Africa · Arrival Guide
Just Landed in Cabo Verde? Your First 7 Days
Settling in Cabo Verde means island life spread across nine inhabited islands, so where you land shapes everything: Praia on Santiago is the administrative capital, Sal and Boa Vista are the tourist and expat-property hubs, while Sao Vicente (Mindelo) is the cultural centre. The escudo is pegged to the euro, cash still rules outside hotels and supermarkets, and inter-island flights or ferries are part of everyday logistics. Come prepared for a relaxed pace, warm and safe communities, and bureaucracy that runs in Portuguese and on its own timetable.
There is no single unified emergency number in Cabo Verde; dial 132 for police, 130 for ambulance and 131 for fire. The National Civil Protection and Fire Service also operates 800 1112 for major incidents. Save all three service numbers before you need them, as call handlers may only speak Portuguese or Creole.
Police 132 · Ambulance 130 · Fire 131
Praia (on Santiago island)
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Portuguese (official, used in government, schools and paperwork); Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu) spoken by everyone in daily life
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Getting your bearings in Cabo Verde
Your first weeks in Cabo Verde will feel unhurried in a way that is either liberating or maddening depending on the day. The word you will hear again and again is morabeza, a Creole term for the archipelago's particular brand of warmth and hospitality, and it is real: neighbours greet you, shopkeepers chat, and strangers help with directions. But that same pace applies to every bank queue, government counter and utility connection, so the single biggest adjustment is learning to plan around institutions that move slowly, close for lunch, and rarely answer email. Arrive with patience and a paper folder of documents and you will save yourself weeks of frustration.
Geography dictates almost everything here. The country is not one place but ten islands (nine inhabited), each with a distinct character and, crucially, a different level of services. Santiago, home to the capital Praia, holds most of the government offices, the largest hospital and the biggest population. Sao Vicente, with its port city Mindelo, is the cultural and musical heart, famous for the late Cesaria Evora and a lively Carnival. Sal and Boa Vista are flat, sandy, wind-swept and dominated by beach tourism and foreign-owned property; they are the easiest places to arrive as an expat but the hardest places to sort official paperwork, which usually lives on Santiago. Fogo, Santo Antao, Sao Nicolao, Maio and Brava are quieter, greener or more dramatic, and better suited to those who want a slower rural or hiking life.
Language is the other reality to grasp early. Portuguese is the official written and administrative language, so every form, contract and government notice will be in Portuguese, but the language of the street, the home and the market is Kriolu, the Cape Verdean Creole. In the Sal and Boa Vista tourist zones you can function in English, Italian and French, but step outside a hotel and a little Portuguese goes a very long way. Expect a dry, windy climate, desalinated tap water you should not drink, occasional water and power interruptions on the smaller islands, and a cash-first economy where an escudo note in your pocket solves most problems.
Your first 48 hours
The essentials to sort out the moment you land in Cabo Verde.
- 1
Buy a CVMovel (Alou) or Unitel T+ SIM
Bring your passport to a CVMovel or Unitel T+ shop in the arrivals area or in town; SIM registration is legally required and takes a few minutes. CVMovel, sold under the Alou brand, has the widest island coverage while Unitel T+ is strong in the main towns. Ask for a prepaid data bundle so you are online for maps and WhatsApp before you even leave the airport.
- 2
Withdraw escudos and keep small notes
ATMs on the national Vinti4 network operate at the airports and at Caixa Economica, BCA and Banco Interatlantico branches. They dispense escudos and charge a fee for foreign cards, and some cap withdrawals fairly low, so take out a decent amount at once. Break large notes early and hoard the small denominations, because taxis, aluguers and market sellers often cannot make change for a 5,000 CVE note.
- 3
Sort your airport transfer
At Praia (Nelson Mandela), Sal (Amilcar Cabral), Boa Vista (Aristides Pereira) or Sao Vicente airports, use the official taxi rank and agree the fare before you get in. On Sal a taxi from Amilcar Cabral to Santa Maria runs roughly 2,000 to 3,000 CVE and takes about twenty minutes; on Boa Vista the ride to Sal Rei is similar. Praia's airport sits only about 4 km from the city, so that fare should be modest. Many hotels and rentals will pre-book a pickup for a fixed price.
- 4
Note which island your services live on
Immigration, tax and most heavyweight government offices are strongest in Praia, with Mindelo a solid second. The DEF residence process and some banking steps are far smoother on Santiago than on the tourist islands. If you are basing yourself on Sal or Boa Vista, budget for at least one trip to a main island, or engage a local despachante (agent) to handle filings on your behalf.
