Cabo Verde Freelancer and Independent Professional Residence in 2026

Cabo Verde publishes a specific temporary-residence category for independent professional activity. This is the principal long-term immigration route for many freelancers, consultants and self-employed professionals.

It is different from the six-month Remote Working Program, which is a temporary digital-nomad/work-tourism product.

Who can qualify?

The immigration authority describes the route as available where the foreigner has:

formed a company under Cabo Verde law;
entered into a service contract to exercise a liberal profession; or
can otherwise demonstrate eligibility to carry on independent professional activity.

Where the profession is regulated, professional-order or qualification evidence may be required.

Core documents

The current e-Residência checklist includes:

valid passport with residence visa;
criminal-record certificate from the country of nationality or habitual residence, translated into Portuguese and consularly authenticated as required;
accommodation evidence;
medical certificate;
international vaccination certificate;
municipal residence certificate;
social-security registration;
Cabo Verde criminal-record and police/judicial checks;
company agreement, service contract or proof of commencement of activity with the competent tax office; and
professional-order/qualification evidence where applicable.

Always recheck the live checklist before filing.

Current residence-title fee

The current official portal lists:

6,400 CVE — general/non-CPLP category;
1,400 CVE — CPLP;
1,700 CVE — Senegal.

These are residence-title fees, separate from incorporation, tax, accounting, licensing, professional-order or social-security costs.

How long is temporary residence valid?

Cabo Verde's general residence guidance states that temporary residence is valid for two years and may be renewed for successive two-year periods.

That makes it fundamentally different from the Remote Working Program's six-month structure.

Residence visa first

The general rule for ordinary temporary residence includes possession of a residence visa, presence in Cabo Verde, sufficient means, accommodation, tax identification and social-security registration where applicable.

The residence visa is an entry/status stage, not the final two-year residence permit.

Is this a freelancer visa?

“Freelancer visa” is a search phrase. The official category is temporary residence for independent professional activity.

The application therefore has to fit the real legal evidence: company/service relationship, commencement of activity, registrations and professional eligibility where applicable.

Remote foreign clients

A professional serving foreign clients may potentially fit this route if the independent activity is genuinely established in a way that meets Cabo Verde's requirements.

A person who only wants a temporary overseas-work base may instead find the Remote Working Program more directly aligned.

Permanent residence

A holder of qualifying temporary residence can assess the general permanent-residence route after at least five years, subject to the additional statutory requirements.

See the permanent-residence guide and the route comparison.

Return to the Cabo Verde immigration hub, compare freelancer routes and self-employment routes, explore Africa, and review our methodology and legal disclaimer.

Related published country research: Portugal, Spain, and Malta.