# Cabo Verde — Residency & Citizenship Conditions

> Source: https://residencyradar.org/conditions/cabo-verde.html | Last checked: 2026-10-12 | Last updated: 2026-10-11

## Quick answer

- Remote workers: Remote Working Cabo Verde: Avg bank balance ~€1,500/mo over 6 months (6 mo + 6 mo) [source: https://cabo-verde.cv/work-remote]
- Investment: Green Card (Residence by Investment): Real estate €80,000 (low-GDP areas) / €120,000 (high-GDP areas) (Permanent, renew 5 yr) [source: https://portalconsular.mnec.gov.cv/en/vistos]
- Skilled workers: Work visa (professional activity): Job offer (1 yr, renewable)
- Citizenship by naturalisation: 5 years of legal residence

## Overview
Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) is a ten-island Atlantic archipelago off West Africa, a stable parliamentary democracy and Portuguese-speaking CPLP member. It is the region's clearest residence pathway: a **Green Card** residence-by-investment scheme (real estate from €80,000), a **Remote Working Cabo Verde** digital-nomad permit, and naturalisation after 5 years of habitual residence with dual nationality permitted. No citizenship-by-investment programme exists. ^[https://uglobal.com/immigration/cape-verde]

## Residency Programs

| Type | Official Program | Key Conditions | Duration | Detail |
|------|-----------------|----------------|----------|--------|
| investment_residency | Green Card (Residence by Investment) | Real estate €80,000 (low-GDP areas) / €120,000 (high-GDP areas) | Permanent, renew 5 yr | [[#investment-residency]] |
| passive_income_residency | Not available | — | — | — |
| digital_nomad_visa | Remote Working Cabo Verde | Avg bank balance ~€1,500/mo over 6 months | 6 mo + 6 mo | [[#digital-nomad-visa]] |
| highly_skilled_employment | Work visa (professional activity) | Job offer | 1 yr, renewable | [[#employment-residency]] |
| startup_entrepreneur | Not available (investment route) | — | — | — |
| employment_residency | Residence visa — professional activity | Job offer; employer sponsorship | 6 mo visa → permit | [[#employment-residency]] |
| student_residency | Student visa | Enrolment >1 year | Course duration | — |
| family_reunification | Family reunification | Sponsor with valid permit | Tied to principal | — |
| retired_residency | Not available (Green Card covers) | — | — | — |
| citizenship_by_investment | Not available | — | — | — |

## Per-Program Detail

### investment_residency
- **Official name**: Green Card (Residence by Investment) — Law on the regime for foreign investors
- **Conditions**: Real estate investment of **€80,000** in municipalities with below-average GDP per capita, or **€120,000** in above-average areas. Funds must be transferred from abroad via a licensed Cabo Verdean financial institution. No minimum physical-presence requirement. ^[https://uglobal.com/immigration/cape-verde]
- **Duration / renewal**: Permanent residence, renewable every 5 years while the property is held.
- **Path to citizenship**: 5 years of habitual residence, then naturalisation (Portuguese language, good character, self-sufficiency). Dual nationality permitted. ^[https://www.sebsauerborn.com/countries/cape-verde]
- **Official source**: https://portalconsular.mnec.gov.cv/en/vistos
- **Community verdict**: Works well (low threshold vs EU Golden Visas; low uptake, straightforward).

### digital_nomad_visa
- **Official name**: Remote Working Cabo Verde (Programa Nómadas Digitais)
- **Conditions**: Average bank balance of ~€1,500/month over the last 6 months; health insurance; clean criminal record; proof of accommodation. ^[https://cabo-verde.cv/cape-verde-digital-nomad-visa-your-guide-to-working-remotely]
- **Duration / renewal**: 6-month temporary residence + work permit, renewable for another 6 months.
- **Path to citizenship**: Time does not reliably count toward naturalisation; nomads typically convert to Green Card.
- **Official source**: https://cabo-verde.cv/work-remote
- **Community verdict**: Works well (cheap, easy, low threshold; but 6-month ceiling and limited island infrastructure).