- 5
Buy bottled water and stock basics
Most of the archipelago relies on desalinated seawater, and while it is generally fine for washing, locals and newcomers alike drink bottled or filtered water. The climate is dry, windy and sunny, so dehydration creeps up fast. Pick up large bottles of drinking water, a few days of food, sunscreen and a power bank, especially if you are heading to a smaller island where shops are limited and restocking is irregular.
- 6
Register your address and start the NIF
Your NIF tax number underpins nearly every formal transaction, from opening a bank account to signing a lease or connecting electricity. Get it early at a Financas office or a Casa do Cidadao one-stop-shop, bringing your passport. It is usually issued quickly, and having it in hand prevents you being turned away later when you try to bank or contract for utilities.
- 7
Learn the aluguer system for getting around
Beyond taxis, everyday transport within each island is the aluguer, a shared minibus or pickup (often a Toyota Hiace or Hilux) that runs fixed routes for a fixed low fare, typically well under 200 CVE for short hops. They leave when full rather than to a timetable. Ask a local which stop or square they depart from, and simply tell the driver where you are going; it is by far the cheapest way to move.
Your first week checklist
- Buy a local prepaid SIM from CVMovel (branded Alou) or Unitel T+ with your passport, and load a data bundle so you can use maps, WhatsApp and mobile banking straight away.
- Withdraw a working amount of escudos from a Vinti4 ATM and deliberately keep a stock of small notes for taxis, aluguer minibuses and market stalls.
- Apply for your NIF (tax identification number) at a Financas / Casa do Cidadao office, as you will need it for a bank account, a lease, utilities and almost any contract.
- Start your residence authorisation file with the Direcao de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (DEF) or via Casa do Cidadao before your entry stamp lapses, and photograph every document you submit.
- Open a bank account at Banco Comercial do Atlantico (BCA), Caixa Economica or Banco Interatlantico, bringing your passport, NIF, proof of address and any residence paperwork.
- Confirm which island your key services actually sit on, and if you are on Sal or Boa Vista, plan a trip to Praia or Mindelo (or hire an agent) for anything requiring a main-island office.
- Register with a private clinic or GP in your main town, and set aside cash or a card as most care is paid out of pocket at the point of use.
- Stock up on bottled drinking water, a power bank and a few days of groceries, since smaller islands restock irregularly and both water and electricity can cut out.
- Join the local Facebook groups and WhatsApp networks for your island, which are where rentals, jobs, second-hand furniture and honest advice actually circulate.
Getting connected
Mobile data is the practical way to get online across the islands; home fibre and ADSL exist in Praia, Mindelo and the main towns through CVMovel but are slower and pricier than in Europe. 4G coverage is good in towns and tourist zones and thins out in the interior and on smaller islands. SIM registration with a passport is required, and travellers can also buy an eSIM from either operator before arrival to land connected.
Typical cost: A prepaid SIM costs a few hundred escudos, and monthly data bundles run roughly 1,000 to 3,000 CVE depending on volume; tourist data packs of a few gigabytes are widely sold at both operators' shops.
Money & banking
The escudo is pegged to the euro at a fixed 110.265 CVE to EUR 1, so euros are widely accepted at hotels and tourist businesses, though often rounded to 1 EUR = 110 CVE in your favour or theirs. Card acceptance is normal in hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants, but cash is expected for taxis, aluguers, markets and small shops. Cards run on the domestic Vinti4 network, and some smaller merchants only take Vinti4 rather than international Visa or Mastercard.
Opening an account: Opening an account at Banco Comercial do Atlantico (BCA), Caixa Economica de Cabo Verde or Banco Interatlantico needs your passport, a NIF tax number, proof of address and usually a residence document. The process is slow, conducted in Portuguese, and may take repeat visits, so bring paper copies of everything and be patient.
Cash: Cash is king outside tourist zones. Carry escudos for daily life, keep small denominations for change, and expect euros to be accepted for larger tourist purchases even when prices are quoted in escudos. Do not assume a card will work in a small shop, guesthouse or rural restaurant.
Tipping: Tipping is modest and not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving around 5 to 10 percent in restaurants is appreciated, and a small tip suits taxi drivers, tour guides, and hotel staff, but no one will chase you for it.
