Cabo Verde
CPVCabo Verde is a Lusophone archipelago of ten volcanic islands sitting roughly 570 km off the coast of Senegal in the Atlantic Ocean. A stable multi-party democracy since independence from Portugal in 1975, it consistently ranks among Africa's safest and most peaceful countries. Tourism — centred on the islands of Sal, Boa Vista, and Santiago — is the economic backbone, and the government has actively courted digital nomads and remote workers with straightforward residency pathways.
The Cape Verdean escudo is pegged to the euro, providing currency stability. Dual citizenship is permitted, and descent-based citizenship can be claimed through a Cape Verdean parent or grandparent. The passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 62 destinations.
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- CVE
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Praia
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 598,000
- Cost-of-living
- 41 /100
Passport Rank
#71
Visa-Free
62
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Cabo Verde passport has visa-free access to 62 destinations. See the full Cabo Verde passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Cabo Verde without a prior visa (194)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Cabo Verde
Current IRCC processing times for Cabo Verde nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | No processing time available |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | No processing time available |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Praia
- Currency
- CVE
- Languages
- Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole
- Population
- 598,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Subtropical dry; warm year-round, trade-wind cooled
- GDP per capita
- $5,796
- Life expectancy
- 76.22 yrs
- Population growth
- 0.47%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
41
Safety
62
Healthcare
43
Quality of Life
52
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Praia | — | — | — | — | $25 |
| Mindelo | — | — | — | — | $20 |
| Espargos | — | — | — | — | $18 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Praia
Rainfall range: 0–80 mm/month · Daylight 11.5h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Mindelo
Rainfall range: 0–65 mm/month · Daylight 11.5h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Espargos
Rainfall range: 0–40 mm/month · Daylight 11.5h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist (Pre-registration EASE)
- Business
- Long-stay
- Work
- Family
- Student
- Digital Nomad
- Investor
- Authority
- Direção de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (DEF)
- Official Portal
- www.gov.cv
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- Yes (level n/a)
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $150
- Processing
- ~12 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#36
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Beach vendors using aggressive upselling and guilt-tripping tactics on tourists
- ⚠Taxi overcharging at Sal and Santiago airports for tourists without pre-agreed fares
- ⚠Petty theft of unattended bags and phones in Praia Plateau market area
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Cabo Verde, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Ordem dos Advogados de Cabo Verde
OACVProfessional association for lawyers in Cabo Verde. Immigration status is administered through Cabo Verde state authorities and official GOV.CV services.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Sources & last verified
- Last verified