How to Apply for a Cape Verde Visa in Denver : visasupply.com

The island nation of Cape Verde off the West African coast has been a popular winter getaway for European tourists for decades. Now residents of Denver and other Americans from across the country have also begun discovering the tropical archipelago in recent years, with the United States ranking as one of the country’s top 10 sources of visitors. The nation also leads West African countries in tourism per capita.

Cape Verde (officially the Republic of Cabo Verde) consists of 10 volcanic islands covering more than 1,500 square miles in the Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago was uninhabited until Portuguese explorers discovered it and made it the first European settlement in the tropics. Centrally located west of Senegal, Cape Verde emerged as an economic center during the Colonial-era slave trade. The republic achieved independence from Portugal in 1975.

The end of the slave trade, severe droughts, and occasional volcanic activity led many Cape Verde residents to immigrate to other countries over the last two centuries. There are more Cape Verde-descended people living on other countries than reside in the nation. Cape Verde’s population totals about 595,000 residents, versus about 100,000 Cape Verdean immigrants living in the United States alone (and perhaps as many as 500,000 more Americans who claim Cape Verdean ancestry).

Most Cape Verdeans are of West African and Portuguese descent. That combination gives Cabo Verde a unique cultural blend of African and European influences, producing one of the most Westernized countries in Africa. The sun-drenched islands are known for their laid-back beach lifestyle, bustling markets, distinctive cuisine, rich music genres, community dances, colorful carnivals, and vibrant nightlife. While Portuguese remains the official language, the most spoken dialect is Kriol (Cabo Verdean Creole). French and English are commonly heard in tourist areas.

Praia, the capital and largest city, is located on Santiago, Cape Verde’s biggest and most densely populated island. Praia is famous for its vast vegetable market; historic ties ranging from pirates to Charles Darwin; and the sparkling beaches of Tarrabal. Nearby Cidade Velah, the country’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, was the first European settlement in the tropics. Cidade Velah features centuries-old cobblestone streets, a Portuguese fortress, and two historic churches. You can dance the night away where old-time sailors partied at Mindelo Harbor in Sao Vicente and sample local rums in Santo Antao. The busy harbor town of Palmeira offers numerous restaurants, energetic bars, and unique architectural treasures.

However, sunny beaches remain the republic’s main tourist draw. Airlines, charter boats, and ferries provide transportation among Cape Verde’s nine inhabited islands, where the beaches range from golden powders to black sand. Highly developed Sal Island is the top tourist destination with its white beaches and modern resorts. It is also home to Santa Maria, one of many hotspots for such watersports as fishing, open-water scuba diving, sailing, surfing, jet-skiing, and cave diving. Windy conditions throughout the area make Cape Verde a top destination for kitesurfing and world-class windsurfing. Hikers are drawn to Pico do Fogo (an active volcano and the highest peak in the archipelago), the green peaks at Paul Valley on Santa Antao, and the lush forests and rocky coast of Santo Antao Island. Ervatao Beach on Bao Vista is known for the world’s third-largest loggerhead turtle nesting site and its humpback whale-watching tours. Birdwatching is another popular pastime, as the islands are home to several rare African breeds.

Cape Verde Visa Requirements

Citizens of the United States do not require a visa before entering Cape Verde if they are staying less than 30 days and traveling as tourists, but should instead apply for the electronic travel authorization (Note: an electronic travel authorization is different from a visa, but we will use the word "visa" for the remainder of the article -- keep reading below). The country currently has a requirement that you must pass a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of departure for Cape Verde, although the policy may soon be discontinued. Also, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if you are arriving from a country where that disease is prevalent.

The government offers a number of visas, as detailed by the Cape Verde embassy in Washington, DC, at https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/. The primary requirement is that your U.S. passport be valid for at least six months from your date of entry and contain at least one blank page. If your passport does not meet these requirements, you will need to renew your travel document before applying for a visa.

The Republic of Cape Verde offers three methods for obtaining a tourist visa:

Apply online for the EASE electronic visa;
Apply by mail or in person at the Washington embassy or Boston consulate; and
Apply online for the Cabo Verde Remote Working Program

All international visitors who are at least two years old must pay a €20 (about $19.50) airport security fee in addition to their visa fees. However, the airport fee can be paid in advance through the online application process.