Registration & residency
Foreigners staying long term must obtain a residence authorisation (autorizacao de residencia) from the Direcao de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (DEF), and a NIF tax number is required for banking, contracts and utilities. Short-stay visitors do not register at a local office; instead they complete the online EASE / TSA airport security form before travel and pay the airport security tax, which has replaced the old on-arrival visa for most nationalities. If you intend to live, work or run a business here, treat the residence authorisation as an early, non-optional task rather than something to defer.
Deadline: Begin your residence application soon after arrival and well before your entry stamp or initial authorised stay lapses; apply through the DEF within the validity of your entry rather than overstaying, as overstays complicate the file and can incur fines.
Where: Direcao de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (DEF), with the main office in Praia and branches on the larger islands; many steps can also be started at a Casa do Cidadao one-stop-shop. The NIF is obtained from the tax authority (Financas) or via Casa do Cidadao.
Documents to keep handy:
- Passport valid for at least six months, plus several photocopies and clear phone photos of the photo page and your entry stamp.
- Your visa or the EASE / TSA entry confirmation you completed online before flying, kept both digitally and on paper.
- Passport-sized photographs (bring a handful; local photo shops exist but keeping spares saves queue time).
- Proof of address in Cabo Verde such as a signed lease or a utility bill, needed to open a bank account and progress residence.
- Evidence of income or funds and, if working, an employment contract or business registration, for the residence application.
- International health insurance documents, ideally including medical evacuation cover, which you should carry in case of a serious incident.
Getting around
Getting around means taxis and shared aluguer minibuses within each island, plus flights or ferries between islands. There is no metro and no Uber-style ride-hailing anywhere in the country, so taxis are hailed or booked by phone and WhatsApp, with fares agreed in advance. Within a single island the aluguer is the cheap workhorse, running fixed routes and leaving when full.
From the airport: From Praia's Nelson Mandela Airport it is a short taxi ride of about 4 km into the city. On Sal, a taxi from Amilcar Cabral Airport to Santa Maria takes roughly 20 minutes and costs around 2,000 to 3,000 CVE; on Boa Vista, Aristides Pereira Airport to Sal Rei is comparable. Always use the official rank and confirm the fare before departing, as airport drivers may quote high to newcomers.
Finding a home
Rental markets vary sharply by island. Sal and Boa Vista are dominated by furnished tourist apartments and expat-owned condos, often marketed in euros, while Praia and Mindelo have more genuine local long-term flats at lower prices. Most newcomers find places through local agents, island Facebook groups and word of mouth rather than large listing portals, which barely exist here.
Typical rent: A furnished one- or two-bedroom flat typically runs around 30,000 to 70,000 CVE per month, climbing higher in prime tourist areas of Santa Maria (Sal) and Sal Rei (Boa Vista) and dropping for local rentals in Praia's residential districts and the interior. Long, unfurnished local leases can be markedly cheaper if you can negotiate in Portuguese.
Deposit norm: Landlords usually ask for one to two months' rent as a deposit plus the first month upfront; furnished tourist-zone rentals may request more, and short holiday-let contracts carry a premium. Get any agreement in writing, ideally with your NIF on it, before handing over money.
Healthcare
Public hospitals are concentrated in Praia (Hospital Agostinho Neto) and Mindelo (Hospital Baptista de Sousa), with smaller regional hospitals and health centres (centros de saude) on the other islands. Care for serious, complex or specialist cases is limited, and such patients are frequently referred abroad, most often to Portugal, so private clinics and solid insurance genuinely matter here.
How to access it: For minor issues, use a local health centre or a private clinic in the main towns and expect to pay out of pocket, so keep cash or a card ready. Pharmacies (farmacias) are well stocked in the towns and staff can advise on common ailments. Confirm the nearest capable facility for your island in advance, because a smaller island may require an inter-island medical transfer in an emergency.
Insurance: International private health insurance that explicitly includes medical evacuation to Europe is strongly advised, since on-island specialist care is thin and self-funded repatriation is very expensive. Confirm your policy covers the specific island you live on and the cost of an air transfer.
Culture & etiquette
- Greet warmly before getting to business; a friendly bom dia in Portuguese or bon dia in Creole with a handshake sets the right tone and is genuinely expected.
- Learn a little Kriolu alongside Portuguese, as using local greetings and thanks (obrigadu) is warmly received and opens doors quickly.
- Embrace the relaxed island pace known as morabeza; appointments, deliveries and government services run slowly, so patience is essential and visible frustration achieves nothing.
