Cape Verde Entry Rules: EASE, Airport Tax & Visas

Essential Boa Vista Travel Tips: EASE Registration, Currency, Safety & Visas

The practical pre-departure guide: entry paperwork, money, health, connectivity, and safety.

Most of what can go wrong on a Cape Verde trip goes wrong before you leave home: an unsubmitted entry form, no cash, no insurance, or a card your bank blocks on arrival. This page covers the admin, so the rest of your trip doesn't have to.

At a Glance: Quick Facts

Entry Requirement: EASE online pre-registration and the Airport Security Tax (TSA).

Passport Validity: Generally required to be valid for at least six months beyond arrival.

Currency: Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), with Euros (€) widely accepted.

Time Zone: Cape Verde Time, UTC−1.

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz, with European two-pin plugs (Type C and F).

Section 1: Visas, Entry Formalities & EASE Pre-Registration

This is the part that causes queues at the airport, and it takes ten minutes at home.

Visa Exemptions & Stay Limits. Citizens of the UK, EU and Schengen countries, the US, and Canada can enter Cabo Verde without a visa for short stays of up to 30 days. Travellers from non-exempt countries need to arrange a visa in advance through a Cape Verdean consulate. Rules differ by nationality and do change, so check your own government's current travel advice before booking.

The EASE Registration. All international visitors must complete the official EASE pre-registration online before travelling. The form asks for passport details, flight information, and your accommodation address. Complete it several days before departure rather than the night before, and save or print the confirmation to show on arrival. Use only the official government portal: sites that charge extra to "process" the form on your behalf are unnecessary, and any site asking for more than the official fee should be avoided.

Airport Security Tax (TSA). The Taxa de Segurança Aeroportuária is a mandatory charge of roughly €31 per international passenger, normally paid online as part of EASE registration. Package holidays sometimes include it, so check your booking before paying twice. Travellers who arrive without having pre-registered face long waits at the airport payment counters, and paying on arrival may cost more than the online rate. Confirm the current amount and rules on the official portal before you travel.

Section 2: Money & Payment Realities

Cape Verde is a cash economy outside the resorts, which surprises a lot of first-time visitors.

The Currency. The Cape Verdean Escudo is pegged to the Euro at a fixed rate of €1 = 110.265 CVE. In day-to-day cash transactions a simplified rate of €1 = 100 CVE is commonly used.

Euros vs. Escudos. Euros are accepted without difficulty at hotels, resort desks, excursion operators, and taxis. Escudos are better in local markets, small town shops, and shared alugueres, where converting from Euros usually means a rounded-down rate in the seller's favour. Change from Euro payments comes back in Escudos, which is a convenient way to accumulate local cash.

ATMs & Cards. ATMs on the Vinti4 network are concentrated in central Sal Rei, and there are effectively none in the remote resort areas, so withdraw when you're in town. Expect a local withdrawal fee on top of your own bank's charges. Visa and Mastercard work at resorts and larger businesses, with Visa generally more widely accepted, and some places add a surcharge or set a minimum spend. Cards are chip-and-PIN, so know your PIN. Notify your bank before travelling, since transactions from Cabo Verde can otherwise trigger a fraud block, and carry a backup card and some Euro cash.

Section 3: Health & Medical Safety

The medical picture is the strongest argument for proper insurance.

Vaccinations. Routine travel vaccinations such as hepatitis A, tetanus, and typhoid are commonly recommended for Cabo Verde, and a yellow fever certificate is generally required only for travellers arriving from a country with risk of transmission. Requirements change, so check with a travel clinic or your national health service several weeks before departure.

Food & Water. Tap water is not for drinking. Use bottled or filtered water for drinking and for brushing your teeth, and be mindful of ice in casual venues. Freshly cooked seafood is generally safe and excellent; be more cautious with salads and anything that's been sitting out in the heat.

Sun & Heat. The constant trade winds mask how strong the sun is, and visitors get burned on breezy days that feel mild. Use high-SPF sunscreen, wear a hat and sunglasses, and drink considerably more water than you would at home.

Medical Infrastructure. Sal Rei has pharmacies and a health centre (Centro de Saúde) for minor problems. The island has no full-scale emergency hospital, and serious cases require transfer to another island or to Europe, which is slow and extremely expensive without cover. Comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation is essential rather than optional. Bring enough of any prescription medication for your whole trip, plus a basic first-aid kit.

Emergency Numbers. Save local emergency numbers to your phone on arrival, and ask your accommodation to confirm the current ones for police, ambulance, and fire, since published numbers vary between sources.

Section 4: Safety, Crime & Etiquette

Boa Vista is a peaceful island, and the precautions are ordinary ones.

Overall Safety. Violent crime is rare, and visitors move around freely. The island's reputation for friendliness is well earned.

Petty Theft & Common Sense. Don't leave valuables unattended on quiet beaches, and don't leave anything visible in a parked rental vehicle, particularly at remote trailheads and beach access points. Keep passports and spare cash in a hotel safe, carrying only what you need for the day.

At Night. Central Sal Rei is fine to walk in the evening. Avoid unlit back streets, empty beach tracks, and isolated stretches of coast after dark, especially alone. If you're out late, take a taxi back rather than walking an unlit road.

Etiquette. Morabeza, the Cape Verdean idea of warmth and hospitality, is matched by a relaxed "no stress" approach to time. Service is unhurried, and treating that as part of the experience makes everything easier. Greet people before asking for something: "Bom dia" and "Obrigado" are enough. Always ask before photographing people, and never photograph children without a parent's clear permission.

Section 5: Connectivity & Power

Getting online is easy, but coverage thins out fast away from town.

Mobile Data. You have two good options: buy an eSIM before departure and activate it on landing, or pick up a local prepaid SIM from one of the Cape Verdean networks at the airport or in Sal Rei. Both are far cheaper than roaming, which is the single biggest avoidable cost on a Cape Verde trip. Check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked before relying on that route.

Wi-Fi & Coverage. Resorts and town cafés generally have usable Wi-Fi, though speeds fluctuate at peak times. Mobile coverage is good around Sal Rei and the resort zones and patchy to non-existent in the desert interior and along the remote southern and eastern coasts. Download offline maps before any excursion.

Electricity. 220V at 50Hz with European two-pin sockets (Type C and F). UK and US travellers need an adapter, and anyone bringing camera or drone gear should pack a power bank, since you'll be away from sockets for long stretches.

Section 6: Packing & Documents Checklist

What to have with you, grouped by what it's for.

Documents. Passport, printed or saved EASE confirmation, travel insurance policy details including the emergency assistance number, accommodation address for the entry form, and a copy of your passport stored separately.

Money. Euro cash in small notes, a primary card and a backup on a different network, and your bank notified of your travel dates.

Health & Clothing. High-SPF reef-safe sunscreen, polarised sunglasses, a hat, a light windbreaker for breezy evenings, a dust bandana or buff for off-road excursions, a basic first-aid kit, prescription medication, and motion sickness tablets for boat trips and bumpy drives.

Section 7: Pre-Departure Action Plan

Six things to tick off before you fly.

Check your passport validity well in advance. Submit the EASE form and pay the TSA. Confirm travel insurance that includes medical evacuation. Get Euro cash for your first taxi and tips. Sort an eSIM or plan a local SIM. And pack reef-safe sunscreen and wind protection, both of which cost considerably more on the island than at home.

Continue Planning Your Trip

For a broader orientation before your first visit, read our First-Timer's Guide to Boa Vista. For daily budgets and typical prices, see the Boa Vista Cost & Money Guide. And for taxis, alugueres, and 4x4 rentals, our Getting Around Boa Vista guide covers the options.