the need for a visa or not. Furthermore, when arriving by air – in most cases – you have to pay a security fee (Airport Security Fee – TSA). Registration and the security surcharge can be paid via the online platform EASE (preference). This can be also arranged at the border (customs). For more information read the article about the Airport Security Fee.
Arriving by boat or cruise ship
If you visit Cape Verde by saling boat you have to arrive via one of the larger harbors. These harbos are: Praia (Santiago), Porto Grande / Mindelo (São Vicente), Palmeira (Sal). Arriving to Cape Verde via another harbor is not permitted. Upon arrival at the harbos you must hand over a list of the entire crew to the customs / border police (Direcção de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) at the port office. Also make a copy of this document in case they will inspect your boat. The same rules for a visa apply as described earlier in this article.
If you are taking a cruise vacation with a destination on Cape Verde then you do not need to apply for a separate tourist visa yourself, as long as you leave the archipelago again via the cruise ship. The cruise lines usually provide the tourist visa as part of the package offered.
FAQ
A tourist visa for up to 30 days is required in Cape Verde, unless you come from one of the visa-exempt countries which are most in Africa or Europe.
Travelers from certain countries are required to have a visa. The costs are around 25-30 euros. If you do not need a visa, you still need to register with the Cape Verde authorities via the EASE platform.
Yes, all travelers are required to register via the EASE platform. Preferably a few days upon arrival. You will be asked for passport details, arrival and departure dates, et cetera.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you arrive to the Cape Verde Islands.
Emmanuel Appiah says
How do i register online before coming to Cape Verde
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello,
You can find this information in the following article: Airport Security Fee & Registration.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Bank r says
Hi there i am holding thai passport just wondering do I need any visa to visit cape verde? Thank you
Emmanuel Appiah says
Hi I’m Emmanuel Appiah from Ghana i read online that Ghanaians don’t need visa to Cape Verde please i want to confirm if am right
Thank you
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
That’s true, however when coming by airplane you still have to register (preferably in advance online) and pay a Security tax fee.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Said says
Hello,
I’m a Moroccan citizen living in italy with a Schengen residence permit.
I would like to visit Cape Verde, however I saw on Wikipedia that people coming from Morocco are the only ones who are not eligibile to obtain a visa upon arrival to Cape Verde.
Does this rule apply to all people with a moroccan passport or they are some other conditions where I can get a visa at Cape Verde airport?
Thank you for your support.
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Said,
To be sure, please contact the Cape Verde consulate in Casablanca or in Roma.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Richard Hodgson says
Hi I will be crewing on a yacht sailing from Las Palmas Canary Isles arriving early November. Traveling on an Australia passport, how do I go about obtaining a visa? There is no Embassy or consular services in Australia.
Thanks
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Richard,
Coming by boat you need to enter Cape Verde via one of the main harbors (Praia – Santiago; Mindelo – Sao Vicente; Palmeira – Sal). You can get your documents at the office in the port of arrival.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Helen says
Dear CapeVerdeIslands.org Team,
I would like to buy a holiday in the Cape Verde Island in the nearest few month. As far as I understand, being a citizen of the Czech Republic, which is a memeber of the European Union, I do not have to have a visa to enter the country. My inquiry refers to my husband’s visa, as he is a citizen of the Republic of Moldova, which is not a memeber of the European Union. Does he have to apply for a visa beforehand or can he obtain one at the airport upon arrival? If the second option is possible, how long is it going to take?
The thing is that we would not like to miss the transfer or make the other tourists who are going to our hotel wait for us.
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Helen
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello,
if you are a passport holder of a EU country you do not need a tourist visa (still you have to register and pay security tax fee), otherwise you need to obtain a tourist visa. Getting a visa on arrival takes you some more time, this depends on the queue.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Helena says
Hey :)
I’m hoping you could help me with a question that we have about Kap Verde-visa.
All our family is planning to travel to Kap Verde in end of October 2019. Seven of us have finish passports, one estonian, one cypriut and one kosovon passport. I cheked in internet and what I understod is that finish, estonian ja cypriut citizens don’t need a visa anymore since beginning of 2019? But we have to pay Airport Safety Tax 30,50€/per person? One of us has kosovon passport. He lives permanently in Finland, has been living here almoust 10 years now, so he has “permanent schengen”- visa. So if we understand right, he need visa to enter Kap Verde? And this visa can be made to him on the airport when we arrive? So visa (25 EUR) + payment of the TSA (30,50€) for him?
If you could answer our question, it would be very helpfull :) Thank you very much :)
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hi Helena,
Nice to hear from you. It’s correct, if you are a passport holder of a EU country you do not need a tourist visa, but have to register yourself and pay a security tax fee (preferable in advance and online). If you are not holding a passport of a EU country you need to obtain a visa (can apply upon arrival).
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Moni says
Hello
Can Turkish citizens obtain a visa for Cape Verde on arrival at Sal international airport? There is no Cape Verde Embassy in Turkey that I am aware of…
Thank you
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Moni,
You can obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at the international airport os Sal.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Lilli says
Hello, we would like to visit your Islands for 2-3 weeks in September with our child from Germany. Me and our son (2 years) have a German passport, but my husband has a Pakistani passport, though he is living and working in Germany since 2012. Could there be any problems for him to get a visa, could we still get it done at the border or could there be the risk that he would need to go back? We were traveling in Europe before with no problems. Many thanks in advance for your response.
Lilli
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Lilli,
With a Pakistani passport you need to get a visa. You can apply in advance (via embassy / consulate) or obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at the border. In general it should not be a problem to receive a tourist visa.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Raymond Benitez says
Hi,
What are the requirments to enter the Cape Verde islands, I am an Italian national and my wife is Venezuelan, do we need to apply for a visa to enter or is there any other requirements we should know before traveling there?
Thanks