- Dress modestly away from the beach; swimwear belongs on the sand, not in shops, offices, banks or churches.
- Accept hospitality graciously, whether a coffee, a grogue (the local sugarcane spirit) or an invitation, since sharing is central to social life.
- Show up for music; live morna, coladeira and funana are woven into evenings and celebrations, and joining in is a fast route to friendships.
- Be generous with time in conversation rather than rushing transactions; abruptness reads as rudeness even when you are busy.
Things to watch out for
- Praia's Sucupira market and quieter streets after dark warrant normal city caution; keep phones, cameras and valuables out of sight and avoid flashing cash.
- Water and power supply can be intermittent on smaller islands, so keep bottled water, a charged power bank and some cash on hand for outages.
- The islands are dry, windy and intensely sunny; sunburn, dehydration and deceptively strong ocean currents and undertows regularly catch newcomers out.
- Inter-island ferries and flights are frequently delayed or cancelled by weather and logistics, so never book tight onward connections.
- Do not drink the tap water; it is desalinated and quality varies, so stick to bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth.
Apps to download before you land
CV Interilhas
Inter-island ferry schedules and ticket booking
BestFly
Booking and checking inter-island domestic flights
Everyday contact with landlords, taxi drivers, agents and local businesses
Vinti4
Local card and ATM network, balance checks and mobile payments
Google Translate
Portuguese offline translation for forms, signs and conversations
XE Currency
Checking escudo and euro conversions for budgeting
Google Maps / Maps.me
Navigation and offline maps, useful where street signage is sparse
Where newcomers live
There is no single expat district in Cabo Verde; where you settle depends entirely on which island suits your life. Sal and Boa Vista draw beach-and-tourism newcomers, Praia suits those needing government, business and services, Mindelo attracts the culturally minded, and the greener islands appeal to those wanting a slower rural pace. Rents, services and community differ enormously between them, so visit before committing.
Santa Maria, Sal
The country's main tourist town: beach bars, dive shops, kitesurfing, restaurants and a large international crowd. Easiest to arrive in with English, but pricey, seasonal and light on official services, which mostly sit on Santiago.
Sal Rei, Boa Vista
A smaller, sandier, quieter tourist hub with long empty beaches and a growing expat property scene. Relaxed and windswept, but even more remote from government offices and with a limited range of shops and clinics.
Plateau and Prainha, Praia
The historic Plateau is Praia's commercial and administrative core, while Prainha and Achada Santo Antonio are leafier, higher-end residential areas favoured by professionals, diplomats and better-off locals. Best base for banking, ministries and services.
Mindelo, Sao Vicente
The cultural capital, with music, Carnival, a walkable harbour town and a bohemian, creative feel. Strong local life and services, cooler energy than the beach islands, and a favourite of those who want culture over resorts.
Sao Filipe, Fogo
A characterful cobbled town beneath a live volcano, surrounded by vineyards and coffee. Green, dramatic and rural, ideal for a slow life, but with limited services and inter-island travel that is entirely weather-dependent.
Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Grande, Santo Antao
The hiking heartland: terraced valleys, mountain trails and dramatic coastline, reached by ferry from Mindelo. Quiet, green and beautiful, suited to nature lovers who do not mind being far from cities and specialist care.
What things cost
Cabo Verde is affordable by European standards for local goods and services but expensive for anything imported, since almost everything arrives by ship. Tourist islands like Sal and Boa Vista cost noticeably more than Praia or the interior. Housing and imported food dominate a newcomer's budget, while local transport, fresh fish and produce, and everyday eating out stay cheap. Figures below are in Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) and are indicative.
Staying safe & avoiding scams
Cabo Verde is one of the safer, more stable countries in West Africa, and violent crime against visitors is uncommon, so most newcomers feel comfortable quickly. The realistic risks are petty theft (pickpocketing, bag-snatching and opportunistic break-ins, mainly in Praia and the busy tourist zones of Sal and Boa Vista) and natural hazards, especially strong ocean currents, intense sun and dehydration. Apply the same street sense you would in any city: keep valuables out of sight after dark, do not leave belongings unattended on beaches, use ATMs inside banks by day, and respect the sea, as rip currents and shore breaks are the most serious threat many residents actually face.
Newcomers are common targets. Know these before you arrive — and read our guide to avoiding immigration scams.
