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.
bal says
my wife has Indian passport but an ILR visa for uk. we are planning a family holiday( my children and myself are british citizens).
does she need a visa?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Bal,
We would advice you to consult the embassy as your case is very specific. In general, with an Indian passport you can just obtain the tourist visa upon arrival. This is not any problem.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
david says
Hi I am arriving with an eu passport if I am not sure if I will stay longer than 30 days can I extend stay in the country for a few more weeks?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello David,
Yes that is possible but please make sure you contact a police station or customs before, so you are sure you do not have to pay any fines when leaving the country.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
colin farmer says
HI, I am coming to cape verde in may 2019 with tui (Tourist company) We applied for a visa through tui but now see that it is no longer necessary to have a visa. However it seems you have to register through the EASE website and pay £30 airport tax. When I mentioned this to the tui rep she said not you have a visa and that is enough, nothing has changed. Should we register through this website and pay the airport tax or is the visa we got last April 2018 sufficient to enter the country since we purchased it before the rules changed?
KGB says
Nothing is changed. We paid additional security tax 31 euro/person. That is ok, we can support the country, but this is not a usual airport fee as mentioned below.
Here is our receipt from TAP:
Taxes, fees and carrier charges 278
Origin – Security Charge (FE)14
Origin – Airport Departure Tax (OR)840.
Portugal – Security Tax (PT)3900.00
Portugal – Passenger Service Charge (YP)8100.00
Cape Verde – Airport Embarkation Tax (CV)5100.00
Cape Verde – Airport Security Tax (IU)900.00
We spent 90 min to have this. There is no any infotable, description, just 2 office with only 4 officers – one was out- so only 3 officers who tried support 200 tourists.
We never received any notification from anybody. This new Visa/sec tax is valid from 2019 Jan 3rd for ALL tourists.
PRE Registration is really important if you want to save time, however entering will take minimum 30 min with this registration as well.
Better communication will be also really important. (Email to All passangers through carriers with clear instructions – for instance)
No stress!! :)
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Thanks for sharing your experience and confirming the new Tax Security Tax.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Anonymous says
Hello Im a Cameroonian and wish to visit one of the islands in Cape Verde,what documents do I need to have?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello,
You need at least:
-a valid passport for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Cape Verde
-a tourist visa (can be obtained at the border)
-register with the Cape Verde authorities at the border or via Ease.gov.cv
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
rachel says
Can you get a visa on arrival if you have a UK Refugee Travel Document ?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Rachel,
As this is such a specific case we would advice you to contact the consulate / embassy.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Jess says
Hi As Thai passport holder, can I get visa on arrival or before travel? And do I have to register online also ? Couldn’t find any information except Wikipedia which not sure how accurate is it.Thank you.
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello,
You can get a visa on arrival or before you travel to Cape Verde. Same for the registration. Just what is more convenient for you.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Dr. Nizamuddin Al-Hussainy says
I am travelling from Bangladesh with Qatar Airways to Guinea Bissau on 27-28 January 2019 with an UNDP assignment for 10 days . Qatar airways partner airlines – Morrokan airlines will have one hour ‘technical stop over’ at your praia, cape verde before arriving Bissau. Do I need a visa for that? what are the requirements, if any? on my way back what I should do while in technical stop over?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello,
According to the government registration / visa is not mandatory for transfer travellers.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Steve Lister says
Is this visa-requirement (or not) still valid or has it been replaced by the £30 landing fee? And do EU citizens have to pay the £30? And do they need to fill in the pre-arrival registration form for the government? All seems a bit confused.
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello,
In place of a visa, they ask you to register with the Cape Verde authorities and pay a security fee (same as every airport in the EU is doing by charging a fee on the airfare). Registration / fee can done via the website of EASE or just on arrival at
the border.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Tina Vakharia says
Hi there – please can you send me the link of the website to register online? I cannot find it
Many thanks Tina
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Tina,
This is the platform: Ease.gov.cv
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Karen lane says
I am a uk passport holder and am visiting in May 2019. Could you clarify if the visa exemption for Eu citizens applies to UK citizens also ?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Karen,
According to the Government citizens of all European countries (UK is still part of EU) are exempted from short-stay visas to enter Cape Verde.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Dee says
Hello,
I am planning to arrive into Cape Verde on a US Passport. What documents do I need to bring to the airport there to apply for the visa! Thank you!