Cape Verde relocation guide 2026

01The country in 30 seconds

Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) is ten volcanic islands in the Atlantic, about 600 km off Senegal. It's warm all year, dry and windy, and the time zone is UTC−1 — almost the same as London. That's handy if you work with Europe.

The country is calm and one of the most stable in Africa. The escudo is pegged to the euro, and in tourist areas euros are accepted almost everywhere. But these are islands: a lot is imported, so life is not as cheap as the map suggests.

As of 2026, Russians can visit visa-free for up to 60 days. Before the trip you need to register on the EASE system and pay the TSA fee. For longer stays there's the Remote Working Cabo Verde program — a temporary visa for 6 months, renewable for 6 more.

• Visa-free up to 60 days (per Wikipedia and reference sites — we couldn't check an official foreign ministry page)
• Mandatory EASE pre-registration and a TSA fee of 3,400 escudos (~€31); since 1 July 2026 you pay double if you skip registration
• Remote worker visa: average bank balance of €1,500+ (€2,700 for a family), 6+6 months
• No direct flights from Russia — go via Casablanca or Europe
• Budget for one person — about $1,000–1,800 per month
• Facts checked as of November 2026

02Who it's for

Cape Verde is a good fit if you:

• Work remotely for foreign clients or an employer and can show €1,500+ a month on your account
• Want warmth and the ocean in winter, not the heat and humidity of Asia
• Work with Europe — only one hour behind Lisbon and London
• Love kitesurfing, surfing, diving or hiking
• Are okay with a small, quiet, slightly provincial pace of life
• Want to try Africa in its softest and safest version

Not for you if you:

• Need a residence permit that gives visa-free travel in Europe right away — this isn't it
• Need big-city life, shopping and lots of nightlife
• Need strong medical care nearby — it's basic here
• Only have money in Russian banks with no way to move it

What to explore on the islands:

• Santo Antão — the best hiking in the country: green valleys, terraces, cliff-side trails. About an hour by ferry from Mindelo
• Fogo — the active Pico do Fogo volcano (2,829 m); you can climb to the top and stay in the Chã das Caldeiras crater
• Sal and Boa Vista — beaches, kitesurfing and windsurfing; Boa Vista also has dunes and turtles in summer
• Cidade Velha on Santiago — the first colonial town in the tropics, a UNESCO site
• Mindelo — morna music, home of Cesária Évora, the country's biggest carnival in February
• São Nicolau, Maio and Brava — quiet islands with almost no tourists

Where to go next: from Praia and Sal there are flights to Casablanca (Morocco is visa-free for Russians), Dakar (Senegal) and Recife (Brazil, also visa-free for Russians). Lisbon, Porto, the Canary Islands and the Azores are Schengen, so you need a visa.

03Entry & visa

According to reference sources (Wikipedia's articles on Cape Verde's visa policy and on visa requirements for Russian citizens), Russians don't need a visa: visa-free entry has applied since 4 July 2020, for up to 60 days. We couldn't open the Russian foreign ministry page or the EASE site directly, so check them before you travel.

Even without a visa, there are two mandatory steps:

1. Pre-register on the EASE portal — ideally at least 5 days before arrival. You enter your passport, contacts, flight, dates and accommodation address
2. Pay the TSA airport security fee — 3,400 escudos, about €31. You pay it online on EASE

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date. Children under 2 are exempt from both registration and the fee.

On 1 January 2026 Cape Verde ended visa on arrival for citizens of 96 countries. This doesn't affect Russians, since they're on the visa-free list. But if you travel with family of another nationality, check their rules separately.

What happens after 60 days is unclear. We couldn't find an official description of extensions for visa-free visitors. Don't count on visa runs by default: if you want to stay longer, apply for the remote worker program (see the Residency section).

04Residency & legalization

The main legal path for a remote worker is the Remote Working Cabo Verde program. The country's official tourism site promotes it, and in 2026 it's still listed as active.

What it is: a temporary "work/tourism" visa for 6 months, with the option to renew for 6 more. It's for self-employed people and employees who work online for clients or a company outside Cape Verde. You can bring your family.

Requirements according to the official site:

• Minimum bank balance — €1,500 for one person or €2,700 for a family. Many descriptions of the program say this is the average balance over the last 6 months — plan for that
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Health and travel insurance
• Accommodation booking
• Visa fee — €20 per person, airport fee — €34 per person (once, on arrival)
• A decision usually takes about two weeks

How it works: you apply online, and after approval you get a permit to enter. On arrival you show your documents to border control and get the stamp. The renewal for the second 6 months is done in-country.

If you're Russian and your money is only in sanctioned banks, showing a €1,500 average balance will be hard. It's better to keep money in a bank in a third country (Kazakhstan, Armenia, the UAE, etc.) and have a 6-month statement in English.

Other routes. Cape Verde has regular residence permits — for work with a local employer, for business, for family. A residence route for foreigners who buy property was also launched. We couldn't verify current amounts and procedures for these, so don't rely on them without a local lawyer.

