Cape Verde visa requirements for South Africans
Travel and visa requirements
Cape Verdian Visa is not required for South Africans
Stay Duration: 30 days
Entry Requirements
- South African passport holders can visit Cape Verde for up to 30 days by obtaining a visa on arrival.
- Intending visitors can stay on a tourist visa, transit visa, collective visa and temporary visa.
- Passports are expected to be valid for six months after the date of departure.
- Visitors can extend their visa for a maximum of three months.
- There are no mandatory vaccinations, only if a visitor is entering the country via Dakar, then they will need a yellow fever vaccination.
- Leaving Cape Verde on an expired visa will attract a fine of 100 EUR plus the price of the visa.
- Intending visitors can get to Praia, Cape Verde from any international airport in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Cape Town.
- South African Airways, TAAG, Virgin Atlantic, Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways Qatar Airways are some of the carriers that fly from South Africa to Cape Verde.
- The estimated flight time from Johannesburg to Praia is 20 hours, 15 minutes, 22 hours, 25 minutes from Cape Town and 1 day, 4 hours from Bloemfontein.
- Cape Verde’s currency is the Cape Verdean escudo which can be accessed only on the Islands. Euros and Sterling are easier to convert, alternatively, Visitors can obtain the local currency by withdrawing from ATMs with their debit or credit cards.
- ATMs are available in most parts of Cape Verde, and it is advisable to always move around with ready cash.
- The exchange rate is currently at 1 EUR= 110.35 Esc, 1 GBP= 122.78 Esc, and 1 ZAR= 7.03 Esc.
- Cape Verde has a windy tropical climate, with excessive sunshine from November to May and rainy season in the months of August and October.
- Cape Verde’s numerous natural endowments offer visitors and tourists the choice of recreational and exciting activities while there.
- Cape Verde uses the Cape Verde Standard Time (GMT-1) which makes South Africa three hours ahead of Cape Verde.
- Power sockets and plugs used in Cape Verde are of type C and F. The standard supply voltage is 230 V, with a standard frequency of 50 Hz.
- A vast majority of Cape Verdeans up to 93% are Roman Catholics, and 5% are Protestants.
- Getting around in Cape Verde is possible with taxis, buses, minibuses, ferries and scooters, all under 100 euros depending on the destination.
- Portuguese is Cape Verde’s official language, however, a large number of Cape Verdeans speak Creole, and others English, German, French, and Spanish.
- Cape Verde has a rich, multi-cultural West African culture. Visitors are expected to be courteous to locals and to be respectful when engaging with any historical emblem.
Frequently Asked Questions
what currency is used in Cape Verde??
the Cape Verdean Escudo is the official currency used here.
what is the best time to visit Cape Verde??
the dry season of October and June is the best time to visit Cape Verde.
Can you extend your visa??
you can extend your visa for a maximum of three months and this can be done at the immigration and border police which can be found inside the police station of the island you are on.
how long can you stay in Cape Verde??
A tourist visa for up to 30 days is required in Cape Verde, unless you come from one of the visa-exempt countries which are most in Africa or Europe.
Can you drink the tap water in Cape Verde??
It's possible that you can get diarrhea from drinking the water in Cape Verde or from just not being used to the microbes in Cape Verde. however, if you cannot find bottled water, bring iodine tablets and portable water filters so you can purify the tap water.