🇨🇻
Active Visa 2026

Cape Verde Digital Nomad Visa

Remote Working Visa

How to Apply Compare
Palácio da Cultura Ildo Lobo in Praia, Cape Verde
Photo: Xandu / CC0 1.0 via Unsplash
Min. Income
$1,650
per month
Stay
6 mo
Renewable to 12mo
Foreign Tax
Tax-Free
No foreign income tax
App. Fee
$200
14-30 days
Family
Allowed
Dependents eligible
Apply Online
Yes
No citizenship path
Data verified: 2026-08-01  ·  Reviewed by SHOYA KIHARA  ·  See all All Visas

Overview

Cape Verde offers a Remote Working Visa for digital nomads earning at least €1,500/month (~$1,650 USD). The visa provides an initial 6-month stay, renewable for additional periods. Foreign income is not taxed. This Atlantic island nation offers year-round warmth, beach lifestyle, Creole culture, and growing nomad community.
Apply Online
Family Allowed
Renewable
Citizenship Path
57
/ 100
Good

Nomad Score

Our unique composite rating
Visa Accessibility 19/25

Fees, processing, online application

Stay & Flexibility 9/20

Duration, renewability, family

Tax Benefit 15/15

No tax on foreign income

Living Quality 10/25

Safety, healthcare, development

Digital Infrastructure 4/15

Internet, English, tap water

Nomad Score is calculated from visa accessibility, stay flexibility, tax benefits, living quality (UNDP, UNODC, WHO data), and digital infrastructure. Updated 2026-08-01.

Application Process

📋

Prepare Documents

Gather 8 required documents including valid passport (6+ months validity), proof of remote employment or business ownership

📝

Submit Application

Complete and submit the application online

⏳

Processing

Wait 14-30 days for a decision

✅

Approval

Receive your visa approval (fee: $200)

✈️

Arrive & Register

Register within Within 30 days of arrival

How to apply online: annotated screenshots

Numbered markers on official portal screenshots show exactly where to click and what to enter.

Step 1 Check the official digital nomad service
Check the official digital nomad service
  1. Solicitar is the application entry point, currently marked Em manutenção (under maintenance).
  2. Tracking is also under maintenance. Do not use unofficial replacement sites.

Source: Nómadas Digitais — e-Residência · Captured: 2026-07

Min. Monthly Income
$1,650 ~1,500 EUR
Initial Stay
6 mo Renewable after first term
Application Fee
$200 Excludes insurance & legal fees

Visa Requirements

Financials

  • Income Proof

    Must demonstrate monthly income of at least €1,500 (~$1,650 USD) from employment with foreign company or self-employment. Proof via bank statements, employment contracts, or business income documentation.

  • Income Type

    employment_or_business

Background & Health

  • Health Insurance
    Required
  • Background Check
    Required
  • Minimum Age 18+ years old

Advantages

  • • Foreign earnings are not taxed locally — Foreign income not taxed
  • • Low cost of living
  • • Year-round warm weather
  • • Beautiful Atlantic beaches
  • • Safe and stable
  • • Growing digital nomad community
  • • Island lifestyle
  • • Renewable, taking the stay to about 12 months in total
  • • Filed online, with a published decision window of 14-30 days
  • • You can secure the status before booking any flights
  • • Dependants can join — can apply for accompanying visas. Additional documentation and fees apply
  • • Short flight to Europe/Africa
  • • Surfing and water sports

Disadvantages

  • • Portuguese primary language (limited English)
  • • 6-month initial stay (shorter than many visas)
  • • Limited coworking infrastructure
  • • Internet can be unreliable outside main islands
  • • Island isolation - limited travel options
  • • Limited healthcare facilities
  • • Small expat community compared to major nomad hubs
  • • Developing infrastructure
  • • Limited local economy and job market

Tax & Legal

Taxation Profile
Foreign Income Tax-Free

Foreign Income

Cape Verde generally does not tax foreign-sourced income for holders of this visa, making it highly attractive for remote workers.

Special Regime

Foreign income not taxed

Local Income

Income earned from local Cape Verde sources is taxable at standard rates.

Cape Verde does not tax foreign-sourced income for remote workers on this visa. Only local Cape Verdean income would be taxed. Remote workers pay no Cape Verdean tax on their foreign employment/business income.

Living in Cape Verde

All ratings use a unified A–D scale. A = best for digital nomads in each category.