What the status gives for travel. On its own it gives no visa-free travel to Schengen or anywhere else. But there are two pluses:

• Praia has the CCV, a joint visa centre that takes Schengen visa applications, including from foreigners legally resident in Cape Verde. Whether it accepts a Russian on a remote worker visa (which is not a residence permit) is unknown in advance — check the CCV site
• There are direct flights from Cape Verde to Morocco and Brazil, and Russians don't need a visa for either

05Work & taxes

Working remotely for foreign clients or an employer is exactly what the Remote Working Cabo Verde program is for. You can't work for local companies on this visa — that needs a regular work status.

On taxes, sources disagree:

• The official tourism site says remote workers in the program are exempt from income tax in Cape Verde
• PwC (summary reviewed on 29 May 2026) doesn't mention any special regime for remote workers. Under the general rules, you're a tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in the country in a calendar year, or keep a home here as your habitual residence on 31 December. Residents pay tax on worldwide income

Resident rates per PwC: up to 960,000 escudos a year — 16.5%, up to 1,800,000 — 23.1%, above that — 27.5%. The first 220,000 escudos of net income are exempt.

We couldn't find a double tax treaty between Russia and Cape Verde — if it matters for you, ask an accountant. Don't forget Russian rules too: if you spend more than 183 days a year outside Russia, you stop being a Russian tax resident, and your rates there change.

06Banks, cards & money

Russian-issued Visa and Mastercard cards don't work abroad because of sanctions. Mir cards aren't accepted in Cape Verde either — don't count on them at all.

What actually works:

• Cash euros — accepted in many places on the islands, especially hotels and tourist areas. The rate is fixed: 1 euro = 110.265 escudos
• A card from a foreign bank (Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, the UAE, etc.) — there are ATMs in the main towns, and cards are accepted in big hotels, restaurants and supermarkets
• Exchanging euros for escudos at banks

Local account. The big banks are BCA (Banco Comercial do Atlântico), Caixa Económica and others. BCA's sign-up form asks for an ID document, a NIF tax number and contacts. So you'll need a NIF first, which you get at the tax office or a Casa do Cidadão. Banks usually also want proof of address and status in the country.

Whether a Russian can open an account — there's no confirmed data. We found no formal ban, but compliance may take a long time or refuse. Plan to live on a third-country card and cash euros for the first months.

07Renting a place

People find housing through expat and rental Facebook groups for each island, local agents and classifieds sites. For the first weeks, Airbnb or a guesthouse is easier; look for a long-term rental once you're there.

Numbeo benchmarks (October 2026 data, country averages):

• 1-bedroom flat in the centre — about 41,000 escudos (~$430), range 30,000–80,000 (~$310–830)
• 1-bedroom flat outside the centre — about 24,600 escudos (~$260), range 18,000–35,000
• Utilities for an 85 m² flat — about 14,400 escudos (~$150) a month

Where to live:

• Mindelo (São Vicente) — the most "urban" and cultural option, also home to the remote worker program's coworking and community
• Praia (Santiago) — the capital, with the most services, banks and government offices
• Santa Maria (Sal) — beach, kitesurfing and tourists; rents are higher in season

08SIM card & internet

There are two main operators — Alou (formerly CV Móvel) and Unitel T+. SIM cards are sold right at Praia and Sal airports and in shops in town. It activates straight away; bring your passport.

According to the official tourism site, 3G and 4G cover all the islands, even remote spots; 5G is only planned. Free Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and cafés in towns, plus government hotspots in central squares.

Numbeo prices:

• Mobile plan (calls + 10+ GB) — about 1,640 escudos (~$17) a month, range 600–3,000
• Unlimited home internet 60+ Mbps — about 5,200 escudos (~$55) a month

09Healthcare & insurance

Healthcare in Cape Verde is basic. The biggest hospitals are in Praia (Santiago) and Mindelo (São Vicente). Boa Vista has especially limited facilities. Some medicines may not be available at all.

There are private clinics with different specialists, dentistry and lab tests. For anything serious, you'll often need evacuation — to Portugal or the Canary Islands.

Get insurance that covers medical evacuation (ideally intercontinental). The remote worker program requires insurance anyway.

What else to know:

• No malaria — the WHO has certified Cape Verde as malaria-free
• Dengue exists, especially in towns. Authorities have raised the dengue alert level on Santiago, Fogo and Brava. Use repellent
• No vaccines are mandatory, except a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from or transit through a risk zone
• Tetanus, hepatitis A and typhoid shots are recommended
• Medicines are sold only in pharmacies. Bring enough of your prescription drugs for the whole stay

10Transport

How to get there from Russia. There are no direct flights. International airports are Praia (Santiago), Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente.

