--- title: "Moving to Cabo Verde 2026: visas, requirements and tax" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Terraced valley and green mountains in Vale do Paul, Santo Antao # Moving to Cabo Verde 10 ways to move to Cabo Verde in our guide: 3 investor routes, 1 pay-to-stay route, 1 business / startup route, 2 work visas, 1 student visa, 1 route by nationality or ancestry, 1 spouse visa. No digital nomad visa. Smallest investment: [Green Card · €80k property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/green-card-80k/), €80k+ ≈ $89k. Checked against official sources on 12 October 2026. **Smallest investment needed:** **€80k+ ≈ $89k** Green Card · €80k property **Longest first stay:** **2 years** Investor residence Cabo Verde offers a range of residence routes for people who want to settle on the islands, from investment and retirement to work, study and family reunion. This guide walks through who each route is for, what to watch, and how tax and arrival practicalities work. Investors buying property or running a business Retirees looking for a permanent base Portuguese-speaking citizens using CPLP mobility Professionals with a job or independent practice Students and families joining a resident ## Investing · 3 ### Green Card **Investment needed:** from €80k ≈ $89k - [€80k property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/green-card-80k/) - [€120k property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/green-card-120k/) ### [Investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/investment-activity/) **First stay:** 2 yrs Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/investment-activity/) ## Retire or live on savings · 1 Direct PR ### [Retiree permanent residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/retired-permanent/) Retirement [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/retired-permanent/) ## Business / Startup · 1 ### [Freelancer residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/independent-work/) **First stay:** 2 yrs Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/independent-work/) ## Work · 2 ### [Work residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/employed-work/) **First stay:** 2 yrs Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/employed-work/) ### [Highly qualified permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/highly-qualified/) **First stay:** 2 yrs Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/highly-qualified/) ## Student · 1 ### [Student residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/student/) **First stay:** 1 yr Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/student/) ## For your nationality or ancestry · 1 Open only to citizens of certain countries or to people with family roots here. Unlike free movement, each needs an application. ### [CPLP residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/cplp-residence/) **First stay:** 1 yr [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/cplp-residence/) ## Spouse visas · 1 For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident. ### [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/family-reunification/) Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/family-reunification/) ## Tax Residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, while non-residents are taxed only on Cabo Verde income. Green Card holders who are retired have an exemption on retirement income not generated in Cabo Verde, and may get property tax relief on the purchased real estate. Standard rules ### [Personal income tax (IRPS): salary taxed by monthly withholding, annual rates 16.5% / 23.1% / 27.5% if you opt for a return](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/tax/#tax-cv-irps-ordinary) Worldwide income **Details** - On: Gross monthly salary (category A) for the withholding at source - Limit: CVE 37k/mo ≈ $370 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. #### Taxed on Gross monthly salary (category A) for the withholding at source; taxable income after specific deductions for the annual regime. Residents are taxed on income from all sources; non-residents on Cabo Verde-source income. #### Who it applies to - Employee salary and pensions (category A) are taxed by withholding at source, which is final (liberatory) unless the employee opts to aggregate the income in an annual return (Articles 43, 46 and 70 of the IRPS Code). - Monthly withholding on employee salary, Rm being gross monthly pay: nothing is withheld below CVE 36,607 (≈ $370) a month (CVE 439,284 (≈ $4,450) a year); 0.14 x Rm minus CVE 5,125 (≈ $52) up to CVE 80,000 (≈ $810); 0.21 x Rm minus CVE 10,725 (≈ $110) from CVE 80,000 (≈ $810) to CVE 150,000 (≈ $1,520); 0.25 x Rm minus CVE 16,725 (≈ $170) above CVE 150,000 (≈ $1,520) (Article 70(4) and (7) as worded by Law 20/IX/2017). - Pensioners have their own monthly withholding formula: nothing is withheld on a gross monthly pension up to CVE 80,000 (≈ $810) (Article 70(5) as worded by Law 20/IX/2017). The higher bands of that formula are not given here because the printed constants do not fit together. - Holiday pay, Christmas pay and productivity bonuses are withheld separately and are not added to the monthly pay; for married employees each spouse is calculated individually (Article 70). - Annual regime if the employee opts for aggregation: the withheld amounts become payments on account; specific deductions for compulsory social-security contributions and union dues apply; rates are 16.5% up to CVE 960,000, (≈ $9,730) 23.1% from CVE 960,000 (≈ $9,730) to CVE 1,800,000 (≈ $18,200) and 27.5% above CVE 1,800,000, (≈ $18,200) with income up to CVE 220,000 (≈ $2,230) exempt (Articles 27, 44 and 45). - Residents are taxed on worldwide income; income of residents arising outside Cabo Verde is aggregated in an annual return (Article 43(4)). - A person is resident if present in Cabo Verde for more than 183 days, consecutive or not, in any twelve-month period of the tax year, or if they have a habitual residence there on 31 December. #### Exclusions - Non-residents are taxed only on income obtained in Cabo Verde, such as work done there or pensions paid by Cabo Verde entities. #### Limits - CVE 36,607 a month (≈ $370) · Gross monthly salary from which withholding at source starts (CVE 439,284 (≈ $4,450) a year) - CVE 80,000 a month (≈ $810) · Upper limit of the first withholding band for employees - CVE 150,000 a month (≈ $1,520) · Upper limit of the second withholding band for employees - CVE 220,000 a year (≈ $2,230) · Exempt taxable income under the annual regime - CVE 960,000 a year (≈ $9,730) · Upper limit of the 16.5% band under the annual regime - CVE 1,800,000 a year (≈ $18,200) · Upper limit of the 23.1% band under the annual regime #### Days in the country - More than 183 days in any twelve-month period · A person present in Cabo Verde for more than 183 days, consecutive or interrupted, in any twelve-month period of the year is resident. #### Tax residence Tax residence follows presence of more than 183 days in a twelve-month period or habitual residence on 31 December, not the type of residence permit. #### Visas Immigration status does not decide tax residence. #### Other taxes Compulsory employee social-security contributions are deductible if the annual regime is chosen; VAT and property taxes are separate. Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/tax/) Special regime ### [Green Card holders: retirement income exempt and property tax relief](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/tax/#tax-cv-green-card-tax) Tax relief **Details** - On: Retirement income of Green Card holders and the single property tax A Green Card holder who is retired is exempt under the IRPS Code on retirement income that was not generated in Cabo Verde, and may get property tax relief on the purchased real estate. #### Taxed on Retirement income of Green Card holders and the single property tax (IUP) on the purchased property. #### Who it applies to - The holder owns a Green Card issued under Law 30/IX/2018 after buying real estate in Cabo Verde. - The retirement income did not originate in Cabo Verde. - Property tax: exemption on transfer and on transfer by inheritance, and a 50% reduction for the next ten years if the municipal assembly of the municipality decides so. #### Exclusions - The pension exemption does not cover retirement income generated in Cabo Verde. #### Tax residence Applies to Green Card holders resident in Cabo Verde. #### Visas Tied to the Green Card routes. #### Other taxes Property tax relief needs a decision by the municipal assembly. Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/tax/) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) **No digital nomad visa in Cabo Verde.** Remote workers usually look at [Green Card · €120k property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/green-card-120k/), [Green Card · €80k property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/green-card-80k/), [Investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/investment-activity/), or [nomad visas elsewhere](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/digital-nomad/). **Path to permanent residence · 1** - **PR after 5 years** · Permanent residence permit after five years of temporary residence ## Arriving in Cabo Verde: first steps 1. Make sure you have health insurance or cover, as required for students and some other routes. 2. Provide proof of accommodation, such as a lease or property deed, where the route requires it. 3. Open a Cabo Verde bank account if you need to show transfer of funds for investment routes. 4. Register with the tax office if you have business or professional income, or as required for your permit. 5. File your residence permit application within the deadline after first entry, where that applies. 6. Keep your criminal record certificate, translated into Portuguese and legalised, ready for permit applications. ## Questions people ask ### How much do you need to invest for residency in Cabo Verde? Cabo Verde has 3 investor routes. [Green Card · €120k property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/green-card-120k/) asks for an investment of at least EUR 120,000 (≈ $134,000). [Green Card · €80k property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/green-card-80k/) asks for an investment of at least EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400). [Investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/investment-activity/) gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. ### Can I retire or live in Cabo Verde on my savings or pension? Cabo Verde has 1 retirement or pay-to-stay route. It is [Retiree permanent residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/retired-permanent/). ### Can I move to Cabo Verde by starting a business? Cabo Verde has 1 business or startup route. [Freelancer residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/independent-work/) gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. ### What work visas does Cabo Verde offer foreigners? Cabo Verde has 2 work visas. [Work residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/employed-work/) gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. [Highly qualified permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/highly-qualified/) gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. ### How do I get a student visa for Cabo Verde? Cabo Verde has 1 student visa. [Student residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/student/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ### Can my nationality or ancestry give me residence in Cabo Verde? Yes. Cabo Verde has 1 route by nationality or ancestry. [CPLP residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/cplp-residence/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ### Can I join my spouse or partner in Cabo Verde? Yes. Cabo Verde has 1 spouse visa. It is [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/family-reunification/). ## Compare with [🇲🇦 Morocco](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/morocco/) [🇿🇦 South Africa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/) [🇲🇺 Mauritius](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/) [🇰🇪 Kenya](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/) [🇳🇬 Nigeria](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/) [🇷🇼 Rwanda](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/rwanda/) [🇬🇭 Ghana](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/) [🇸🇨 Seychelles](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/seychelles/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. **Sources (3)** ## Official sources 1. [Digital Nomads visa](https://e-portaldef.gov.cv/nomadas-digitais) · Polícia Nacional, e-Residência portal, Government of Cabo Verde · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Lei n.º 27/X/2023 amending Law 66/VIII/2014 on entry, stay, exit and expulsion of foreigners](https://boe.incv.cv/Bulletins/Download/4790) · Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 51 · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2023-05-08 3. [Decreto-Lei n.º 13/2025 (second amendment to Decree-Law 2/2015)](https://boe.incv.cv/Bulletins/View/85465) · Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde, Boletim Oficial I Série n.º 38 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-05-15