Updated October 2026. For a holiday in Cape Verde, UK and EU citizens do not need a visa: all you need is a passport and an online registration with the airport security fee. Here is what you really need, how much it costs and how to avoid paying double at the airport.
Do I need a visa for Cape Verde?
Not for a holiday. British citizens and citizens of EU countries (and of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) can enter Cape Verde without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. The old tourist visa, paid on arrival, was replaced in 2019 by the online EASE registration with the airport security fee (TSA).
You only need a visa if you want to stay more than 30 days: see how further down. If you hold another nationality, check the rules for your country on the official EASE portal before booking.
Your passport: how long it must be valid
You need a passport. The UK government’s travel advice says a British passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive. For other European passports the rules can be slightly less strict, but 6 months is the safe choice for everyone. National ID cards, even electronic ones, are not accepted.
A practical tip: if your passport is close to its expiry date, renew it before you travel. That way you avoid problems at check-in with the airline or the tour operator. Every child needs their own passport.
EASE and the airport fee: step by step
EASE is the compulsory pre-registration for entering Cape Verde, similar to the American ESTA. It is done only on the government’s official website, and at the same time you pay the airport security fee (TSA).
- Go to the official websiteOpen ease.gov.cv. Watch out for websites offering the same service at a higher price: this is the only government website.
- Enter your detailsPassport details, flight, arrival and departure dates and the address where you are staying on Boa Vista. Do it at least 5 days before you arrive.
- Pay the fee3,400 escudos, about €31 per person, by card. Children under 2 do not pay, but they must be registered.
- Keep the receiptThe registration is linked to your passport, but keep the confirmation on your phone or printed out to show on arrival.
If you are travelling on a package holiday, check with your travel agent or tour operator: sometimes the fee is already included in the price. If you do not register online you can pay on arrival, but since 2026 it costs double at the airport, about €62 (6,800 escudos), and you have to queue at the desk.
Staying more than 30 days
You have two options:
- Before you leave: apply for a visa online on the consular portal portalconsular.mnec.gov.cv or at a Cape Verde embassy or consulate.
- If you are already on the island: you can ask the border police (DEF, Direção de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) for an extension of another 30 days. This is done in person, not online.
If you are thinking of moving here, you need residency: read Living in Cape Verde and Residency in Cape Verde and retirees.
Vaccinations and health
If you are travelling from the UK or Europe no vaccinations are compulsory. A yellow fever certificate is only required from travellers arriving from a country with a risk of that disease.
The UK’s travel health service (TravelHealthPro) recommends hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid for most travellers: speak to your doctor or a travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you go. Protect yourself from mosquitoes and drink bottled water. On Boa Vista there are first-aid facilities, but for serious cases you have to go to another island or fly home. Your UK GHIC or European EHIC card is not valid in Cape Verde, so travel with health insurance that also covers medical repatriation.
Money and customs
- Escudos cannot be taken into or out of Cape Verde: you change money locally. The rate with the euro is fixed: €1 = 110.265 escudos.
- You can bring euros and other foreign currency, but you must declare them at customs on arrival and on departure. If you have not declared them on arrival, you can only take foreign currency worth up to 20,000 escudos out of the country.
- Where and how to change money, cash machines and cards: read Cape Verdean escudo: exchange rate and where to change money.
Other useful things before you go
- Driving licence: a UK photocard licence is valid for up to 6 months; an International Driving Permit is recommended, and hire companies may ask for one.
- Time difference: Cape Verde is 1 hour behind the UK in winter and 2 hours behind in summer (no daylight saving time). See Cape Verde time zone.
- Plugs: 220 V with continental European two-pin sockets: from the UK or Ireland bring an adaptor.
- Inter-island and return flights: it is wise to reconfirm your bookings at least 72 hours before departure.
- Travel advice: UK travellers can sign up for email alerts on the gov.uk foreign travel advice page for Cape Verde; other travellers should check their own foreign ministry’s advice.
So you don’t forget anything, use our checklist before leaving for Boa Vista and check the Boa Vista weather.
If you live in Cape Verde: passport and consular help
Many European countries do not have an embassy in Cape Verde: consular help, including passport renewals, is often handled by an embassy in another country or by honorary consuls on the islands. British nationals will find the up-to-date contacts in the «Getting help» section of the gov.uk travel advice for Cape Verde; citizens of other countries should check their own foreign ministry’s website.
Frequently asked questions about visas and documents for Cape Verde
Do I need a visa to go to Cape Verde?
No, UK and EU citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days. You do need the online EASE registration, on ease.gov.cv, with payment of the airport security fee.
Can I travel to Cape Verde with an ID card?
No. You need a passport. For British passports, the UK government says it must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date.
How much is the Cape Verde airport fee?
3,400 escudos, about €31 per person, if paid online with the EASE registration. At the airport, since 2026, it costs double: about €62. Children under 2 do not pay.
When do I need to do the EASE registration?
At least 5 days before you arrive, on the official website ease.gov.cv. If you are travelling with a tour operator, ask whether the fee is already included.
Can I stay in Cape Verde for more than 30 days?
Yes, with a visa applied for before you leave on the Cape Verde consular portal or at a consulate, or with a 30-day extension requested in person from the border police on the island.
Do I need vaccinations for Cape Verde?
Travelling from the UK or Europe, no vaccination is compulsory. Yellow fever is only required from travellers arriving from risk countries. For recommended vaccinations, such as hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid, ask your doctor or a travel clinic.
Sources: UK government foreign travel advice for Cape Verde (gov.uk, entry requirements, health and driving sections); TravelHealthPro (UK National Travel Health Network and Centre), Cape Verde page; official EASE platform of the Government of Cape Verde; the 2019 Cape Verde visa exemption for EU and other European citizens; Italian Foreign Ministry travel advice (Viaggiare Sicuri) for the currency and customs rules; for the fee paid at the airport, Caboverde24 (February 2026). Rules can change: always check your government’s travel advice before you go. Last checked: 24 October 2026.