Realistic options for a Russian:

• Via Casablanca — Royal Air Maroc flies to Praia and Sal. Morocco is visa-free for Russians, so the connection has no Schengen issues. People get to Casablanca via Istanbul, for example
• Via Lisbon or Porto — TAP, Cabo Verde Airlines and easyJet. This is Schengen: an airside connection on one ticket usually doesn't need a visa, but separate tickets or leaving the airport need a Schengen visa
• Via Dakar — Air Senegal, ASKY, TAAG and others fly to Praia. Check Senegal's entry rules for Russians separately

Inside the country. The islands are connected by ferries (CV Interilhas) and Cabo Verde Airlines domestic flights. The most popular ferry route is Mindelo — Porto Novo (Santo Antão), about an hour. Ferries to Brava and Fogo are often disrupted by weather.

On the islands people use aluguers — shared minibuses that leave when they fill up. There are taxis too: on Sal and Boa Vista the official ones are blue and yellow. There's no Uber, Bolt or Yandex Go.

You can drive on a foreign licence for up to 6 months, but with a Russian licence it's better to get an International Driving Permit — rental firms may ask for it. Helmets are mandatory on scooters and quads.

11Safety & important laws

Cape Verde is one of the calmest countries in Africa. Serious crime against visitors is rare, but petty crime exists.

Key things to know:

• Pickpocketing, bag snatching, burglary and street muggings happen — most often in Praia, on Sal and on Boa Vista
• Don't walk alone at night in empty, unlit streets, especially in Praia
• Keep valuables in a safe, and don't show off an expensive phone or jewellery on the beach or in crowds
• Take official taxis from a rank or through your hotel

Weather: the rainy season runs roughly mid-August to mid-October — floods and landslides happen. From December to February, Sahara sandstorms arrive and sometimes cancel flights to Boa Vista. Fogo and Brava get earth tremors.

Drug penalties are severe — fines and long prison terms.

12How much money you need per month

totalAbout $1,000–1,800 per month for one person, depending on the island and housing

13Step-by-step moving plan

1. Check your passport: at least 6 months of validity from arrival, ideally more than a year if you plan the remote worker program.
2. Decide whether 60 days visa-free is enough. If not, email the Remote Working Cabo Verde organisers and ask whether they accept Russian citizens and how to apply now.
3. If you go on the program, prepare a statement from a foreign (non-sanctioned) bank showing a €1,500+ average balance over 6 months, insurance and an accommodation booking.
4. Pick a route without Schengen risk: via Casablanca, or a single ticket with an airside transit in Lisbon.
5. At least 5 days before your flight, pre-register on EASE and pay the TSA fee (~€31). Save the confirmation.
6. Bring cash euros and a third-country bank card — Russian cards don't work here.
7. Buy an Alou or Unitel T+ SIM right at the airport.
8. Spend the first weeks in an Airbnb or guesthouse and check out the islands: Mindelo, Praia, Sal.
9. Find a long-term rental on the spot, and don't pay a deposit before viewing.
10. If you stay longer than 6 months on the program, apply for the in-country renewal early, and ask an accountant about taxes after 183 days.

14Useful links

• Remote Working Cabo Verde — official program page
• Visa and immigration — official tourism site
• EASE — pre-registration and TSA payment
• Health care — official tourism site
• Telecoms and internet — official tourism site
• CCV Praia — Schengen visas in Cape Verde
• PwC — Cape Verde personal income tax
• Numbeo — cost of living in Cape Verde
• BCA — become a bank client

15Other countries

Every guide follows the same structure, so they're easy to compare. Comparison table: all countries.

• 🇦🇲Armenia
• 🇻🇳Vietnam
• 🇹🇭Thailand
• 🇨🇳China
• 🇷🇸Serbia
• 🇨🇷Costa Rica
• 🇵🇦Panama
• 🇦🇪UAE (Dubai)
• 🇬🇪Georgia
• 🇮🇩Indonesia (Bali)
• 🇨🇴Colombia
• 🇲🇾Malaysia
• 🇧🇷Brazil
• 🇵🇹Portugal
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇦🇱Albania
• 🇲🇽Mexico
• 🇦🇷Argentina
• 🇿🇦South Africa
• 🇳🇿New Zealand
• 🇱🇰Sri Lanka
• 🇺🇿Uzbekistan
• 🇰🇬Kyrgyzstan
• 🇹🇷Turkey
• 🇧🇬Bulgaria
• 🇰🇭Cambodia
• 🇵🇭Philippines
• 🇮🇳India
• 🇱🇦Laos
• 🇺🇸USA
• 🇲🇪Montenegro
• 🇭🇷Croatia
• 🇬🇷Greece
• 🇨🇾Cyprus
• 🇭🇺Hungary
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇲🇹Malta
• 🇰🇿Kazakhstan
• 🇺🇾Uruguay
• 🇵🇾Paraguay
• 🇪🇨Ecuador
• 🇵🇪Peru
• 🇨🇱Chile
• 🇩🇴Dominican Republic
• 🇲🇦Morocco
• 🇲🇺Mauritius
• 🇰🇪Kenya
• 🇳🇦Namibia
• 🇪🇬Egypt
• 🇹🇿Tanzania (Zanzibar)
• 🇯🇵Japan
• 🇰🇷South Korea
• 🇹🇼Taiwan
• 🇲🇳Mongolia
• 🇳🇵Nepal