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Cape Verde

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
17,674
Top destination, 2023
Portugal
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
3,065
UK visas issued, 2025
137
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
12.4%
NationalityCVISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<CVCAPE<VERDE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CV7<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Cape Verde need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 30 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Cape Verde move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Portugal14,623
  2. United States1,890
  3. France513
  4. Luxembourg286
  5. Switzerland84
  6. Italy78
  7. Netherlands74
  8. Germany40
  9. Belgium27
  10. Japan27
  11. Hungary9
  12. Sweden7
  13. Austria3
  14. Norway3
  15. Chile2

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

8,83718k200020032006200920122015201820212023
8,83718k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20004,098
200110,848
20027,885
20035,377
20045,486
20056,161
20066,861
20077,861
20088,843
20098,460
20107,402
20117,822
20126,598
20136,178
20144,905
20154,882
20165,666
20176,045
20185,903
20197,710
20206,117
20215,863
20226,940
202317,674
Share going to the top destination
82.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Cape Verde who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Portugal76,835
  2. France34,814
  3. Angola9,497
  4. Luxembourg8,211
  5. Mozambique7,107
  6. Italy5,847
  7. Brazil1,430
  8. São Tomé and Príncipe1,115
  9. Norway451
  10. Guinea-Bissau338
  11. Colombia255
  12. Bolivia157

Living abroad by year

73k146k19901995200020052010201520202024
73k146k19902000201020202024
Data table
199051,800
199563,673
200076,121
200592,475
201099,281
2015116,450
2020133,491
2024146,396
Living abroad, 2024
146,396
Change since 2000
+92.3%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
52.5%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Cape Verde by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B22,768
  2. K180
  3. A253
  4. K235
  5. P330
  6. F123
  7. G219
  8. J115
  9. G412
  10. N87

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

2,0234,046201720182019202020212022202320242025
2,0234,04620172019202120232025
Data table
20171,584
20182,263
20191,824
2020799
2021292
20221,606
20234,046
20243,973
20253,065
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. F1609
  2. FX492
  3. F2B451
  4. IR5429
  5. IR2243
  6. F2A148
  7. IR191
  8. F478
Immigrant visas, FY2025
2,683
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Cape Verde who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Cape Verde with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1,3102,6202015201620172018201920202021202220232024
1,3102,620201520172019202120232024
Data table
20151,250
20162,240
20172,620
20181,930
20191,850
20201,000
2021940
20221,120
20231,860
20242,350
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens1,310
  2. Family-sponsored preferences1,020
  3. Employment-based preferences10
  4. Diversity visa lottery10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Cape Verde)
2,350
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Cape Verde)
1,790
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
4,490
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Cape Verde (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Cape Verde (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor121
  2. Other8
  3. Family6
  4. Work1
  5. Study1

Visas issued by year

86171201020122014201620182020202220242025
86171201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010127
201169
201285
2013106
2014110
2015116
2016104
201791
2018117
2019148
202056
202172
2022107
2023171
2024133
2025137
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Cape Verde, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

122012–132018–192023–242024–25
122012–132018–192023–242024–25
Data table
2012–131
2016–171
2018–191
2021–222
2023–241
2024–251
Granted, 2025–26
0
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Cape Verde living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

7132012201420162018202220242025
7132012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20121
20132
20145
20155
20167
20176
201810
201913
202213
202312
202412
202512
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student4
  2. Professor3
  3. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services3
  4. Permanent Resident1
  5. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident1
Residents, December 2025
12
In work-related statuses
6
Share in work-related statuses
50.0%
Students
4
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Cape Verde

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Cape Verde, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Portugal24,62920,0112,58010.5%
Spain1,57584166242.0%

Applications by year

13k26k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
13k26k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200912,602
201013,349
201112,778
201212,878
201313,367
201414,694
201516,410
201616,752
201718,334
201820,158
201922,948
20205,254
20214,776
202217,572
202318,341
202426,204
Refusal rate, 2024
12.4%
Refusal rate, 2019
36.2%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Cape Verde in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Work5,798
  2. Other reasons4,070
  3. Family1,836
  4. Education1,275
First permits by country
  1. Portugal11,578
  2. France566
  3. Luxembourg243
  4. Italy151
  5. Spain125
  6. Netherlands92
  7. Switzerland87
  8. Belgium47
  9. Hungary25
  10. Germany23
  11. Romania10
  12. Czechia8
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)63
  2. Researchers4
  3. Other paid activities5,731
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
4
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
3,107
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
5,337
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
115
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
88,955
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
513
Changed status into work, 2025
73
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Cape Verde in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025200002
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025303
Austria2025211
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Cape Verde

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Cape Verde, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Angola1——
Brazil1——
China1——
France1——
Guinea-Bissau1——
Luxembourg1——
Portugal1——
Russia1——
Spain1——
Countries
9
Missions
9
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Cape Verde, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

1793572000200320062009201220152018202120242025
179357200020052010201520202025
Data table
200090
200181
200285
2003108
2004113
2005137
2006137
2007139
2008155
2009136
2010131
2011177
2012177
2013176
2014197
2015201
2016211
2017217
2018235
2019215
2020234
2021315
2022315
2023316
2024334
2025357
Remittances received, 2025
US$357 million
Share of GDP, 2025
11.7%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Cape Verde, 2023
3.4%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Cape Verde

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Cape Verde → Portugal
  • Cape Verde → United States
  • Cape Verde → France
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more