💰 Affordability
B

Affordable

Numbeo Cost of Living Index: 38/100 (NYC=100, lower=cheaper)

🛡️ Safety
C

Moderate

UNODC Homicide Rate: 5.5/100k population

🏥 Healthcare
D

Limited — Private Insurance Recommended

WHO Universal Health Coverage Index: 56/100

📶 Internet
D

Slow — Check Local Options

Ookla Speedtest: 11 Mbps median download

🌐 Development
D

Developing

UNDP Human Development Index: 0.668

🌤️
22° – 27°C

Tropical dry — warm year-round, limited rainfall

🚱
Bottled Water

WHO/UNICEF JMP

💬
Local Language

Basics recommended

🌡️
Köppen

Climate classification

A = Excellent B = Good C = Moderate D = Caution

Sources: UNDP HDR 2025 · UNODC Homicide Data · WHO UHC 2023 · Numbeo · Ookla · WHO/UNICEF JMP. Updated 2026-08.

Common Questions

What is the application fee for Cape Verde's nomad visa?
The government fee is about $200. Budget beyond that for health insurance, sworn translations, apostilles and, where required, a criminal-record check — these routinely add up to more than the fee itself.
What is the income requirement for Cape Verde's nomad visa?
About $1650 a month (1,500 EUR). Expect to evidence it with several months of bank statements plus a contract or invoices, rather than a single payslip.
How long can I actually stay in Cape Verde?
The first grant runs 6 months, and renewals can take the total to about 12 months. It does not build towards permanent residence, so treat the cap as the real limit.
Does the Remote Working Visa cover a spouse and children?
Yes. Family members can apply for accompanying visas. Additional documentation and fees apply. Budget for the higher income threshold that normally comes with each additional person.
Will I pay tax in Cape Verde on money earned abroad?
Foreign-sourced income is not taxed locally under this route. Foreign income not taxed. That does not settle your position at home — most countries tax on residence or citizenship, so check both sides before assuming a saving.
Can the Remote Working Visa be applied for online?
Yes, the application is submitted online. You can file from outside the country, so no embassy visit is needed to start. Documents still need to be properly certified before upload — that is where most delays come from.
What do I need to renew the Remote Working Visa?
Can be renewed for additional 6-month periods with proof of continued income and compliance. File before the current permit expires rather than after — in most systems a lapsed permit means starting the process again from outside the country.
What trips up most Remote Working Visa applications?
Insurance wording and the criminal-record certificate. The policy has to cover the whole permitted stay in Cape Verde on terms the authority accepts, and the police certificate usually needs an apostille and a certified translation — both take longer to obtain than people plan for.

Where to Live & Work

Sal (Santa Maria)

Main tourist island. Best beaches and water sports. Most developed for tourism. International airport. Largest nomad community.

Avg 30 Mbps

Popular Neighborhoods

Santa Maria

Beach town, tourism hub, restaurants, bars, surf culture

1BR Rent $500/mo

Best for: Nomads wanting beach lifestyle and social scene

Espargos

Main town, local life, less touristy, near airport

1BR Rent $350/mo

Best for: Budget nomads wanting authentic experience

Coworking Spaces

Coworking Sal

Main coworking space on island

$150/mo
Beach cafes

Many work from beachfront cafes with wifi

$0/mo

Local Tips

  • ● World-class kitesurfing and windsurfing
  • ● Turtle-watching season (June-October)
  • ● Small island - everything accessible
  • ● Hot year-round, windy

Praia (Santiago Island)

Capital and largest city. Government center. More local and authentic. Best infrastructure. International airport.

Avg 25 Mbps

Popular Neighborhoods

Plateau

Historic center, colonial architecture, government buildings

1BR Rent $400/mo

Best for: Those wanting urban Cape Verdean experience

Prainha

Beach area, quieter, residential

1BR Rent $450/mo

Best for: Those wanting beach access near capital

Coworking Spaces

Limited formal coworking

Most work from cafes or home

$0/mo

Local Tips

  • ● More authentic Cape Verdean culture than Sal
  • ● Better connectivity to other islands
  • ● Less touristy, more local vibe
  • ● Beaches less spectacular than Sal

Mindelo (São Vicente Island)

Cultural capital. Music and arts scene. Carnival. Colorful colonial architecture. Most cosmopolitan Cape Verdean city.

