Visa

Getting a visa for Cape Verde is not that complicated. In this article we show you the way how you can get a visa. We indicate also why you need a visa and what kinds of visa there are. Moreover, you can read where exactly you can ask for a tourist visa and what the conditions 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. 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. 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. 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.

You can get a visa in different ways. If you book a package trip (flight + accommodation) there is a chance that the tour operator will apply for a visa. Then you do not have to arrange anything and only show your visa when passing the customs. To be sure, always ask your tour operator if they have arranged a visa for you. Another scenario is that you have only bought an airline ticket via a tour operator. Or maybe you only have bought an airline ticket. You will have to apply for a tourist visa yourself. Fortunately, this 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.
• During the course of 2018 it is not required for persons who hold a passport from a EU country. In most other cases you need at least a tourist visa to visit the Cape Verde Islands.

For a visa application, the following conditions are relevant:

• The passport must be valid for 6 months after returning to your country. 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 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. Therefore, if you stay on Cape Verde for more than 30 days, make sure you extend your visa on time.