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.
- As 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.
tina salustiano says
hi there, i am a philippine passport holder with a schengen visa valid until 2019…am here in belgium now and my husband and i would like to visit for a short holiday – may i get my tourist visa on arrival? thank you, tina
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Tina,
A Schengen visa is in this case not relevant. According to our latest information it is not a problem to obtain a visa on arrival with a Philippine passport. To be 100% sure, you can double check this at the consulate.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Mohammed Birbach says
hi
i’m holding a Moroccan passport and i’m resident in the UK, i’m thinking to go to cape Verde for 10 days i’m wondering if i can get a visa upon arrival?
kind regards.
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hi Mohammed,
Do you also have an UK passport? If not, we think you need to obtain a visa before arrival via the ambassade or consulate.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Motaz says
hi I am from Egypt looking for 1 week vacation and I would like to know is it required to go tourist visa before arrived or I got it upon arrival?
can I got my visa online or not?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hi Motaz,
If you are coming from Egypt you can obtain a visa in advance from a Cape Verde embassy or consulate. More convenient is that you also can obtain a visa in person upon arrival at the airports of Sal, Boavista, Sao Vicente or Santiago.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Jimmy Morrow says
Hi there,
I’m a US citizen and plan to be in Cape Verde from April 2nd to mid July. I called the consulate in the US and the person I spoke with told me I MUST obtain a visa via him (I live in San Francisco and the consulate is in Washing DC). He also mentioned that I need to email him my passport.
The thing is I leave on March 28th and I don’t feel that comfortable mailing my passport. So my question is: is he correct in saying that I have to apply for a 5 year multi-entry visa or can I just get the visa at the airport then extend it per the comments above?
Thanks all – really appreciate it !
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hi Jimmy,
Good that you are that critical! We are not sure if it is true or not, but we have never heard before that you have to apply for a 5 year multi entry visa. Why should you have a visa for 5 years?! We would recommend you to double check with the consulate or maybe check with native Cape Verdians living in the US. Normally a visa can just be obtained at the airport just before the customs and is not more then a nice stamp in your passport.
By the way, Cape Verde announced a visa exemption also for citizens of the United States starting mid 2018.
Good luck!
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Jimmy Morrow says
Thanks – that’s what I was thinking too that it was pretty strange and plus it’s risky to send a passport across the US on such tight timelines.
When you say check with Native CV’s in the US, do you have any contacts there?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Unfortunately we do not have any contacts in the USA which we can share. We hope everything will be fine, let us know the outcome. Have a save journey!
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Kelly Araujo says
Hello I have to change flight in Cape Verde I am from Brasil do I need a transit Visa I stay only 1 hour? Thank you for your help
Jean Finney says
One never needs a transit visa just for changing planes. That is absurd. You just exit one plane and run for the next one within a limited airport zone. Interesting you should change there….
Oliver says
Hello,
I have valid passport. Iam planing go to boavista in june for 86 days. Can i get visa for that long?
Thanks for answer.
Oliver
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Oliver,
A tourist visa is valid for 30 days, so in your case you have to extend it. You can do this in Boavista at the office of “Direcção de Emigração e Fronteiras”
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
jayne says
Hello everybody. you clearly state above that from 2018 no tourist visa is needed if you have a EU country passport.
I have been several times so I know the airport purchase system.
I intend to travel out in March. Are you saying I no longer need to buy one? (UK passport)
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Jayne,
Cape Verde gouvernement planned for this year to roll out the free tourist visa for people with a EU passport. Current status is that this not yet implemented, so you still have to pay for your tourist visa.
Enjoy your holiday!
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Jayne Hood says
Thanks for the up to date information folks. LetsL hope that it happens soon.
Opowieści z Podróży says
Hi! I’m trying to establish if EU citizens need a tourist visa now or not? Different websites provide different information. Can you clarify this from me? Thank you.
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello,
If you hold a passport from a EU country you need to buy a tourist visa. This will probably change later this year, a visa will then be free of charge.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Pawel says
Hi I am planning to visit Cabo Verde in March. I have valid EU passport. Will I need to by a tourist visa?
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hi Pawel,
Yes, you have to buy a tourist visa. This is pretty simple and you can get one at one of the international airports.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Omar says
Hi,
Im moroccan and i have a moroccan passport, i wanna visit cape verde for 2weeks, do I need a visa? If yes, please, how and where can I get my tourist visa from casablanca morocco?
Thank you
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hi Omar,
Yes, a visa is required. For Moroccan residents you have to obtain a visa from a Cape Verde embassy or consulate in advance.
Best,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Jean Finney says
Hello – I would like to be clear about the requirements for visiting your country. It looks beautiful and I love the music! I like to stay for long terms – I am retired, an American woman – but getting a visa where I am now would be quite difficult. So I would buy a 30 day visa at the airport when I arrive, then extend. I would prefer to buy a one way ticket, for freedom – I am in rural southern France so I would probably fly RAM or TAP – is that possible or do I need the return ticket? Plus proof of housing – of course I would need a place to arrive in but I like rentals, not hotels. Thank you for yorr reply, Jean
CapeVerdeIslands.org says
Hello Jean,
Thanks for your question.
Buying a visa – as you also described – at the airport is recommended. It is cheaper and faster. Make sure you bring some cash (euro’s) with you so you can pay for the document.
Having a return ticket or address where you stay (proof) is not something they gonna ask you, however they might ask it when you will extent the visa after 30 days. Make sure you extent your visa on time, so in case they ask for a return ticket you have time to buy it and you can make your planning (worst case scenario).
Regards,
Team CapeVerdeIslands.org
Jean Finney says
Thank you!