COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Cape Verde enjoys a stable, democratic government with an elected president as head of state, a prime minister nominated by the National Assembly (the national legislative body) as head of government, and elected members of a unicameral National Assembly. The judicial system is comprised of numerous courts, culminating in a Supreme Court.The Republic of Cape Verde is a developing country that consists of nine inhabited and several uninhabited volcanic islands off the western coast of Africa. Most are rugged and mountainous; three (Sal, Maio, and Boa Vista) are flat, desert islands with sand beaches. Praia, the capital, is on the island of Santiago, and Cape Verde’s major shipping port, Mindelo, is on the island of São Vicente. Two languages are spoken widely in Cape Verde: Portuguese (the official language, spoken by many but not all Cape Verdeans), and Cape Verdean Crioulo (a mixture of Portuguese and African languages spoken almost universally). While the tourist industry brings ever-growing numbers of visitors, facilities on many islands remain limited. Sal and Boa Vista have the most developed tourist infrastructure. See the section “Special Circumstances” below regarding issues that impact inter-island transport.
Read the Department of State’s Background Notes on Cape Verde for additional information.
SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) / EMBASSY LOCATION: If you plan either to visit or live in Cape Verde, please take the time to tell our Embassy about your trip. If you join the SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. Doing so will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. Here’s the link to the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Embassy Praia
Address: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
Telephone: 238-260-8900 (general switchboard), 238-260-8948 (American Citizen Services)
Emergency after-hours telephone: 238-991-3325
Facsimile: 238-261-1355
ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS: A passport and visa are required. Visa approval can take several days, and Cape Verde issues two types of tourist visas: a single-entry visa valid for up to 90 days or a multiple-entry visa valid for five years. You may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Cape Verde, 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007 (tel. 202- 965-6820) or the Consulate General of Cape Verde, 607 Boylston Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02116 (tel. 617-353-0014). Overseas inquiries should be made to the nearest Cape Verdean embassy or consulate. Visit the website of the Embassy of Cape Verde to the United States for the most current visa information.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of [country name].
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Visitors traveling to Cape Verde who wish to participate in water sports, swimming, boating, and fishing should exercise extreme caution since the tides and currents around Cape Verde are very strong. Several small fishing boats were lost at sea in recent years.
Cape Verde, similar to Hawaii, is an archipelago of volcanic islands. Although volcanoes on most of the islands now appear inactive, the island of Fogo is still an active volcano. Fogo erupted twice in the twentieth century, most recently in 1995. U.S. citizens should be aware of the possibility of future eruptions, as well as tremors associated with these volcanoes, on any of the islands of the archipelago, but especially on the islands of Fogo, Brava, and Santo Antão. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Campaign rallies and demonstrations are generally peaceful; however, U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political gatherings, and street demonstrations.
Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on facebook as well.
Facebook as well.
You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
There is nobody better at protecting you than yourself. Take some time before travel to improve your personal security—things are not the same everywhere as they are in the United States. Here are some useful tips for traveling safely abroad.
CRIME: Petty thievery and burglary are common in Cape Verde, especially in crowds such as marketplaces, festivals, and celebrations. Criminals do not necessarily target U.S. citizens, but rather anyone perceived to be affluent without regard to nationality. Local police statistics reflect an increase in crime in Cape Verde, particularly in the cities of Praia and Mindelo. Often the perpetrators of these crimes are gangs of street children, so visitors should avoid groups of children who appear to have no adult supervision.
Muggings occur often, particularly at night and in more isolated areas, and increasingly involve violence. The perpetrators are predominantly males between the ages of 14 and 25 and tend to attack their victims in small groups of two or three. Crime associated with drugs and drug use is also on the rise. Due to inadequate lighting in many public areas and periodic blackouts, people are encouraged to carry small flashlights, to travel with others, to keep vehicle doors and windows locked, to avoid dark and isolated places, and to be especially vigilant in the evenings.
