Cabo Verde · Business / Startup
Cabo Verde Freelancer residence
First stay: 2 yrs
Temporary residence permit for independent professional activity
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Freelancer residence is a business / startup route for Cabo Verde. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- CVE 6,400 ≈ $65
- Processing
- Up to 90 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee CVE 6,400 ≈ $65; decision: up to 90 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesCVE 6,400 ≈ $65
- CVE 6,400 (≈ $65)Residence permit fee for nationalities other than CPLP countries; CVE 1,400 (≈ $14) for CPLP nationals and CVE 1,700 (≈ $17) for Senegal.
RenewalRenewable
The permit lasts 2 years and can be renewed for further 2-year periods. Apply for renewal at least 45 days before expiry, showing means of support, accommodation and up-to-date tax and social security.
Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 51
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
After 5 years on temporary residence permits you can apply for a permanent permit with no end date. You need means of support, accommodation, knowledge of the national and official language, and no prison sentence over one year.
Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 51Polícia Nacional, e-Residência portal, Government of Cabo Verde
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of residence
A foreigner who normally lives in Cabo Verde for at least 5 years can be granted nationality by naturalisation, if of good moral and civic standing and able to support themselves.
Government of Cabo Verde, AAI immigrant portalEmbassy of Cabo Verde in the United States
ProcessingUp to 90 days
The law requires a decision on a first permit within 90 days of a complete application, and on a renewal within 45 days.
Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 51Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 38
Where to applyFrom abroad
You first get a residence visa from a Cabo Verde consulate, then apply for the permit in Cabo Verde no later than 15 days before the visa expires.
Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 51
Presence rulesAway max 90 days
A temporary permit can be cancelled if you stay away for six consecutive months without good reason. Tell the immigration directorate within 8 days if you are away for more than 90 days.
Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 51
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Cabo Verde, not after arriving
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant has formed a company or signed a service contract for a liberal profession, or is qualified to work independently.
What you must show1
- Residence permit fee of CVE 6,400 (≈ $65) for nationalities other than CPLP countries and Senegal.
Documents6
- A company contract, a service contract, or proof of a declaration of start of activity filed with the tax office.
- A statement from the professional order that the registration requirements are met, or proof of being qualified for the profession.
- A valid passport with a residence visa.
- A criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or habitual residence, translated into Portuguese and legalised by the Cabo Verde consular services.
- Proof of accommodation, a medical certificate and an international vaccination certificate.
- A residence certificate from the municipality, social security registration and Cabo Verde police and judicial police records.
Steps1
- Apply through the e-Residência portal, with a residence visa and means of subsistence in Cabo Verde.
After you arrive1
- The permit is valid for two years and renewable for successive two-year periods.
What happens at day 183
How Cabo Verde decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any twelve-month periodA person present in Cabo Verde for more than 183 days, consecutive or interrupted, in any twelve-month period of the year is resident.
- Foreign-source income
Residents are taxed on worldwide income and non-residents on Cabo Verde income.
All tax rules for Cabo Verde Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Accommodation
Proof of accommodation, a medical certificate and an international vaccination certificate
- Certified translation
A criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or habitual residence, translated into Portuguese and legalised by the Cabo Verde consular services
- Police certificate and civil documents
A criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or habitual residence, translated into Portuguese and legalised by the Cabo Verde consular services
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Two-year renewable residence permit for foreigners who have set up a company or signed a service contract to practise a liberal profession. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of CVE 6,400 (≈ $65) · Residence permit fee for nationalities other than CPLP countries; CVE 1,400 (≈ $14) for CPLP nationals and CVE 1,700 (≈ $17) for Senegal. 1
Requirements
- The applicant has formed a company or signed a service contract for a liberal profession, or is qualified to work independently. 1 2
- Residence permit fee of CVE 6,400 (≈ $65) for nationalities other than CPLP countries and Senegal. 1
- A company contract, a service contract, or proof of a declaration of start of activity filed with the tax office. 1
- A statement from the professional order that the registration requirements are met, or proof of being qualified for the profession. 1
- A valid passport with a residence visa. 1
- A criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or habitual residence, translated into Portuguese and legalised by the Cabo Verde consular services. 1
- Proof of accommodation, a medical certificate and an international vaccination certificate. 1
- A residence certificate from the municipality, social security registration and Cabo Verde police and judicial police records. 1
- Apply through the e-Residência portal, with a residence visa and means of subsistence in Cabo Verde. 1 2
- The permit is valid for two years and renewable for successive two-year periods. 2
Stay
- The temporary residence permit is valid for two years and renewable for successive periods of two years.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Foreign nationals; the permit fee is lower for CPLP nationals and Senegal.
