Cape Verde Visa: EASE Pre-Registration, Consular Route, and Entry

Cape Verde’s visa requirements split travelers into two groups. Citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, EU member states, Switzerland, Norway, and Liechtenstein do not need a traditional visa for tourist stays of up to 30 days, but every foreign air passenger must pre-register through the Electronic Security System (EASE) and pay the Airport Security Tax before boarding.¹² Anyone staying longer than 30 days, traveling for work or study, or holding a passport from a country without a visa waiver must apply for a visa at a Cape Verdean consulate before departure.

Do You Need a Visa or Just EASE Pre-Registration

If you hold a U.S., UK, EU, Swiss, Norwegian, or Liechtenstein passport and you are visiting for tourism for 30 days or less, you do not need a consular visa. Citizens of ECOWAS and CPLP member states may also benefit from free-movement agreements, though the specific terms vary.

Everyone in that visa-exempt group still has to complete EASE pre-registration and pay the Airport Security Tax. The exemptions from pre-registration itself are narrow: only Cape Verdean nationals, people born in Cape Verde, and foreigners who already hold a Cape Verdean residence permit can skip it.³

A traditional consular visa is required if any of the following applies: your stay will exceed 30 days, you are traveling for a reason other than tourism or a short business visit, or your country has no visa waiver arrangement with Cape Verde.

How EASE Pre-Registration Works

EASE is the online portal at ease.gov.cv where foreign air passengers register their travel details and pay the mandatory Airport Security Tax before flying to Cape Verde. Consular authorities recommend completing it at least five days before arrival.³ Registration can also be done on arrival at the airport, but doing it in advance avoids delays and longer queues at the terminal.²

Have your passport with you when you fill in the form. You will enter your full name, date of birth, nationality, country and place of birth, passport number, flight details, arrival and departure dates, and the address of your first accommodation in Cape Verde.⁴

The Airport Security Tax

The Airport Security Tax (TSA) is charged to every foreign visitor. Children under two are the only travelers exempt.³ The fee for international arrivals is roughly €31 (about $34) when paid online during pre-registration. Paying at the airport on arrival is reportedly up to double that amount, which is a strong reason to handle it before you fly. Once you submit registration and payment, you receive an electronic confirmation tied to your passport that serves as your entry authorization.

Applying for a Consular Visa

If you need to stay longer than 30 days, you are traveling for work or study, or your country has no visa waiver with Cape Verde, you apply through a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate before your trip.

A tourism visa covers recreational travel and cruise arrivals. It must be used within 60 days of being granted and allows a stay of up to 90 days, extendable once for another 90 days.³ A single-entry visa costs roughly €45; a multiple-entry visa runs about €87 and is valid for up to five years from issuance, though fees vary by consulate.²

Standard documents for a consular application:

A passport with at least six months of validity remaining during your stay.
A recent photograph in standard passport dimensions.
Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel reservation or a letter from a host.
A travel itinerary with flight bookings showing your arrival and departure dates.

Processing times run from a few days to several weeks depending on the consulate, so apply well ahead of your travel date.³

One boundary worth flagging: visa on arrival is not a broad fallback. Cape Verde’s consular portal limits it to citizens residing in countries where Cape Verde has no diplomatic representation.³ If a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate exists in your country or region, you are expected to get your visa before you fly.

Remote Working Visa

Cape Verde runs a Remote Working Program for digital nomads and remote employees whose income comes from outside the country. The visa lasts six months and is renewable once for another six. The visa fee is around €20 per person, on top of the standard airport fee of roughly €34 paid on arrival.

To qualify, you must be self-employed or employed remotely and able to show proof of income and adequate financial means. You will also need a passport valid for at least six months, proof of accommodation in Cape Verde, and travel and health insurance. The program is aimed at nationals of European countries, North America, CPLP member states, and ECOWAS member states. Official income thresholds are not published on the tourism portal, but some consulates have looked for average bank balances of around €1,500 for individuals or €2,700 for families over the previous six months. Confirm current figures with the nearest Cape Verdean consulate before you apply.

What Immigration Checks on Arrival

Whether you arrive on an EASE confirmation or a consular visa, expect immigration officers to check a few things. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay and have at least one blank page for the entry stamp.² Entry will be refused if your passport has been reported lost or stolen, or if it is visibly damaged.⁵

Officers may also ask for proof of onward or return travel and evidence of sufficient funds for your stay. Keep your EASE confirmation, return flight booking, and hotel reservation accessible on your phone or in print.

Traveling With Children

Cape Verde applies strict rules to children crossing its borders. When one parent travels with a child, a notarized consent letter from the absent parent is required, or the traveling parent must show proof of sole custody. A minor traveling without either parent needs a notarized written permission letter from a parent or guardian. Cape Verdean authorities have blocked U.S. citizen minors from leaving the country when they were traveling without a parent or guardian and did not have this documentation.²

Yellow Fever and Health Rules

Cape Verde requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate from all travelers aged one year and older arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission.⁶ Flying directly from the U.S. or Europe, this does not apply. If your route includes a connection or stopover in a yellow-fever-risk country in sub-Saharan Africa or South America, carry your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (the yellow card), or you can be turned away at the border.

No other vaccinations are legally required for entry. Cape Verde does not accept the UK’s Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), and travelers should not assume their domestic insurance covers treatment on the islands.⁷ Private travel medical insurance that covers local hospital treatment and emergency medical evacuation is worth arranging, particularly if you plan to visit the smaller islands where healthcare is more limited.

Currency and Customs

You can carry up to 1,000,000 Cape Verdean escudos (about $10,600) in or out of the country without declaring it. Amounts above that threshold must be declared to customs.²

Cape Verde prohibits the import of weapons, acids, incendiary substances, poisons, fireworks, and other explosives, and standard international restrictions on agricultural products and controlled substances apply. If you are bringing prescription medication, keep it in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

1
The Diplomatic Service of the European Union. Travel Info: Cabo Verde Replaces Visa for Europeans by Pre-Registration System and Airport Security Tax
2
U.S. Department of State. Cabo Verde Travel Advisory
3
Portal Consular. Visas
4
Travel Cabo Verde. Travel Cape Verde
5
GOV.UK. Cape Verde Travel Advice – Entry Requirements
6
World Health Organization. Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements Country List
7
GOV.UK. Health – Cape Verde Travel Advice