Violent crime is also on the rise in Cape Verde. Over the past two years, there have been several murders and attempted murders, mostly reported in the urban centers of Praia and Mindelo, although Sal and other islands have not been immune. Murders and violent assaults have not specifically targeted U.S. citizens. As reported in the Department of State’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, domestic abuse against women is widespread in Cape Verde. Although the Cape Verdean national assembly adopted a law criminalizing it in July 2010, implementing legislation remains a work in progress..
Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime in Cape Verde or anywhere abroad, contact the local police and the U.S. Embassy in Praia or the nearest embassy or consulate in the country in which you are traveling/residing (see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates). If your passport is stolen we can help you replace it. For violent crimes such as assault and rape, we can help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends, and help them send you money if you need it. Although the investigation and prosecution of crimes are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and find an attorney.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Cape Verde is: 132 (police) and 131 (fire).
Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are present in Cape Verde or any foreign country, you are subject to its laws regardless of your U.S. citizenship. Cape Verdean laws and its legal system, like those of any foreign country, can be vastly different than our own. Moreover, some entirely legal activities in Cape Verde might nevertheless be illegal in the United States. For example, in some cases U.S. citizens buying pirated goods outside the United States can be prosecuted under U.S. upon returning home, and engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Cape Verde, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not in Cape Verde or wherever you plan to go.
Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Cape Verde, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: The U.S. Embassy in Praia urges travelers to apply for a visa prior to traveling to Cape Verde. Although U.S. citizens have been allowed to travel to Cape Verde without a visa, they have had to apply for and purchase an entry visa upon arrival at the airport. Such “airport” visas are more expensive than a visa obtained in advance and usually have a mere seven-day validity. To extend one's stay beyond seven days, the visitor must purchase a new, regular single or multiple-entry visa at the office of immigration police.
Inter-island travel is generally via ferry or 45-seat propeller planes. The islands of Brava and Santo Antão, however, are only accessible by boat. Not all flights between islands are direct, and plane service may be cancelled due to poor visibility from dust or rain and related safety concerns. During peak travel season, travelers who connect to other islands via the inter-island plane service may experience delays in receiving their luggage at their final destination because of the limited carrying capacity of inter-island planes. You should have a change of clothing and all vital materials in your carry-on luggage to avoid frustration during the first 24-48 hours in country.
There is regular daily inter-island ferry service between Santo Antão and São Vicente. Ferry service is also available between Santiago, Brava, and Fogo, however, these ferry links do not operate daily and the service schedule frequently changes. Recently, a regular high-speed ferry connection was inaugurated between the islands of Santiago and Maio, although initial problems interrupted service for several months shortly after it began operating. Those planning to travel by boat should plan well in advance of their trip and should confirm that the boat service is still operating on schedule a few days before departing.
CV Telecom is currently the only provider for fixed-line voice, data service, and Internet service (dial-up, ISDN, and ADSL). Mobile phone service is on the GSM standard and is available from CV Telecom and a new competitor called T . Only major cities and towns have Internet cafes, and international telecommunications services in Cape Verde are dependent on transatlantic fiber-optic cables. Visitors who need reliable communication to other countries may want to consider bringing satellite-based voice and/or data equipment. The international country code for Cape Verde is 238. Fixed and mobile line numbers all have seven digits. Land lines all begin with the number “2,” and mobile numbers, which all began with the number “9” until the end of 2009, may now begin with either “5” or “9.” Telephone connections are good, but calls made to numbers outside the archipelago are very expensive.
Accessibility:While in Cape Verde, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation considerably more limited than in the United States. Although the Cape Verdean constitution guarantees that persons with disabilities will receive priority in the provision of government services and stipulates that public buildings must be accessible to the disabled, in reality few such accommodations have yet been made. The country has national organizations for the visually and hearing impaired.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities in Cape Verde are limited, and some medicines are in short supply or unavailable. The country’s largest hospitals are in Praia and Mindelo, and smaller medical facilities and clinics are located throughout the country. The islands of Brava and Santo Antão no longer have functioning airports, so air evacuation in the event of a medical emergency is nearly impossible from these two islands.