Work
Independent professional activity; the holder may also take employed work by exchanging the permit.
Family
Family members can apply for family reunification.
Official sources
- Temporary residence permit: independent professional activity · Polícia Nacional, e-Residência portal, Government of Cabo Verde · checked 2026-10-11
- Lei n.º 27/X/2023 amending Law 66/VIII/2014 on entry, stay, exit and expulsion of foreigners · Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 51 · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2023-05-08
- Permanent residence permit: holder of a temporary permit for at least 5 years · Polícia Nacional, e-Residência portal, Government of Cabo Verde · checked 2026-10-12
- Cabo Verdean nationality · Government of Cabo Verde, AAI immigrant portal · checked 2026-10-11
- Cape Verdean Citizenship · Embassy of Cabo Verde in the United States · checked 2026-10-11
- Decreto-Lei n.º 13/2025 (second amendment to Decree-Law 2/2015) · Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 38 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-05-15
Freelancer residence and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer residence | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Self-employed card Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | Limited |
| PR · Business South Africa | Needs an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k | – | Yes |
| Innovator Occupation Permit Mauritius | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| Class C · Prescribed profession Kenya | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Freelancer residence?
A fee of CVE 6,400 (≈ $65). Residence permit fee for nationalities other than CPLP countries; CVE 1,400 (≈ $14) for CPLP nationals and CVE 1,700 (≈ $17) for Senegal.
How long can I stay on the Freelancer residence?
The temporary residence permit is valid for two years and renewable for successive periods of two years.
How long does the Freelancer residence take to process?
The law requires a decision on a first permit within 90 days of a complete application, and on a renewal within 45 days.
Can I work on the Freelancer residence?
Independent professional activity; the holder may also take employed work by exchanging the permit.
Can I bring my family on the Freelancer residence?
Family members can apply for family reunification.
Does the Freelancer residence lead to permanent residence in Cabo Verde?
Time on the Freelancer residence counts toward permanent residence in Cabo Verde, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of residence.
How are Freelancer residence holders taxed in Cabo Verde?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Freelancer residence. The standard rules apply: Employee salary in Cabo Verde is taxed by final monthly withholding at source unless the employee opts for an annual return; under the annual regime the rates are 16.5% up to CVE 960,000, (≈ $9,730) 23.1% up to CVE 1,800,000 (≈ $18,200) and 27.5% above, after an exempt amount of CVE 220,000 (≈ $2,230). Residents are taxed on worldwide income and non-residents on Cabo Verde income.
More in Cabo Verde
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Temporary residence permit: independent professional activity · Polícia Nacional, e-Residência portal, Government of Cabo Verde · checked 2026-10-11
- Lei n.º 27/X/2023 amending Law 66/VIII/2014 on entry, stay, exit and expulsion of foreigners · Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 51 · checked 2026-10-12
- Permanent residence permit: holder of a temporary permit for at least 5 years · Polícia Nacional, e-Residência portal, Government of Cabo Verde · checked 2026-10-12
- Cabo Verdean nationality · Government of Cabo Verde, AAI immigrant portal · checked 2026-10-11
- Cape Verdean Citizenship · Embassy of Cabo Verde in the United States · checked 2026-10-11
- Decreto-Lei n.º 13/2025 (second amendment to Decree-Law 2/2015) · Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 38 · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.