### employment_residency
- **Official name**: Visto de residência — exercício de atividade profissional
- **Conditions**: Binding job offer; transport permit; vaccination certificate; proof of accommodation; clean record. ^[https://portalconsular.mnec.gov.cv/en/vistos]
- **Duration / renewal**: 6-month residence visa, extendable until the residence permit is decided; permit renewed annually.
- **Path to citizenship**: 5 years habitual residence.
- **Official source**: https://portalconsular.mnec.gov.cv/en/vistos
- **Community verdict**: Mixed — small formal job market; most expats use Green Card or nomad route.

## Citizenship
- **Naturalisation**: 5 years of continuous/habitual legal residence, Portuguese language, good character, financial self-sufficiency. ^[https://www.sebsauerborn.com/countries/cape-verde]
- **Dual citizenship**: Permitted; no renunciation required.
- **No citizenship-by-investment programme.**

## Tax
- **Corporate tax**: 20% (reduced from 21% for 2025). ^[https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-investment-climate-statements/cabo-verde]
- **VAT**: 15%.
- **Personal income**: Progressive. Green Card holders are exempt on foreign-source income; no capital gains tax on real estate held >2 years; no inheritance or wealth tax. A 10% flat regime exists for qualifying foreign investors. ^[https://www.sebsauerborn.com/countries/cape-verde]

## IT / Digital Nomad
Cabo Verde was an early adopter of a nomad visa (Remote Working Cabo Verde, late 2020). Threshold ~€1,500/mo average balance. UTC-1 timezone suits European teams. Praia and Mindelo are the main hubs, with a planned "Cabo Verde Tech Park". Internet is adequate but not top-tier.

## Yacht / Maritime
Atlantic island nation with marinas (Mindelo on São Vicente is a key stopover for transatlantic yachts). Cabo Verde operates a ship registry. Growing but modest yachting sector.

## Notes for RU citizens
- Visa required; Portuguese is the working language. Stable, safe, and visa-friendly relative to the region.
- Green Card (€80,000–€120,000 real estate) is the main RU-relevant residence route; nomad visa also accessible.
- EU banking/CBI screening not a factor (no CBI). No visa-free Russia with Cabo Verdean passport.

## Community Pulse
Low but positive. The Green Card is cheap but little-known; the nomad visa is well-reviewed for simplicity but capped at 12 months total. Practitioners recommend it as a 5-year path to a second passport with dual nationality allowed, rather than a place to settle permanently.

## Country Snapshot

| Field | Value | Source / Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Population | ~593,000 (2023) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/country/cabo-verde) — hard/official |
| Main religion | Roman Catholicism (~85%) | [CIA World Factbook](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cabo-verde/) — hard/official |
| Main language | Portuguese (official); Cape Verdean Creole | [CIA World Factbook](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cabo-verde/) — hard/official |
| Main city (capital or largest) | Praia | [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praia) — hard/official |
| On the coast? | Yes (10-island archipelago) | Geographical fact [soft/estimate] |
| Tourism impact in season | High — ~25% of GDP; peak Nov–May | [soft/estimate] |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | ~$10,000 (2023) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Median net monthly salary | ~€250–350 | [Numbeo](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Cape+Verde) [soft/estimate] |
| Cost of living index | ~35 (NYC=100) | [Numbeo](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Cape+Verde) [soft/estimate] |
| Monthly rent, 1-bedroom apartment | ~€250–400 (Praia) | [Numbeo](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Cape+Verde) [soft/estimate] |
| Effective personal tax rate for remote workers | 0% on foreign income (Green Card) | See [[#tax]] |
| Remote-work / self-employment residence available? | Yes — Remote Working Cabo Verde (~€1,500/mo) | See [[#digital-nomad-visa]] |
| Years to citizenship | 5 | See [[#citizenship]] |
| Maximum permitted absence during residence | Green Card: none required | See [[#investment-residency]] |
| Passport strength after citizenship | ~62–67 visa-free | [Uglobal](https://uglobal.com/immigration/cape-verde) — hard/official |
| Rule of Law Index | No reliable data (WJP) | confidence low |
| Freedom House score | 92/100 — Free (2026) | [Freedom House](https://freedomhouse.org/country/cabo-verde/freedom-world/2026) — hard/official |
| Average annual sunshine hours | ~3,000 h | [Weather & Climate](https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-hours-Sunshine,Cape-Verde) — hard/official |
| Average annual temperature | ~24 °C | [Climates to Travel](https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/cape-verde) — hard/official |