Avg 25 Mbps

Popular Neighborhoods

Centro

Historic center, live music, restaurants, culture

1BR Rent $400/mo

Best for: Culture lovers and musicians

Coworking Spaces

Limited formal coworking

Work from cafes and music venues

$0/mo

Local Tips

  • ● Best live music scene in Cape Verde (morna, coladeira)
  • ● Carnival in February - biggest in Cape Verde
  • ● More European feel than other islands
  • ● Ferry access to Santo Antão (hiking paradise)

General Tips for Cape Verde

  • ● Cape Verde is 10-island Atlantic archipelago off West Africa coast
  • ● Former Portuguese colony - Portuguese is official language, but Creole (Kriolu) widely spoken
  • ● Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE) pegged to Euro (1 EUR ≈ 110 CVE)
  • ● Hot year-round (25-30°C), very little rain
  • ● Strong winds make it kitesurfing/windsurfing paradise
  • ● Island hopping possible but flights/ferries can be irregular
  • ● Cash still common - ATMs available but bring backup

Prices are approximate and based on publicly available data as of 2026-04. Actual costs vary by individual circumstances and market conditions.

After You Arrive

NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal)

Required: No
Timeline: Only required if earning local income
Where: Direção Nacional das Receitas do Estado

Not needed for remote workers with foreign income only

Bank Account

Can open: Yes

Recommended: Banco Comercial do Atlântico (BCA), Caixa Económica de Cabo Verde

Alternatives: Wise works for international transactions. Local account useful but not essential.

Housing Search

Main platforms: Facebook Groups (Cape Verde Expats, Digital Nomads Cape Verde), Airbnb (for initial stays), Local real estate agents, Word of mouth

  • • Limited online listings - use Facebook groups and local contacts
  • • Furnished apartments common in tourist areas
  • • Deposits: 1-2 months typical
  • • Negotiate long-term rates
  • • Utilities often extra

What Nobody Tells You

Cape Verde is an Atlantic island nation 570km off West Africa coast. It's NOT Caribbean (common misconception) but has similar island vibe - beaches, music, laid-back culture. Think 'African Caribbean' with Portuguese colonial influence.

Sal is the nomad base - best beaches, most tourism infrastructure, growing digital nomad community. But Mindelo (São Vicente) is the cultural heart - live music every night, Carnival, colorful architecture. Praia is the real Cape Verde - chaotic, authentic, urban.

Cape Verde has no income tax on foreign earnings for remote workers. But the €1,500/month minimum is strictly enforced - you need proof. Local average wage is around €200-300/month, so you'll live very comfortably.

Internet is the challenge. Sal and Praia have decent speeds (20-40 Mbps), but it can be unreliable. Power cuts happen. Backup plans essential. Not ideal for video-heavy work or strict schedules.

Cape Verde was one of Africa's first digital nomad visas (2021). It's still developing the infrastructure but has year-round warmth (never cold), safety, and no rainy season to speak of. Perfect for beach-working surfers and kitesurfers.

Income in Context

Visa Requirement

$1,650/mo

Local Average Wage

$500/mo

3.3x local average

Living Costs

1BR Rent: $350-550
Monthly Total: $1000-1500

Visa requirement: €1,500/month (~$1,650 USD) is 3.3x local average wage (~$500/month). Rent: $350-550 for 1BR. Total costs: $1,000-1,500/month. The income requirement ensures remote workers can live comfortably and contribute to local economy without competing for local jobs.

Cape Verde is affordable for USD/EUR earners. Rent, food, and transport are cheap. Imported goods expensive. Beach lifestyle accessible. Budget $1,200-1,800/month for comfortable living in Sal/Mindelo/Praia including rent, food, entertainment.

Advanced Questions

Do I need to speak Portuguese?
Portuguese is the official language, and English proficiency is limited outside tourist areas. Basic Portuguese or Creole (Kriolu) helps significantly. In Sal's Santa Maria, English is more common due to tourism. Consider learning basic Portuguese.
Is the internet reliable for remote work?
Internet speeds are moderate (20-40 Mbps in Sal/Praia) but can be unreliable. Power cuts happen. Backup plans essential (mobile data backup, flexible schedule). Not ideal for video-heavy work or strict 9-5 schedules. Many nomads adapt successfully.
Is Cape Verde safe?
Yes, Cape Verde is generally safe with low violent crime. Petty theft exists in tourist areas. Use normal precautions. Politically stable. Friendly locals. Much safer than West African mainland.
Can I island hop easily?
Island hopping is possible via TACV Cabo Verde Airlines and ferries, but schedules can be irregular and weather-dependent. Flights are affordable but limited. Popular routes: Sal-Praia, Praia-São Vicente. Budget extra time for travel.
What's the weather like year-round?
Cape Verde has year-round warm weather (25-30°C / 77-86°F) with very little rain. Dry season (November-July) is popular. August-October sees some rain but still warm. Strong winds make it perfect for kitesurfing/windsurfing (November-June peak).
Can my family join me?
Yes, family members can apply for accompanying visas. Additional documentation (marriage certificate, birth certificates) and fees apply. Income requirements may increase for family applications.

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