Obtaining a Cape Verde Visa from Denver

Option One: Online Visa through the EASE Program

Visitors from more than 60 countries who plan on traveling to Cape Verde can use the E.A.S.E. (Efficient, Automatic & Safe Entry) program, which will be the most commonly used option for residents of Denver. Although the government states you can visit the country for short trips without a visa, you still need to pre-register at least five days ahead of time through the EASE portal. The EASE program is similar to an electronic visa e-Visa offering, although only the application portion is fully automated. You are required to pre-apply and be pre-approved before arrival. The EASE visa can be used at all four international airports: Boa Vista, Praia, Sal, and São Vicente. There is no COVID quarantine upon arrival. Further details can be found at https://www.ease.gov.cv/.

The EASE is valid for a single entry to Cape Verde. U.S. citizens can stay up to 30 days on the EASE visa. (Those from other countries can apply obtain visas for 30, 60, or 90 days, depending on their home nation.) The cost for an e-Visa from the United States is $58, which includes the airport tax. The turnaround is typically within 24 hours, although it can take as long as five days for government officials to respond by email.

The simple EASE application must be submitted for each visitor who is at least two years old. You will need to supply details about your trip and upload such documentation as a copy of your passport and airline tickets. Once approved, the visa is valid for entry up to 12 months after issuance. The application can be found at https://registration.cv.zetes.com/(S(zz31kp5xtpktto5etgxezgzk))/Pages/CapeVerde/PersonalInfo.aspx.

Option Two: Apply Through an Embassy/Consulate

Denver area residents can also obtain a visitor visa in advance from the Cape Verde Embassy in Washington DC or its consulate in Boston. While the E-visa is limited to a 30-day visit for U.S. nationals, the embassy can issue a single-entry visa that allows you to stay up to 90 days, or a multiple-entry visa valid for up to five years. Citizens of the 45 nations who are ineligible for EASE must also obtain an embassy-issued visa. The application is available at https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/images/doc/Form_pedido_vistos.pdf.

You can appear in person or mail your application to either U.S. location. You must provide:

Your passport valid for at least six months beyond the date you would leave Cabo Verde.
A passport-style photo.
Your completed paper application.
Proof of accommodation, transportation and/or ability to cover your expenses.
Payment of fees using Visa or MasterCard. The current visitor fees are $60 for a single-entry visa or $114 for multiple entries (plus the $35 airline security fee).

For those planning to mail their application, the embassy states, “If requesting your visa by mail we suggest using FEDEX and prepay the return of your passport, making sure that your reference will appear as sender and receiver, keeping record of your tracking number.”

Option Three: Digital Nomad Visa

In December 2020, the country introduced the Cabo Verde Remote Working Program for digital nomads – people who travel the world, visiting countries for months at a time while simultaneously working overseas. The program is designed for self-employed workers and others working remotely through electronic communication tools. The program provides a six-month work and tourist visa that can usually be extended for an additional six months. The cost is about $20 for each person receiving the visa (including family members) plus the airport fees. The application is available at https://www.remoteworkingcaboverde.com/en.

Requirements include:

Passport valid for at least six months beyond the date you would leave Cabo Verde.
Ability to earn remote income (i.e., freelancer, employee of a non-Cape Verde company).
Proof of income. You must show that over the past six months, your bank account averaged $1,500 (for an individual) or $2,700 (family).
Your completed online application.
Payment for application fees.
Proof of accommodation.
Travel and health insurance documents. International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.

Processing typically takes about two weeks, with approval communicated via email. When you enter the country, you will need the approval documents sent by the government, your passport, and proof of a negative PCR test taken within five days of arrival (under current policies).

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

Visa Supply can help you complete your application for any of these visas and answer your questions about visiting Cape Verde. We also provide courier service to deliver your application and pick up your visa from the embassy in Washington or the consulate in Boston. Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Cape Verde. Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.

If you live in Denver or anywhere in the state of Colorado and have difficulty applying for a Cape Verde visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company. We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Cape Verde visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.

We provide the following Cape Verde visa services for our customers in Denver:

Cape Verde Tourist Visa
Cape Verde Business Visa
Cape Verde Official Visa
Cape Verde Digital Nomad Visa
Cape Verde Hotel Accommodations