Cape Verde has ended visa on arrival for nationals of 96 countries, requiring affected travellers to obtain a consular visa before departure in a policy shift that took effect on January 1, 2026 and carries significant implications for tourism and airline operations across Africa, Asia, the Americas and beyond.
The change was introduced under Decree-Law No. 13/2025 and Decree No. 244/GMAI/2025, published in the country’s official gazette, Boletim Oficial, on November 24, 2025. The Cape Verdean government cited the need to strengthen national security, tighten immigration checks and reduce irregular migration as the primary drivers of the reform.
Under the previous system, travellers from many nationalities could complete online pre-registration and pay applicable fees through the government’s EASE (Efficient Automatic and Safe Entry of travellers) portal, then collect their visa on arrival at the airport. That option is no longer available for the 96 affected nationalities, who must now apply in advance through a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate. The official EASE portal now displays a warning to affected passport holders that a valid visa must be held before departure, under penalty of refusal of entry, transit or stopover.
Cape Verde’s Directorate of Foreigners and Borders (DEF) said the automated approval system required stronger verification measures, and that consular screening, including mandatory face-to-face interviews, would replace digital processing for the listed nationalities.
The affected countries span a wide range of outbound tourism markets. Among those subject to the new requirement are Egypt, Mexico, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica and Jamaica, alongside 89 other nations. Several major European nationalities and travellers from the US, UK, Canada and Brazil remain visa-exempt, though all visitors must still complete EASE pre-registration and pay the Airport Security Tax (TSA) before arrival. The Traveler
From July 1, 2026, travellers who have not pre-registered or cannot show proof of having done so may be charged double the TSA fee at the border.
The policy change carries practical consequences for carriers. Airlines are expected to intensify document checks to avoid carrying passengers who lack the required visa, with travellers from affected countries risking being refused entry, transit or stopover if they arrive without the correct documentation.
Tourism operators, hotel owners and airlines serving Cape Verde face a period of uncertainty, with the new system potentially dampening demand from emerging markets where advance visa procedures are viewed as an obstacle, particularly among travellers who previously valued Cape Verde’s ease of access.
Exemptions remain in place for airline crew members, holders of valid EU residence permits that guarantee readmission, foreign residents in Cape Verde and certain diplomatic passport holders.