Inflated or unmetered taxi fares
Taxis are not metered, and some drivers, especially at airports and in tourist zones, quote high fixed prices to arriving foreigners. Before you get in, ask your accommodation or a local for the going rate, then agree the fare out loud with the driver. For Sal and Boa Vista airport runs, knowing the roughly 2,000 to 3,000 CVE benchmark gives you a firm anchor.
Euro-escudo exchange trickery
With the fixed peg at 110.265 CVE to the euro, some shops, guesthouses and informal changers apply a poor rounded rate or short-change you on the conversion. Learn the peg, count your change every time, and prefer to change money at banks or withdraw escudos from Vinti4 ATMs rather than using street or hotel changers.
Beach vendors and timeshare or holiday-club pitches
On Sal and Boa Vista, persistent sellers push overpriced excursions, jewellery, sunglasses and holiday-club or timeshare memberships, sometimes with a free-gift or scratch-card hook. Decline politely and keep walking, book any tours through your hotel or an established operator, and never hand over your passport, card details or a deposit on the spot.
Fake or informal rental listings
Because rentals circulate on Facebook and WhatsApp rather than regulated portals, fake listings and deposit-before-viewing requests do appear. Never wire money for a place you have not seen in person or via a trusted local, insist on a written contract with the landlord's details and your NIF, and be wary of prices that seem far below the market.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get by in English in Cabo Verde?
In the tourist zones of Sal and Boa Vista, yes; English, Italian and French are common in hotels and restaurants. Elsewhere, and for anything official, you will need Portuguese, and Creole (Kriolu) is the true language of daily life. Learning basic Portuguese pays off enormously and is close to essential outside resorts.
Do I need euros or escudos?
Both are useful, but escudos are what you actually spend day to day. The escudo is pegged to the euro at 110.265, and euros are accepted at many tourist businesses, but you need escudo cash for taxis, aluguers, markets and small shops. Withdraw escudos from Vinti4 ATMs and always keep small notes for change.
How hard is it to move between the islands?
Plan ahead and stay flexible. Islands are linked by domestic flights (BestFly and others) and by CV Interilhas ferries, both of which are weather-dependent and prone to delays and cancellations. Base yourself where your work, key services and community actually are, and never book tight onward connections.
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Treat it with caution and do not drink it. Most islands rely on desalinated seawater and quality varies, so residents and newcomers alike use bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth. The climate is very dry and windy, so keep well hydrated throughout the day.
Do I legally have to register my residence?
If you are staying long term, yes. You must obtain a residence authorisation (autorizacao de residencia) from the Direcao de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, and you will need a NIF tax number for banking and contracts. Short-stay visitors instead complete the online EASE / TSA form and pay the airport security tax before travel, rather than registering at a local office.
How do I open a bank account?
Go to BCA, Caixa Economica or Banco Interatlantico with your passport, NIF, proof of address and residence paperwork. The process is done in Portuguese, is slow, and often needs more than one visit, so bring paper copies of everything. Having your NIF and a signed lease in hand before you start avoids being turned away.
Which island should a newcomer choose?
It depends on your priorities. Sal and Boa Vista are easiest for beach life and arriving in English but light on services; Praia (Santiago) is best for government, business and banking; Mindelo (Sao Vicente) suits the culturally minded; and Fogo, Santo Antao and the greener islands suit a slow rural or hiking life. Visit before you commit.
How do I get a local SIM and internet?
Buy a prepaid SIM with your passport from CVMovel (Alou) or Unitel T+, which registration requires. CVMovel has the widest island coverage; Unitel T+ is strong in the towns. Add a data bundle for roughly 1,000 to 3,000 CVE a month, or buy an eSIM from either operator before you arrive to land connected.
How safe is Cabo Verde day to day?
It is one of the safer, more politically stable countries in the region, and serious crime against foreigners is rare. The everyday risks are petty theft in Praia and the tourist zones and natural hazards like strong currents and intense sun. Use normal city caution, keep valuables discreet after dark, and respect the sea.
Is Cabo Verde expensive to live in?
Local food, fresh fish, transport and eating out are cheap, but anything imported is costly because almost everything arrives by ship, and the tourist islands run pricier than Praia or the interior. Budget most heavily for rent and imported groceries. A modest single person can live comfortably on a European part-time income if they rent locally rather than in resort zones.
Planning the move, not just the landing?
This guide covers your first days on the ground. If you’re still weighing visas and pathways to Cabo Verde, start with a free eligibility assessment.
