Visitors Guide to Cape Verde

Residency, Visas and Passports

There are no restrictions for any nationalities to enter the Cape Verde islands, although all visitors must present a passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry. Visas are also required by all nationalities to enter the country and are easily obtained upon arrival for a fee of approximately €25 per person. Visas can be arranged by some travel agencies for visitors prior to departure, and if the visitor’s country of origin provides a diplomatic representation for Cape Verde, a visa may be arranged prior to travelling.

Obtaining residency in Cape Verde is considered to be a very straight forward process. Criteria for residency permits can be fulfilled by several methods including purchasing a property with a value of over €35,000. Setting up a business in Cape Verde and employing a specified number of local residents, or investing a minimum sum of capital into new businesses can also entitle foreigners to residency permission. For those who wish to re-locate to Cape Verde for retirement, it is also possible to obtain residency by providing proof of sufficient income from outside sources, along with the ability to pay for private healthcare.

Getting There

Cape Verde is becoming increasingly easier to reach with international flights steadily increasing the routes to cope with the growing demand. Cape Verde’s national airline, TACV, fly from several European destinations 3 to 4 times weekly. TACV fly directly to Cape Verde from Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, Boston, Dakar, Fortaleza and Las Palmas. Visitors travelling from the UK can easily access connecting flights to any of the European destinations on a regular basis.

Portugal’s national airline, TAP, also fly direct routes on a daily basis to Cape Verde from Lisbon. Other airlines that also provide connecting flights to Cape Verde include South African Airways and Air Senegal International.

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Local Transport

Various forms of local transport are available in Cape Verde as the country consists of an archipelago of islands. Travelling between islands is common amongst locals and visitors, so various forms of transport are available at reasonable rates.

The national airline TACV provides regular internal flights between most islands, except for the island of Brava. Air passes and discounted fares can be arranged for international visitors for up to 10 internal flights. Private aircraft can also be arranged for those who wish to travel at their own convenience.

The most common form of transport for between islands for the local population is by ferry. Ferry’s for passengers, cars and cargo travel between all of the nine inhabited islands on a regular basis. Ferry travel presents the most economic form of transport, although departures can be delayed on occasions due to rough weather.

For transport on each individual island, it is possible to hire a car. Car rentals can be arranged at the airports and 4-wheel drives are recommended for visitors who wish to explore areas away from the main towns, as the roads can be quite rough.

General transport around islands is most commonly made by mini-buses and on occasions, pick-up trucks. These are considered the most economical forms of transport and an enjoyable way to interact with the locals.

Health and Safety

Cape Verde is considered to be a safe place to travel with very few reported annoyances. No vaccinations are required when travelling to the country, yet travel and medical insurances are advisable for personal protection. Treatment in hospitals is free for visitors upon presentation of a passport, yet medical facilities are rather limited so medical insurance with coverage for emergency repatriation should be considered. There is also a limited risk of catching malaria on the island of Sao Tiago, while there is no noted presence of the disease on any of the other islands.

Cape Verde is considered to be the safest place to visit amongst the West African nations, with low crime rates throughout the country. Petty theft in large crowds such as markets and carnivals is a possibility, so caution should be taken with personal belongings similar to those taken when travelling through most destinations across the world.

Minor road accidents are most likely to be the cause of any problems to visitors, as the roads away from the main town areas are considered to be quite rough. Another likeliness of any issues of travelling in Cape Verde is from drinking the water as it is desalinated and requires treatment prior to drinking. Bottled water is highly advisable to avoid any discomfort. It should also be noted that the milk in Cape Verde is mostly unpasteurised, so can also present problems.

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