## Extended Snapshot

_Coverage: 50/55 fields. Only facts verifiable against official sources or published indices; practice-dependent topics (bank attitudes, real-world acceptance of Russian applicants, flights, policy mood) are deliberately excluded until community-sourced data is collected._

| Block | Field | Value | Source / Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography & size | Area | 4 030 km² (2024) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.SRF.TOTL.K2?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Geography & size | Population density | 130 /km² (2024) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Geography & size | Urban population | 78% (2025) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Geography & size | Coastline | 965 km | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Geography & size | Highest point | Pico do Fogo, 2,829 m | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Geography & size | Type | archipelago | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Geography & size | Time zone | UTC-1 (CVT), 4h behind Moscow | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Climate | Avg precipitation | 228 mm/yr (2022) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.PRCP.MM?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Climate | PM2.5 exposure | 20.2 µg/m³ (2023) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.PM25.MC.M3?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Climate | Climate zone | BWh (hot desert), some islands Aw (tropical savanna) | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Climate | Temp winter / summer | Praia: avg 22°C (Feb), 27°C (Sep) | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Climate | Rainy days | Praia: ~22 days/year | [source](https://www.sunheron.com/africa/cabo-verde/praia-weather-climate) — soft/estimate |
| Climate | Humidity | ~70% annual avg | [source](https://www.caboverdeinfo.com/en/seasonal) — soft/estimate |
| Climate | Natural hazards | Drought, volcanic activity, occasional hurricanes | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Climate | Air quality | Annual mean PM2.5: ~8.5 μg/m³ (2024) | [source](https://www.iqair.com/world-air-quality-report) — soft/estimate |
| Economy | GDP (nominal) | $3.1B (2025) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Economy | GDP growth | 6.3% (2025) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Economy | Inflation (CPI) | 2.3% (2025) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Economy | Unemployment | 11.9% (2025) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Economy | Central govt debt | No reliable data | — |
| Economy | Gini index | No reliable data | — |
| Economy | Tourism receipts | 40% of exports (2020) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.RCPT.XP.ZS?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Economy | Remittances | 11.7% of GDP (2025) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.TRF.PWKR.DT.GD.ZS?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Economy | Credit rating | S&P B+/B (stable), Fitch B (stable, 2025) | [source](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/sourceId/101700842) — hard/official |
| Economy | Currency | CVE, pegged to EUR (110.265 CVE = 1 EUR), ~5% depreciation vs USD 2020-2025 | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Economy | Top industries | Services (commerce, transport, tourism, public) ~70%, agriculture ~9%, fishing ~1.5% | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Cape_Verde) — soft/estimate |
| Economy | Economic Complexity | ECI rank: 120 (2023) | [source](https://atlas.hks.harvard.edu/rankings) — soft/estimate |
| Technology | Internet users | 75% of population (2024) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Technology | Fixed broadband subs | 8.3 per 100 people (2024) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.BBND.P2?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Technology | High-tech exports | 1.2% of manufactured exports (2023) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/TX.VAL.TECH.MF.ZS?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Technology | R&D spend | No reliable data | — |
| Technology | Global Innovation Index | Not ranked in GII 2024 top 133 | [source](https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/gii-2024-results.html) — hard/official |
| Technology | E-Government (UN EGDI) | 0.5837, rank 112 (2024) | [source](https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Data/Country-Information/id/38-Cabo-Verde) — hard/official |
| Technology | Median broadband speed | Fixed broadband: ~45 Mbps (2024 est.) | [source](https://www.speedtest.net/global-index) — soft/estimate |
| Technology | 5G | 5G not yet commercially deployed | [source](https://datahub.itu.int/data?e=CPV&i=100095&v=chart) — hard/official |
| Technology | Online payments | Stripe not available | [source](https://stripe.com/global) — soft/estimate |
| Technology | Startup ecosystem | StartupBlink rank: 112 (2024) | [source](https://www.startupblink.com/) — soft/estimate |
| Human development & health | Life expectancy | 76.2 years (2024) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Human development & health | Hospital beds | 2.2 per 1000 (2022) | [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.BEDS.ZS?locations=CV) — hard/official |
| Human development & health | HDI | 0.668, rank 135 of 193 (2023) | [source](https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights) — hard/official |
| Safety | Global Peace Index | Not ranked in GPI 2024 | [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Peace_Index) — soft/estimate |
| Safety | US travel advisory | Level 1: Exercise normal precautions | [source](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CaboVerde.html) — hard/official |
| Money & tax | FATF status | Not on FATF black or grey list (as of 2026-06-19) | [source](https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/countries/black-and-grey-lists.html) — hard/official |
| Money & tax | CRS exchange | No reliable data | — |
| Money & tax | Tax treaty with Russia | No reliable data | — |
| Money & tax | Wealth / inheritance / CGT | No wealth tax; no inheritance tax; capital gains tax 0% on listed securities | [source](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/cabo-verde) — soft/estimate |
| Money & tax | CFC rules | No CFC rules | [source](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/cabo-verde) — soft/estimate |
| Business | Company setup | ~11 days, cost ~14.2% of GNI per capita (2020) | [source](https://archive.doingbusiness.org/content/dam/doingBusiness/country/c/cabo-verde/CPV.pdf) — soft/estimate |
| Business | Corporate tax | 22% standard rate | [source](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/cabo-verde) — soft/estimate |
| Family & education | Top university | University of Cape Verde (not in QS top 1000) | [source](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-cape-verde) — soft/estimate |
| Connectivity | Visa-free for Russians | Visa-free for stays up to 60 days (extendable to 90) | [source](https://www.gov.cv/en/paises-isentos-de-visto-para-cabo-verde) — hard/official |
| For Russian citizens | Sanctions position | Has not imposed sanctions on Russia; voted in favor of UN resolutions condemning invasion | [source](https://gadebate.un.org/en/81/cabo-verde) — hard/official |
| Quality of life | World Happiness rank | Rank 73 (2025 World Happiness Report) | [source](https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2025) — hard/official |
| Quality of life | Expat friendliness | Not ranked in InterNations Expat Insider 2024 | [source](https://www.internations.org/expat-insider/2024) — hard/official |
| Quality of life | Local language need | EF EPI not ranked; Portuguese official, English limited | [source](https://www.ef.com/wwen/epi) — hard/official |

