Do You Need a Visa for Cape Verde? – A Comprehensive Guide
An in-depth guide to Cape Verde visa for UK, USA citizens and other passport holders
Cape Verde is located in the heart of the Central Atlantic Ocean. Tourism is one of the main sources of income for the country and it is listed as one of the best spots in this regard.
However, many are wondering: “Do I need a visa for Cape Verde?”. You’ll learn it all here.
The visa policy for Cape Verde depends on your nationality as there are 60 whose residents enjoy visa-free access. The others can get their visa on arrival.
After traveling many times to Cape Verde, it is about time to put my knowledge in this practical guide, explaining whether you need a visa for Cape Verde according to your nationality.
Table of Contents
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1. What types of Visa are there in Cape Verde?
There are 5 visa types for Cape Verde. These are explained below. The Cape Verde online visa is also easy to obtain, for tourists in particular.
Transit: This visa is for the people en route to another country with their flights landing in Cape Verde. It’s extendable only once for 4 days.
Official or diplomatic: This visa is valid for more than one entry. It must be used within 90 days of its issuance. The stay permitted on such a visa is 30 days.
Tourism: This visa must be used within 60 days of its issuance and is valid for a 90 days stay.
Temporary: This visa must be used within 180 days of its issuance. With such a visa, you can stay for 180 days. For multiple entries, you can stay for up to 90 days in a year from the date of the issuance of the visa.
Residence: You can stay in the country for 6 months, which can be extended as per the decision of the authorities.
2. How do I get a Visa for Cape Verde?
The info in this section is valid for the tourist visa only and there are 2 ways of obtaining it: on arrival or online.
1. Visa on Arrival
Visitors can obtain a visa from all non-visa exempt countries, except Morocco. These visas can be obtained once you reach the international airports of Sal, Boa Vista, Sao Vicente, or Santiago.
If you are a tourist from the USA and planning on staying in the country for less than 30 days, there is no tourist visa requirement.
Cape Verde visas on arrival can be easily obtained by tourists of several countries.
2. Cape Verde Visa Online
This is the best way as you will skip endless queues at the airport. Usually, I get my Cape Verde visa with iVisa.com. There is no need to go to any embassy.
This procedure includes 3 steps only. You just need to fill in the online application form and make the online payment to confirm the order.
Once it has been done, you get a PDF e-visa approval by email so you are good to go.
Purchase here your Cape Verde visa online
How to get a Cape Verde Visa Online?
The visa policy of Cape Verde allows you to get online visas. This type of visa is preferred by tourists because it’s fast and worry-free. It’s easy to get via iVisa.com.
Benefits
- The process is fast and hassle-free.
- You won’t have to waste time at the embassy to obtain the document.
- The approval is obtained through email which again saves time.
- You won’t have to wait in endless queues.
Cost
The Cape Verde Immigration charges 35 $ for the entry and the additional charges range from 25 $ – 75 $, depending upon the processing time.
I recommend iVisa.com as, once you get your Cape Verde visa, you can travel worry-free.
Time Required
The normal processing time for a visa approval is 4 – 6 days.
How to get a visa online via iVisa.com?
The process is extremely easy and goes as follows:
- On this website, you need to fill out the application form by clicking the “Apply Now” button.
- Pay with your debit/credit card. PayPal is also available.
- The pre-arrival confirmation is sent to your email address.
- At the airport, you need to present your passport and the iVisa document to get the entry.
How to get a Cape Verde Visa on arrival?
Why is it not recommended?
- Depending on your nationality, some airlines do not let the passengers on board if they don’t have a valid visa for Cape Verde! They are unaware that Cape Verde allows passengers from certain countries to get their visa on arrival!
- The Cape Verde visa application can also be submitted at the arrival airport but beware that the queues can be extremely long and tiresome!
- Several international flights may arrive at the same time. So you may have to wait even longer if your flight is delayed or if there is a priority flight before yours!
Time Required
There is no clear indication in this regard. The waiting time can be extremely long and tiresome! It all depends on the international flights that are arriving.
“Tud Dret!” (“No stress!”) is the national mantra of Cape Verde. Also when a Boeing arrives at 3 am!
Recap
You should get your visa before traveling to Cape Verde! From long and tiresome queues to overall time wastage, the visa on arrival is not recommended at all!
You may consider iVisa.com to get your Cape Verde visa in advance (for any nationality!).
3. What are the Cape Verde Visa Requirements for U.S. Citizens?
Preregistration is always recommended for U.S. citizens so that they don’t get their time wasted at all. It’s a travel document that is valid for 30 days per entry stay in Cape Verde.
US citizens entering Cape Verde as a tourist for less than 30 days don’t require a visa. Indeed, the U.S. are among the Cape Verde visa-free countries.
The visa on arrival requires U.S. citizens to get to any of the international airports and then apply for their visa there.
If you plan to stay longer, requesting a visa in advance is recommended as it requires less time and effort. You can visit the Cape Verde Consulate General in Boston or the Cape Verde Embassy in Washington D.C. In either case, you will be saving a lot of time.
How to get a visa?
If you are not a tourist, it’s better to request a visa in advance by visiting the Cape Verde Embassy in Washington D.C. Working with a travel documents expert is the only way to get a visa in advance and save time.
Documents required
The Cape Verde visa policy requires you to have the following documents to gain entry:
- a valid passport
- a passport photo that meets the Embassy of Cape Verde’s requirements
- a proof of travel arrangements
- a properly completed Cape Verde visa application form
- a money order
Cost
A single entry visa that has a validity of 4 months costs 60 $ and a multiple entry visa that has a validity of 60 months costs 114 $.
4. Do I need a visa for Cape Verde from the UK?
If you are a UK citizen traveling to Cape Verde as a tourist, there is no requirement for a visa, as long as your stay does not exceed 30 days.
