Cape Verde has implemented a significant change to its visa policy that affects millions of travelers worldwide. Starting January 1, 2026, nationals from 96 countries can no longer obtain a visa upon arrival at Cape Verdean airports. Instead, they must secure a visa from a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate before departure.
This marks a major shift from the previous system, which allowed eligible travelers to pre-register through the EASE portal, pay the visa fee online, and receive their visa stamp upon landing. That convenient option has now been discontinued for the affected nationalities.
What Changed in the EASE System
The official EASE pre-registration platform has been updated to reflect this policy change. While the portal remains active, the online visa fee payment feature has been disabled for travelers from the 96 affected countries.
The platform now explicitly warns that travelers arriving without a valid visa will be denied entry, including those attempting transit or airport stopovers.
The Legal Framework
This change stems from Decree No. 244/GMAI/2025, published in Cape Verde's Official Bulletin on November 24, 2025. The decree establishes which nationalities require prior authorization to enter the country and covers all types of entry, including tourist visas, transit permits, and airport stopover authorizations.
Travelers Who Remain Exempt
Not everyone is affected by this change. The following groups can still enter without obtaining a prior visa:
- Commercial airline crew members on duty
- Holders of valid EU residence permits that include readmission guarantees
- Legal residents of Cape Verde with valid documentation
- Diplomatic and official passport holders from certain countries
- Cape Verde-born individuals who acquired foreign nationality (with specific conditions)
Requirements That Still Apply to Everyone
Regardless of nationality or visa status, all travelers to Cape Verde must complete EASE registration before their trip. This mandatory step includes paying the Airport Security Tax, which currently stands at approximately 3,400 Cape Verdean escudos (around €31 / $34) for stays up to 30 days.
The key difference now is that affected nationalities cannot pay the visa fee through this platform—they must handle the visa application separately through diplomatic channels.
Full List of Affected Countries
The following 96 countries and territories are now subject to the prior visa requirement:
Africa: Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Americas: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Asia & Middle East: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
Europe: Belarus
Oceania: Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Planning Your Trip
If you hold a passport from one of the affected countries and are planning to visit Cape Verde, here's what you need to do:
- Contact your nearest Cape Verdean embassy or consulate well in advance
- Allow extra processing time—visa applications can take several weeks
- Complete your EASE registration separately (still required)
- Do not book non-refundable flights until your visa is confirmed
For US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, the good news is that visa-free access remains unchanged. You can still visit Cape Verde for tourism without a visa, though EASE registration is mandatory.
