Visas in Sal

Max Stay

Most visa-exempt nationalities can stay for up to 30 days per entry without a visa.

Who Qualifies

Citizens of EU/Schengen member states, the UK, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Brazil, and ECOWAS (West African) states are among the main visa-exempt groups for short stays.

Baseline Summary

Most nomads from the EU/Schengen area, the UK, the US, Canada, Switzerland, and Brazil, plus ECOWAS member states, do not need to obtain a visa in advance or on arrival for a short tourist-type stay in Cape Verde (including Sal). Instead, every traveler — visa-exempt or not — must complete mandatory online pre-registration and pay an airport security fee before arrival.

Airport Security Fee

CVE 3,400

Extended Stay Note

Some nationality groups (noted with a special marker in official listings) are limited instead to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year rather than a flat 30-day cap — this varies by nationality group and should be checked against the current official list for a specific passport.

Recent Change Context

As of January 1, 2026, Cape Verde ended visa-on-arrival issuance for nationals of 96 countries who previously needed a visa but could get it on arrival — those travelers must now apply for a visa in advance at an embassy or consulate. This change affects countries that already required a visa, not the visa-exempt group described above.

Scope Of Exemption

This exemption applies to salaries, freelance income, and other foreign-sourced earnings; nomads are also exempt from import taxes on personal belongings and equipment brought into the country.

Home Country Liability

Visa holders remain liable for tax in their home country or wherever their primary tax residency is.

Tax Residency Day Count Trigger

We could not confirm an official, Cape Verde–specific statutory day-count (e.g. a 183-day rule) for triggering general tax residency from an authoritative government source; treat this as unconfirmed rather than assume the common international 183-day standard applies here.

Tax Residency Status Of Visa Holders

Holders of the Remote Working visa are granted temporary residency but are not considered tax residents, and are consequently exempt from paying income tax in Cabo Verde on earnings generated outside the country.

General Resident Tax System For Context

Outside the nomad-visa exemption, Cape Verde residents and non-residents are taxed on worldwide income if it is derived from Cape Verde, under progressive Personal Income Tax rates ranging from 16.5% to 27.5%.

Documents Required

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay, with blank visa pages
• Recent passport-style photo (51 x 51 mm)
• Proof of financial means: bank statements covering the last 6 months, or the last 3 months' salary/payslip receipts, or freelance contracts/invoices
• Valid travel and health insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation
• Proof of relationship (marriage/birth certificate) if applying with family/dependents
• Approval letter from the Instituto de Turismo de Cabo Verde and the visa approval document from the border/immigration office, presented at entry

Renewal

This program is meant for people who are self-employed and able to work remotely, consisting of a temporary work/tourism visa lasting 6 months, with the opportunity of renewal for another 6 months, for a maximum continuous stay of about 12 months.

Initial Stay

6 months

Path To Permanence

Time spent on this visa does not count toward permanent residency or citizenship; it is explicitly a temporary, non-permanent arrangement.