However, preregistration is required. It is a document that is valid for 30 days per entry stay in Cape Verde. The Cape Verde visa preregistration is easy to obtain with iVisa.com.
You can also get a visa on arrival if you want to, but due to hectic wait times, it is not recommended at all!
How to get a visa?
For tourists, there is no visa requirement as long as their stay is up to 30 days. It makes the UK a visa-free country to gain entry as a tourist to Cape Verde. But preregistration is still mandatory to enter Cape Verde.
Travel hassle-free and preregister online for your Cape Verde visa with iVisa.com.
Documents required
- a valid passport with a 6 months validity and a blank page for the stamp(s)
- in some cases, a yellow fever vaccination certificate will be requested
- your UK emergency travel documents for entry, airside transit, and exit
Cost
If requested in advance, your visitor visa costs 30 GBP.
Your Cape Verde visa is easy to obtain via iVisa.com
5. How to get a Visa for Cape Verde for EU citizens?
EU citizens can apply for the preregistration of their visa in order to save time. The process is simple and swift and can be completed online easily. It is valid for 30 days per entry stay in Cape Verde.
EU citizens who want to stay in the country for up to 30 days as a tourist require no visa at all.
However, preregistration is mandatory. Preregister Cape Verde iVisahere your Cape Verde visit and skip-the-line in the airport.
If the stay is more than 90 days, you must visit your nearest Cape Verde embassy to get more information, as it varies from country to country.
If you are not a tourist, then visit the nearest Cape Verde embassy to get any other type of visa.
How to get a visa?
You can apply online for the preregistration document here.
In case you are not a tourist, visit your nearest Cape Verde embassy for more information.
Documents required
- a valid passport with a validity of 6 months
- a blank page for the stamp(s)
- your pre-arrival registration document via iVisa.com
Cost
The cost of the preregistration document is 30 €.
6. How to get a Cape Verde visa for Indian Citizens?
If an Indian passport holder wants to visit Cape Verde, he can apply for his visa in advance. This can be done by visiting the Cape Verdean Consulate General of Cape Verde in New Delhi.
Indians can also get a visa on arrival but it is not recommended due to long wait times which makes the process too hectic to follow! I recommend getting your Cape Verde visa here via iVisa.com. No visit to the embassy is required.
How to get a visa?
If you are an Indian national and you want to apply in advance for your visa, you need to visit 6/24, 1st Floor, Shanti Niketan, New Delhi, Delhi 110021, India. Alternatively, you can also get your visa on arrival at any of the international airports of Cape Verde and which is valid for 30 days.
Speed things up and get your Cape Verdean visa via iVisa.com.
Documents required when visiting the embassy
- a Cape Verde tourist visa application form
- a valid passport
- a photograph
- proof of payment
- proof of status
- a copy of your round trip or confirmed itinerary
- your hotel reservation(s)
Cost
The cost of a Cape Verde visa for Indian citizens is 30 $.
7. How to get a Cape Verde Visa for Nigerian Citizens?
The best part is that the Cape Verde visa is not required for Nigerian citizens. Nigerians can get to Cape Verde for 30 days without any visa.
If you are not a tourist, you might require your visa on arrival which is a long and tiresome process to follow. On the contrary, you can also request your visa in advance by visiting the Cape Verde Embassy in Nigeria.
How to get a visa?
You need to apply for the preregistration online if you are a tourist. In case you are not a tourist, then you need to visit the Cape Verde embassy for more information.
A visa for Cape Verde is not required for Nigerian citizens traveling as tourists.
What documents to bring?
Only your passport with 2 blank pages and ID card will suffice in this regard.
What are the costs?
The tourists arriving from Nigeria to Cape Verde only require to pay 3.400 CVE (13.417 NGN) as an airport security fee.
8. How to get a Cape Verde Visa for Pakistani Citizens?
Pakistani citizens traveling to Cape Verde can get their tourist visa on arrival. The minimum stay duration for Pakistani citizens in Cape Verde as a tourist is 30 days.
The duration can also be altered as per decision of the authorities. Unfortunately, Pakistani Citizens cannot file a preregistration request at all.
How to get a visa?
As a Pakistani citizen, you can travel to any of the Cape Verde international airports where you will get your visa on arrival. The Cape Verde visa price for Pakistani citizens varies depending upon the number of days they are granted access.
The on-arrival visa is a hassle as it takes a lot of time but at the moment, this is, unfortunately, the only option available for Pakistani citizens.
Pakistani citizens need to make sure that they have their passport valid for at least 1 month and one blank page to get a Cape Verde visa on arrival.
9. What are visa-free countries for Cape Verde passport holders?
The Cape Verdean citizens can enjoy a visa-free access to 65 countries and territories. As per the passport index, the Cape Verdean passport is 79th in terms of travel and access to the countries that it provides.
Some countries offer Cape Verdeans visa-free access. Others, however, require a visa on arrival and some even require a mandatory electronic visa to enter the territory.
In some cases, an international medical certificate is also required for entry. There might also be a biometric verification involved, depending upon the country the Cape Verdean citizen is visiting.
Get here your visa for Cape Verde passport holders via iVisa.com
Short FAQ about the Cape Verde Visa
How much costs a visa for Cape Verde?
This depends on the type of visa and your citizenship. Tourist visas cost around 35 $.
How to get a visa for the Cape Verde islands?
This depends on the type of visa and your citizenship. Tourist visas can get purchased at the airport upon arrival or online via preregistration.
How to get a visa for Cape Verde from the UK?
Preregistration is mandatory for UK citizens traveling to Cape Verde. This can be done online or upon arrival (long queues to be expected!).
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀
