Cabo Verde Permanent Residence in 2026

Cabo Verde's general permanent-residence route is available to a foreigner who has held temporary residence for at least five years, subject to the other statutory conditions.

Five-year rule

The High Authority for Immigration states that permanent residence can be granted to foreigners who have held temporary residence for at least five years.

Additional requirements

Current official guidance lists conditions including:

  • sufficient means of subsistence;
  • accommodation;
  • no disqualifying criminal sentence above the statutory threshold;
  • no threat to public health;
  • no threat to public security/order; and
  • proof of knowledge of Cabo Verde's national and official language.

The current e-Residência checklist also asks for a valid passport, proof of five years of temporary residence, Cabo Verde criminal/police checks, municipal residence evidence and health/accommodation documentation.

Current fee

For a person applying on the basis of at least five years of temporary residence, e-Residência currently lists 11,400 CVE.

Does permanent residence expire?

The immigration authority describes permanent residence as having no fixed validity period as a status. The residence title/document itself is renewed every five years.

Which temporary routes can lead here?

Employees, independent professionals and investors should preserve lawful temporary-residence history and renewals if permanent residence is the goal.

Cabo Verde now separately regulates a residence visa for remote professional activity performed for persons or entities outside the country. The older official tourism page also continues to market the Remote Working Program as a six-month temporary product. Because the five-year permanent-residence rule is tied to qualifying temporary residence, do not assume time under a remote-work visa/program automatically counts as ordinary temporary-residence time without confirmation from DEF.

Means of subsistence

The law recognizes lawful means including employment or independent-work income, authorized economic activity, regular income such as pensions/property/intellectual property, support by a qualifying resident or another lawful economic guarantee.

The current official page does not publish one universal salary threshold for permanent residence.

Permanent residence is not citizenship

Permanent residence is an immigration status, not Cabo Verdean nationality.

For route planning, compare independent professional residence, investment/entrepreneur residence, employment residence, and the comparison guide.

Return to the Cabo Verde immigration hub, browse visa types, explore Africa, and review our methodology and legal disclaimer.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Cabo Verde