Plan the crossing
Visas, seasons, flights and ferries: everything needed to reach the ten islands and move between them, verified as of July 2026.
Entry requirements
Who enters visa-free
Cabo Verde keeps its door unusually open, but the rules changed on 1 January 2026. Here is the current picture.
Before any flight: EASE + airport tax Everyone
Every foreign air passenger must complete the EASE pre-registration at ease.gov.cv, ideally five days before the flight, and pay the Airport Security Tax (TSA) of 3,400 escudos (about 31 euros) for each traveller aged two and above.
On 1 January 2026, Cabo Verde ended visas on arrival for nationals of 96 countries. Travellers from those countries must now obtain a visa from a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate before departure.
Passports should be valid for the intended stay; airlines commonly ask for at least six months of validity.
Visa-free for up to 90 days 90 days
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Côte d'Ivoire
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Hong Kong
- Macao
- Singapore
ECOWAS free-movement rules cover the West African states on this list.
Visa-free for up to 60 days 60 days
- Russia
Visa-free for up to 30 days 30 days
- All 27 European Union member states
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Canada
- Brazil
- Angola
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- Norway
- San Marino
- Switzerland
- Timor-Leste
- Vatican City
- Andorra
EU and EEA nationals have been visa-exempt since January 2019 under the EU-Cabo Verde mobility framework.
Travelling from Pakistan Advance visa required
Until the end of 2025, Pakistani citizens could obtain a visa on arrival at Cape Verdean airports. That route closed on 1 January 2026, when Cabo Verde withdrew visa-on-arrival for 96 nationalities, Pakistan among them.
Pakistani travellers now apply in advance through a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate. There is no resident Cape Verdean mission in Islamabad, so applications are typically routed through missions accredited to the region or handled with airline and travel agency assistance.
The rest of the process is the same as for everyone else: complete the EASE pre-registration online before flying, pay the airport security tax, and carry a passport with at least one blank page. A yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from an area with transmission risk.
When to go
An all-year country, honestly
The classic season
Dry, sunny and breezy, with air between 24 and 29 °C and the ocean never far behind. The trade winds peak from December to March, prime time for wind sports on Sal and Boa Vista.
The gentle green months
Brief rains bring the valleys of Santo Antão and Santiago to life. Seas are warmest, crowds thinnest, and on Boa Vista the loggerhead turtles come ashore to nest.
What to pack
Light layers, real walking shoes for the trails, reef-safe sunscreen and a windproof jacket. Evenings on the heights of Fogo and Santo Antão turn genuinely cool.
Getting there and around
Threading the islands
Four international gateways
Amílcar Cabral Airport on Sal and Nelson Mandela Airport in Praia carry most long-haul traffic, with São Vicente and Boa Vista adding direct European links. Lisbon is the classic connecting hub; direct routes also serve Amsterdam, Paris, Boston and West African capitals.
Short hops
Inter-island flights connect the main islands in 20 to 50 minutes. Book early in high season; schedules thin out to the smaller islands. Brava and Santa Luzia have no airport at all.
The honest way
Ferries link every inhabited island. The Mindelo to Porto Novo crossing is quick and scenic; longer southern routes reward flexible plans and a calm stomach. Aluguer shared taxis handle the roads once ashore.
Money and language
The escudo (CVE) is pegged to the euro at about 110 to 1, and euros are widely accepted in tourist areas. Portuguese and Kriolu are the languages; English is common in resorts, French on some islands. Tap water is scarce; buy large bottles and refill.
Among Africa's calmest
Cabo Verde is one of the safest countries on the continent. Use normal city sense in Praia and Mindelo after dark, respect the open ocean on wilder beaches, and check conditions before summit hikes on Fogo.
Simple precautions
No routine vaccinations beyond the standard ones are required from most countries; a yellow fever certificate applies only when arriving from risk areas. Pharmacies are good on the main islands; bring personal medication for the small ones.
Quick answers
Travellers usually ask
How many days do I need?
A single island works in 4 to 5 days. The classic two-island pairings (Sal with Boa Vista, or São Vicente with Santo Antão) deserve 8 to 10. Committed island-hoppers should think in multiples of two weeks.
Which island has the best beaches?
Boa Vista for sheer scale and emptiness, Sal for water sports and infrastructure, Maio for solitude, Tarrafal on Santiago for the prettiest palm-backed bay.
Is Cabo Verde good for families?
Very. Short flight times from Europe, no long drives, calm resort beaches on Sal and Boa Vista, and a culture that adores children. Cape Verdean waiters will entertain your toddler before you have unfolded the napkin.
Do I need cash?
Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants on the tourist islands. Everywhere else, carry escudos: markets, aluguers, village eateries and small guesthouses run on cash.