## Country Card

### General description
Cabo Verde is a stable, democratic Portuguese-speaking archipelago off West Africa, a CPLP member with close ties to the EU. Its economy is service-based (tourism, remittances, transport). It offers a low-cost, low-friction residence pathway — a real-estate Green Card from €80,000 and a digital-nomad permit — with citizenship after 5 years and dual nationality allowed.

### Well-known strong points
- One of Africa's most stable democracies (FH 92/100 Free)
- Green Card from €80,000 with no stay requirement; dual citizenship allowed
- Citizenship after 5 years — shortest in the region with clear rules
- 0% tax on foreign-source income for Green Card holders
- Early, easy digital-nomad visa (~€1,500/mo balance)
- Very sunny, mild climate (~3,000 h sunshine)

### Well-known problems
- Small economy; few formal jobs and limited infrastructure
- Nomad visa capped at 12 months total
- No citizenship-by-investment; naturalisation is discretionary
- Island logistics (inter-island transport, cost of imports)
- Limited banking and professional services depth

## Status
- **Last monitored**: 2026-10-12
- **Recent changes**: Corporate tax cut 21% → 20% for 2025. Green Card and Remote Working programmes operational.
- **Watch items**: Green Card thresholds/law revisions; Tech Park development; any CBI proposal (none active).

## Official and primary sources
- https://uglobal.com/immigration/cape-verde
- https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-investment-climate-statements/cabo-verde
- https://cabo-verde.cv/cape-verde-digital-nomad-visa-your-guide-to-working-remotely
- https://portalconsular.mnec.gov.cv/en/vistos