Cape Verde has introduced new entry regulations, ending the long-standing practice of issuing visas on arrival for many nationalities.
The changes, effective from January 1, 2026, require travellers from 96 countries to obtain a visa before departing for the archipelago.
Previously, visitors could register online through the official “EASE” portal, pay the necessary fees, and receive a visa upon arrival. Under the new rules, visas, including transit or airport stopover visas where applicable, must now be secured in advance at a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate. Travellers who fail to do so risk being denied entry, transit, or stopover in the country. The updated requirement is displayed on the EASE platform, which informs users that a valid visa is mandatory prior to arrival.
The reform is grounded in Decree No. 244/GMAI/2025, published in the official gazette in November 2025. The decree identifies the countries whose nationals are now subject to prior visa approval and aligns with the legal framework governing the entry, stay, and exit of foreigners in Cape Verde. Certain exemptions are maintained, including airline crew, holders of valid European Union residence permits that guarantee readmission, foreign residents in Cape Verde, some diplomatic passport holders, and individuals born in Cape Verde who later acquired another nationality, under specific conditions.
All travellers, including those who are normally visa-exempt, are still required to complete online registration through the EASE portal and pay the Airport Security Tax, currently around 3,400 Cape Verdean Escudos ($30) for stays of up to 30 days. Until the end of 2025, tourists from the affected countries could pay for a 30-day visa online and receive it upon arrival, but this is no longer possible. When selecting one of the affected nationalities, the portal now displays a warning that the visa must be obtained from an embassy or consulate before travelling.
The countries affected by the suspension of visas on arrival include Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Namibia, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Samoa, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Travellers from these countries are advised to complete visa applications well in advance to avoid disruption to their travel plans.
–ChannelAfrica–