Malaria exists in Cape Verde, mainly limited to the island of Santiago. However, nationwide, malaria is far less prevalent than in mainland African countries, with approximately 20-40 cases occurring annually. Although many expatriates do not feel the need for malaria prophylaxis, it is important to be aware that there is an elevated risk of contracting the disease from July to December, especially during the rainiest months (August-October).
In 2009, Cape Verde experienced its first-ever epidemic of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne illness whose spread was facilitated by an unusually heavy rainy season. Unlike malaria, no prophylaxis exists against dengue fever. Ultimately, 21,000 cases were reported, affecting all nine inhabited islands, with six fatalities nationwide.
It still too early to determine whether dengue fever will recur as a public health threat in Cape Verde, but travelers can and should minimize exposure to both dengue and malaria by taking precautions against mosquito bites, which are most common at dawn and dusk, particularly from July to December. Like malaria, no vaccine exists for dengue, so travelers in Cape Verde who exhibit symptoms as described on the CDC’s dengue fact sheet should immediately seek medical attention. Depending on how long you are in Cape Verde, symptoms may not present themselves after you return to the United States. Since medical professional in the United States often do not test patients for either illness, make sure you tell your doctor treating your symptoms that you have recently been in a country where both malaria and dengue fever exist.
If you need a doctors in Cape Verde, a list of medical providers and hospitals is available on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Praia.
You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions, on the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel outside the United States. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave whether or not your medical insurance will cover you overseas. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:
In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Cape Verde, or any foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Cape Verde is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Cape Verde has an extensive road system. Asphalt roads used to be relatively uncommon with the exception of airport connector roads. On the islands of Santiago, Sal, and São Vicente, many roads in the main cities and around these islands are now asphalt. On the other islands (Fogo, Brava, Maio, São Nicolau, and Boa Vista), the roads are narrow, winding, and mostly cobblestone. There continue to be projects to convert cobblestone roads to asphalt. The newer asphalt roads make driving more comfortable, but can be more dangerous since these roads are smoother and lack speed bumps, which results in a tendency for drivers to speed. During the rainy season, cobblestone roads may be slippery, and mudslides and large falling rocks are common on roads that cut through mountains.
Houses are often located adjacent to the road, so drivers must pay careful attention to pedestrians, especially children, and livestock on the road. Roads and streets are often unlit, so driving at night is hazardous. Most accidents result from aggressive driving, excessive speed, and passing in blind curves, and/or in rain, on inclines and/or declines. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a problem in Cape Verde. The peak time for drunk drivers is on Sundays, but one can encounter them at any time. Also, extreme caution should be exercised after celebrations, festivals and open-air concerts as well as during holiday periods, such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Mardi Gras (“Carneval.”)
Service stations are available and quite modern. Taxis and buses generally offer clean, dependable service on all islands. Bus service in Praia is reliable and inexpensive, and most buses are fairly new. Intra-island service usually consists of minivans (typically a Toyota Hiace) or converted pickup trucks that have benches along the edges of the pickup bed. Intra-island service can be dangerous because some drivers overload their vehicles, exceed the speed limit, or drive after drinking alcohol. Before entering any transport, riders should pay close attention to the behavior of the driver.
In Cape Verde, traffic moves on the right side of the road, as in the United States. At intersections, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way, but at roundabouts (traffic circles), cars inside the circle have the right-of-way. Under Cape Verdean law, seat belts must be worn at all times by the driver as well as the person in the front passenger seat. Children under 12 must sit in the back seat. Motorcyclists must wear crash helmets and use headlights at all times. Bicycling is common in Praia and in some other areas. The use of helmets, gloves, and /or other protective gear while bicycling is more widespread han in mainland African countries but not governed by local laws/regulations and not at all universal. Pedestrian striped crosswalks are common in Praia, Mindelo, and other large cities/towns, and are widely used and heeded by motorists.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Cape Verde’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Cape Verde’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
CHILDREN’S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Cape Verde dated June 15, 2010 to update sections on Crime, Criminal Penalties, Special Circumstances, Medical Facilities and Health Information, and Traffic Safety and Road Conditions.
