There are two types of visas for residence in Cape Verde:

1. Permanent;
2. Temporary

It is not easy to get a permanent residence visa in Cape Verde. It is valid for up to 5 years, after which it will need to be renewed. A temporary residence visa in Cape Verde must be renewed every 12 months.

A residence visa is granted to foreigners who intend to settle in Cape Verde for one of the following purposes:

• Implementation of professional activities
• Carrying out investment activities
• For the purpose of studies lasting more than 1 year (for university students)
• For purposes of family reunification with a foreign resident (spouses, minor children, adopted minors or dependents).

    —    

The procedure for obtaining Residencia

A residence permit that exceeds the validity of the visa requires a Residencia document. 

To obtain a Residencia, a foreigner must submit the following documents:

• A visa application form that can be obtained at the police station;
• Confirmation of financial capability;
• A certificate from the local city hall stating that you have lived in this city for at least six months;
• Certificate from the country of origin, translated into Portuguese and notarized (i.e., no criminal record, etc.);
• Two references from Cape Verde – one from the public order police and one from the judicial police;
• Health certificate from the Cape Verde Department of Health;
• Lease agreement for residence or confirmation of ownership of real estate;
• A copy of your passport (all pages), which must contain a "permanent" visa stamp, which is a confirmation of a six-month stay in the country;
• Two recent passport photos.

    —  

The official procedure for obtaining a Residencia, i.e. the processing of all submitted documents, can take up to two years. If you are an entrepreneur, you can register your company already during the process. However, for lower tax rates, a special import license is required, which again depends on the Residencia.

    —

Residencia extension procedure

 To extend your Residencia, you need to go to the nearest police station and apply for an extension of your residence permit.