What are the visa formalities and requirements for visiting Cape Verde?
Cape Verde is an island state off the coast of North Africa. Despite a total surface area of just 4,033 km², this is a country worth discovering. Travel from island to island to discover all the facets of Cape Verde.
From the island of Santiago, home to the capital, Praia, to the island of Brava, via the island of Fogo, home to the mountain of the same name and the São Filipe islands, you’ll love this atypical state where nature still has its rightful place. But before you set off, there are a few formalities to attend to.
How do I obtain a visa for Cape Verde? Is it compulsory? We can answer all your questions.
Do I need a visa to travel to Cape Verde?
For nationals of France and other European Union countries, yes, a visa is required to cross the border into Cape Verde. Well, to be precise, a kind of e-Visa is required for Cape Verde, which is none other than an EASE Pre-Registration.
A visa for Cape Verde is compulsory for anyone over 2 years old. It allows you to arrive at one of the following 4 airports:
- Boa Vista ;
- Praia;
- Sal;
- São Vicente.
What type of visa should I choose for Cape Verde?
Whether you’re visiting Cape Verde for work, study or pleasure, there are many reasons to travel to the country, and just as many visas to choose from. Let’s take a look at the tourist visa. As of 2019, this visa is only available online. There’s no need to go to an embassy to obtain one, as all formalities are carried out remotely.
EASE Pre-Registration is also a kind of e-Visa.
What is the validity of a visa for Cape Verde?
The EASE Pre-Registration is a document obtained online that allows you to stay in Cape Verde for up to 90 days. Please note, however, that the period of validity differs according to the country you come from.
While EU nationals benefit from a 90-day visa waiver simply by completing the EASE Pre-Registration form, African nationals can only stay in Cape Verde for 30 days.
How much does a visa for Cape Verde cost?
The price of the tourist visa for Cape Verde, or rather the EASE Pre-Registration, is €31. This is actually the price of the airport tax that must be paid to enter the country.
What documents do I need to obtain a tourist visa for Cape Verde?
To obtain your visa for Cape Verde, you need to apply online and present a few documents proving your identity.
A passport
You will need to scan the identity page of your passport. Your document must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your departure from Cape Verde. Your passport must also have two blank pages facing each other.
Check the validity of your passport now. If you have to reissue your passport, which takes a particularly long time, this could jeopardize your vacation in Cape Verde.
Information about your stay
You can’t enter Cape Verde without showing your credentials. Therefore, when you apply, you must provide the following information:
- The reason for your trip;
- Arrival city;
- Flight number;
- The name of your first hotel or accommodation in Cape Verde, together with its address and telephone number.
How do I fill in the visa application form for Cape Verde?
To complete this document, simply go online to the official website dedicated to this application. Bring your passport and plane ticket, and fill in all the fields required to obtain your EASE Pre-Registration. Once you have completed your application, you will receive your document by e-mail within a few days.
It is important to check all the information you have entered before validating your application. A simple error could result in a refusal and prevent you from traveling to Cape Verde. And if you have to reapply, you’ll have to pay the fees again.
Another solution is to use a visa application specialist like RapideVisa. Admittedly, there is a charge for this service, but your application is handled by experts who apply for visas for Cape Verde and many other countries every day. So you can be sure of getting your EASE Pre-Registration before you fly.
When should you apply for a visa for Cape Verde?
It takesaround 5 to 6 days to obtain your visa for Cape Verde. For this reason, it’s best to apply around 2 weeks before departure. On the one hand, this allows you to compensate for any delays in the Cape Verdean services.
On the other hand, if you have applied for EASE Pre-Registration for Cape Verde on your own and, on receipt, discover that there is an error, you will have to restart the procedure and wait another 5 or 6 days.
Do I need insurance to travel to Cape Verde?
Before the Covid-19 crisis, few countries required compulsory insurance to cross their borders. Today, more and more countries want to ensure that travelers are well covered. To date, however, travel insurance is not compulsory for Cape Verde.
Nevertheless, we invite you to think about the benefits of such coverage. You’re going to travel several thousand kilometers from France for a few days or a few weeks. What happens if you fall ill or have an accident? You’ll need cover for your medical expenses, and only travel insurance can provide that.
What’s more, if you’re going to travel to a country where you don’t speak the language, your insurer’s assistance may be essential if you’re to be taken care of. And that’s not counting repatriation, which can cost thousands of euros.
Are you worried that your travel insurance for Cape Verde is too expensive? Don’t forget that today’s insurance comparison services can help you find the best cover at the best price. Also, it’s better to spend a little upfront rather than having to pay for hospitalization in Praia.
It’s worth noting that, while we’re on the subject of health, the yellow fever vaccine is strongly recommended, even if it’s not compulsory. The hepatitis A vaccine is also recommended.
E-visa in Cape Verde: how does it work?
For Cape Verde, you have no choice. Some countries only offer a traditional visa, while others offer a choice between the classic visa and the e-Visa.
To travel to Cape Verde, only one solution is possible since 2019, namely the one we have described in this guide. You must obtain an EASE Pre-Registration to enter Cape Verde.
Do I need a visa for Cape Verde for a stopover?
All entries to Cape Verde require a visa or EASE Pre-Registration. As a result, if you plan to set foot on Cape Verdean soil, you’ll need to apply online to obtain, at the very least, the precious sesame that is the EASE Pre-Registration or e-Visa for Cape Verde.
Another solution is to use an agency specialized in visas, such as RapideVisa, which will take care of all your procedures to avoid any risk of refusal or error on your e-visa.