Cape Verde digital nomad visa
Cape Verde is an Atlantic island chain off West Africa — year-round warmth, beaches, and a relaxed Creole-Portuguese culture, in a timezone friendly to both Europe and the Americas. Its Remote Working Program is cheap and fully online, and unusually it asks for an average bank balance rather than a fixed salary. You get six months, renewable.
Remote Working Program at a glance ✓ Verified 2026
- Income requirement: ~$1600/month
- Visa cost: ~$58
- Length of stay: up to 6 months
- Processing time: 2–4 weeks
- Official source: government site
Requirements
- An average bank balance of at least €1,500 over the last six months (€2,700 for families) — balance-based, not a fixed salary
- Remote work as a freelancer or employee for clients or a company outside Cape Verde
- Valid passport with at least six months' validity
- Proof of health insurance
- Accommodation booking in Cape Verde
- Criminal background check
- Eligible nationality (Europe, North America, Portuguese-speaking/CPLP, or ECOWAS countries)
How to apply
- Confirm your six-month average bank balance meets the €1,500 (individual) or €2,700 (family) requirement
- Gather documents: passport, six months of bank statements, insurance, accommodation booking, criminal record
- Apply online through Cape Verde's Remote Working portal and pay the ~€20 application fee
- Get approval (usually about two to four weeks) by email
- Travel to Cape Verde, pay the ~€34 airport security tax on entry, and collect your six-month residence permit
Moving abroad means more than the visa — sort your travel insurance (many visa applications require proof of coverage), set up borderless banking, and land with data working.
First nomad visa? Our digital nomad visa guide explains how qualifying, applying, and taxes work across every country.
Frequently asked questions
Savings/balance, not salary. Cape Verde asks for an average bank balance of about €1,500 over the previous six months for individuals (€2,700 for families) — a different test from the monthly-income requirements most countries use.
The permit is valid for six months and can be renewed. After renewals some nomads extend further or move to longer residency, but the base grant is half a year.
The program is open to remote workers from Europe, North America, Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries, and ECOWAS (West African) states. Check your nationality qualifies before applying.
Short stays on the remote working program generally don't trigger local income tax on foreign earnings. Confirm your specific situation if you renew and stay long-term.
More visas in Africa
Visa rules, income thresholds, and fees change — always confirm the current requirements on the official government source (linked here) before applying. This page is informational, not immigration advice.