Cape Verde Ends Visa-On-Arrival for 96 Nationalities From 2026

If Cape Verde has been on your travel list, there is an important visa update you cannot ignore.

Since January 1, 2026, Cape Verde has officially scrapped its long-standing visa-on-arrival system for travellers from 96 countries. What used to be a fairly relaxed entry process now requires advance planning.

Here is what changed, who is affected, and what travellers can do instead.

What Exactly Changed?

Until the end of 2025, most of the travellers could register online through the EASE portal, pay the fees, and receive a tourist visa on arrival at the airport.

That option is now gone.

Travellers from 96 countries must secure a visa before travelling, even if they are only transiting or stopping over at a Cape Verde airport. Arriving without a valid visa can lead to refusal of entry or transit.

The update is clearly stated on the official EASE pre-registration website, leaving little room for confusion.

The EASE Registration Still Applies to Everyone

Even with this visa change, all visitors must still complete online registration through the EASE platform before travel. This includes:

• Submitting personal and travel details online
• Paying the mandatory Airport Security Tax (TSA), around 3,400 Cape Verdean escudos for stays of up to 30 days

What no longer applies is the ability to pay for and receive a tourist visa on arrival if you are from one of the affected countries.

Why Cape Verde Made This Change

The move is based on Decree No. 244/GMAI/2025, published in November 2025. The decree formally lists countries whose citizens must obtain entry, transit, or airport stopover visas before departure.

In simple terms, Cape Verde is tightening border controls and shifting responsibility back to embassies and consulates.

Who Is Exempt From the New Rule?

Some travellers are still exempt, even if they hold a passport from an affected country.

Exemptions include:

• Airline crew members on duty
• Foreign residents legally living in Cape Verde
• Holders of valid residence permits from EU countries that guarantee readmission
• Certain diplomatic and official passport holders
• People born in Cape Verde who later acquired another nationality, under specific conditions

If you fall into one of these categories, it is still wise to confirm details with a Cape Verde consulate before travel.

Full List of the 96 Countries Affected

Travellers holding passports from the following countries must now apply for a visa in advance:

S. No.	Country / Territory
1	Afghanistan
2	Guatemala
3	Panama
4	Algeria
5	Guyana
6	Papua New Guinea
7	Armenia
8	Haiti
9	Paraguay
10	Azerbaijan
11	Honduras
12	Peru
13	Bahrain
14	India
15	Philippines
16	Bangladesh
17	Indonesia
18	Puerto Rico
19	Belarus
20	Iran
21	Rwanda
22	Bhutan
23	Iraq
24	Samoa
25	Bolivia
26	Jamaica
27	Somalia
28	Botswana
29	Jordan
30	South Sudan
31	Brunei
32	Kazakhstan
33	Sri Lanka
34	Burundi
35	Kiribati
36	Sudan
37	Cambodia
38	Kyrgyzstan
39	Suriname
40	Cameroon
41	Laos
42	Syria
43	Central African Republic
44	Lebanon
45	Taiwan
46	Chad
47	Lesotho
48	Tajikistan
49	Chile
50	Libya
51	Tanzania
52	Colombia
53	Madagascar
54	Tokelau
55	Comoros
56	Malawi
57	Tonga
58	Congo
59	Mauritania
60	Trinidad and Tobago
61	Costa Rica
62	Mexico
63	Tunisia
64	Democratic Republic of the Congo
65	Mongolia
66	Turkey
67	Djibouti
68	Myanmar
69	Turkmenistan
70	Dominica
71	Namibia
72	Tuvalu
73	Dominican Republic
74	Nauru
75	Uganda
76	Ecuador
77	Nepal
78	Uzbekistan
79	Egypt
80	Nicaragua
81	Vanuatu
82	El Salvador
83	North Korea
84	Venezuela
85	Eritrea
86	Oman
87	Vietnam
88	Eswatini
89	Pakistan
90	Yemen
91	Ethiopia
92	Palau
93	Zambia
94	Gabon
95	Palestine
96	Zimbabwe

If your country appears on this list, advance planning is now mandatory.

What Visa Options Do Travellers Have Now?

For most affected travellers, the only option is a consular visa. This means:

• Applying through a Cape Verde embassy or consulate
• Submitting documents such as hotel bookings, return tickets, and proof of funds
• Waiting for approval before booking non-refundable travel

For travellers who previously relied on last-minute trips or flexible plans, this is a major shift.

Some travellers may also explore alternative routing, such as transiting through countries where their passport allows easier entry, but this does not remove the need for a Cape Verde visa if Cape Verde is the final destination.

What This Means for Travellers

Here is the bottom line.

Cape Verde is still open to visitors, but spontaneous trips just got harder for many nationalities. If you are planning a holiday, transit stop, or business visit, visa planning now comes first.

Check your nationality, confirm embassy timelines, complete EASE registration early, and avoid turning up at the airport with the wrong paperwork. That one mistake could end your trip before it begins.