Cape Verde From the Canaries: Dos and Don'ts 2026

Do I need a visa, and what is EASE?

Since 1 January 2026, nationals of the countries on the official list must apply for an entry, transit or airport stopover visa before arrival, as the portal ease.gov.cv states. The list has 91 entries, including Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Mauritania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines.

The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, all EU member states, Switzerland, Brazil, Morocco, Senegal and Cuba are not on the list. US, Canadian, British and EU citizens therefore do not need a visa in advance; the permitted length of stay for US, Canadian and EU citizens was not given in the sources read.

For non-EU citizens living in the Canaries, the position is this: anyone with a valid residence permit from an EU state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom, San Marino, Switzerland, the Vatican, Brazil, Canada or the USA may be exempt from the advance visa requirement, according to a secondary report. This exemption does not appear on the EASE page and is not confirmed there; the nearest Cape Verdean embassy should be asked in writing before booking.

All foreign travellers must register in advance on ease.gov.cv, even those who do not need a visa. The airport security fee TSA (Taxa de Segurança Aeroportuária) is 3,400 CVE for international arrivals, about 31 euros at the fixed rate of 110.265 CVE per euro, and 150 CVE for domestic flights; it is paid online during EASE registration.

Exempt from the TSA are children under two, transit passengers, Cape Verdean passport holders, people born in Cape Verde with proof, and foreign residents of Cape Verde. Registration is recommended about five days before travel; whether "up to" or "at least" five days applies is not consistently confirmed. Use only the domain ease.gov.cv; help is available at [email protected].

What does the 15 November presidential election mean for travellers?

The first round of the presidential election takes place on Sunday 15 November 2026. The election commission CNE (Comissão Nacional de Eleições) announced the date.

Six candidates are standing in the order drawn by the Constitutional Court: Antero Lúcio Lopes Francês Tavares, Casimiro Jesus Lopes de Pina, José Maria Pereira Neves, Gilson João dos Santos Alves, Joana Gomes Rosa Amado and Loisito Tavares de Sousa. Neves is the incumbent president and is supported by the PAICV party; Rosa is supported by the MpD party.

Polling stations open from 08:00 to 18:00 Cape Verde time (UTC-1, one hour behind the Canaries in winter). The campaign runs from 29 October to 13 November; 14 November is a reflection day without campaigning. President Neves suspended his official powers on 14 September 2026; the speaker of parliament, Janira Hopffer Almada, is acting president.

Not confirmed are an alcohol ban, closures of shops or sights, traffic disruption or an election-related security warning from the FCDO or the US State Department. In practice, avoid crowds and election rallies and check notices from airlines and ferry operators.

Which flights from the Canaries actually exist right now?

The only confirmed direct connection from the Canary Islands is Binter Canarias from Gran Canaria (Las Palmas, LPA) to Sal (SID). Binter writes in its own blog of 8 October 2026 that Sal can be booked from every Canary island and is about two hours' flight time away.

The weekly frequency in winter 2026/27 is not confirmed. In 2025 Binter added a second weekly flight in July and August, so the frequency is seasonal; Binter has not confirmed a price range, and a comparison site quotes fares from about 173 euros without saying whether that is one way or return.

Binter also announced a seasonal Zaragoza–Sal service with a connection in Las Palmas on Saturdays from early November to mid-March. Not confirmed are direct flights from Tenerife, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura, non-stop connections to Praia (Santiago), Boa Vista or São Vicente, and any other airline from the Canaries.

Within Cape Verde, CVsky is the active domestic flight provider; ticket sales began on 26 February 2026. The CVsky fares page quotes Sal–Boa Vista from 7,298 CVE (about 66 euros) and Praia–Sal from 11,898 CVE (about 108 euros), with 6 kg hand luggage and 23 kg checked baggage.

The ferry from Mindelo (São Vicente) to Porto Novo (Santo Antão) takes about 50 to 60 minutes and costs roughly 14 to 15 euros one way; the operators are CV Interilhas and ARPIC. Departures are cancelled in heavy swell; the official fare is not confirmed.

Money, phone, health, safety: what should I watch for?

The Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) has been pegged to the euro since 1999: 1 euro = 110.265 CVE. Whether euros, cash machines and cards are accepted everywhere is not officially confirmed; escudos should be carried for small purchases.

Cape Verde has two mobile operators: CV Móvel (Alou) and Unitel T+. Travel sources quote prepaid data packages of about 500 CVE for 1 GB per 30 days and 1,250 CVE for 5 GB; Cape Verde is outside the EU, so EU roaming rules do not apply.

The safety of tap water, the socket type and the voltage are not officially confirmed. As a precaution, use sealed bottled water and take a universal adapter.

The Spanish health ministry (as of 9 October 2026) and the CDC (3 October 2026) do not recommend a yellow fever vaccination for Cape Verde. A certificate is only required for arrivals aged one year or over from yellow fever risk countries, or after more than 12 hours in transit there; a direct flight from the Canaries does not require one.

From August to November there is a limited malaria risk on Santiago and Boa Vista, according to the Spanish ministry. The FCDO reported on 2 October 2026 a raised dengue alert level for Santiago, Fogo and Brava; gastrointestinal infections such as Shigella and Salmonella have also been reported in returning travellers.

The British government describes healthcare as very basic and limited; insurance with medical evacuation cover is therefore important. Currents are very strong, waves unpredictable and undertow possible, according to the FCDO; swim only at lifeguarded beaches and heed the flags.

The FCDO and the US State Department report pickpocketing, bag snatching and robberies in Praia and Santa Maria (Sal). Avoid isolated, poorly lit places at night; drug offences are punished severely; financial and romance scams occur. Consensual same-sex relations are not legally restricted, according to the US State Department.

Ten dos and ten don'ts for the trip

Do: Register on ease.gov.cv before your flight and pay the TSA fee online.

Do: Check before booking whether your nationality is on the official visa list.

Do: Ask the Cape Verdean embassy in writing if you hold a residence permit from an EU state.

Do: Book the confirmed Binter flight Gran Canaria–Sal if you want to fly direct from the Canaries.

Do: Carry escudos for small purchases.

Do: Check your provider's roaming rates before departure or buy a local SIM card.

Do: Use sealed bottled water as a precaution.

Do: Swim only at lifeguarded beaches and heed the flags.

Do: Take out insurance that covers medical evacuation.

Do: Recheck ferry and flight connections between the islands locally.

Don't: Do not use imitation EASE websites; use only ease.gov.cv.

Don't: Do not assume euros, cards or cash machines work everywhere.

Don't: Do not drink tap water while its safety is not confirmed locally.

Don't: Do not go into isolated or poorly lit areas of Praia or Santa Maria at night.

Don't: Do not carry packages or luggage for strangers.

Don't: Do not book tight island connections without a buffer, as ferries can be cancelled in swell.

Don't: Do not rely on direct flights from Tenerife, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura; these are not confirmed.

Don't: Do not assume fixed opening times or entry prices without checking locally.

Don't: Do not underestimate currents and undertow at unguarded beaches.

Don't: Do not ignore the election dates of 15 and possibly 29 November 2026 when planning your trip.

What might three trip ideas look like?

Sal and Boa Vista (beach): Start on Sal with Santa Maria and the salt pans of Pedra de Lume. Continue to Boa Vista with Sal Rei, Santa Monica beach and the Viana desert.

For Sal–Boa Vista, CVsky quotes fares from 7,298 CVE (about 66 euros). Opening times and entry prices for the places named are not confirmed and must be checked locally.

Santiago with Praia and Cidade Velha (history): Santiago is home to Praia, the UNESCO World Heritage site Cidade Velha, Tarrafal and Assomada.

CVsky quotes Praia–Sal from 11,898 CVE (about 108 euros). Opening times, entry prices and connection times are not confirmed and must be checked.

São Vicente and Santo Antão (walking, ferry): Mindelo, with the Cesária Évora Museum, is on São Vicente. Santo Antão is reached by ferry from Mindelo to Porto Novo; the Paul Valley, Ribeira Grande and Cova are there.

The ferry takes about 50 to 60 minutes and costs roughly 14 to 15 euros one way; the operators are CV Interilhas and ARPIC. Opening times, entry prices and timetables are not confirmed and must be checked.