Airport security fee and entry formalities portal
Documents to prepare in Praia
The exact list depends on nationality and purpose, but a complete file normally starts with identity, route, accommodation and purpose evidence. Use current official instructions rather than copying a checklist from another country.
| Group | Common evidence | Local planning point |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Passport biodata page, photograph and prior visas | Names and passport numbers must match every booking |
| Journey | Flight itinerary, onward ticket and airport details | Show how Praia fits the route |
| Stay | Hotel, host address or invitation | Use a reachable local contact |
| Purpose | Tourism plan, business invitation, school, medical or sponsor letter | Do not use a tourist route for work or residence |
| Funds | Bank statement, card evidence or sponsor support | Keep recent, readable copies |
Official visa and immigration authority
The official country-level source reviewed for Cabo Verde is EASE Cabo Verde. The published route is described as pre-registration / ease. Before submitting personal data or payment, confirm that the domain belongs to the responsible government body.
Praia airport and transit planning
Nelson Mandela International Airport is the relevant aviation gateway for this guide. A connection that remains airside can have different rules from a connection requiring baggage collection, terminal change, airport change, hotel stay, or immigration clearance.
- Check whether the airline will transfer checked baggage to the final flight.
- Confirm whether your itinerary requires passing border control.
- Allow for document checks at the first departure airport, not only on arrival.
- Carry printed or offline copies of approvals, accommodation and onward travel.
- Do not assume an airport transit permission authorizes entry into Cabo Verde.
Visa extensions and in-country immigration services
Travelers already in Cabo Verde should start with the official authority rather than an embassy abroad. The current routing note for Praia is: DEF office or local police and immigration branch.
Apply before the authorized stay expires. A pending application does not automatically protect lawful status unless the authority issues written confirmation or a receipt with legal effect. Ask the office whether departure is permitted while a case is pending and whether the passport will be retained.
Review the Cabo Verde extension profile and confirm current office hours before travelling to an office.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a commercial look-alike website instead of the official authority.
- Assuming an eVisa portal also handles extensions or residence matters.
- Booking non-refundable travel before the permission and timing are clear.
- Submitting different names, dates or passport numbers across documents.
- Arriving at an office without checking appointments, payment methods or opening hours.
- Assuming a submitted application permits overstay after the current authorization expires.
Praia planning dossier
In Praia, visa planning often begins before travel but immigration compliance continues after arrival through the responsible EASE Cabo Verde. The practical value of Praia is its combination of national capital and access to Nelson Mandela International Airport; those functions create different document checkpoints. The correct procedure in Praia depends on whether the traveler is outside Cabo Verde, already admitted, changing status, or preparing to depart. A route involving Nelson Mandela International Airport should be documented with a single coherent itinerary showing arrival, accommodation and onward travel.
At Nelson Mandela International Airport, an airside connection may remain separate from formal entry, but baggage collection or an overnight stay can trigger border-control requirements. Travelers using Nelson Mandela International Airport should confirm terminal changes, through-checked baggage and onward boarding documentation before departure. When separate tickets are used at Nelson Mandela International Airport, the passenger may need to enter the country to reclaim baggage, even when the final destination is elsewhere. A commercial agent cannot replace the decision-making authority of EASE Cabo Verde, and no private payment guarantees approval.
Student or worker
Use the relevant permit or residence process rather than trying to extend an ordinary tourist status. Keep copies offline because connectivity problems can make portal-only evidence difficult to show at the airport or office.
Short visitor
Prepare a passport, current permission, accommodation, onward route and evidence that the visit remains temporary. Do not calculate lawful stay from the visa label alone; the entry stamp, visitor pass or electronic admission record may control the deadline.
Overland traveler
Confirm whether the same electronic permission is accepted at the intended land or sea entry point. Government fees, private service charges, translations and courier costs should be listed separately before payment.
Business traveler
Carry the host-company invitation, meeting purpose, business registration evidence and a schedule that does not imply local employment. Government fees, private service charges, translations and courier costs should be listed separately before payment.
The reviewed authority note states: Airport security fee and entry formalities portal. This should be read together with current nationality-specific instructions. The authority record reviewed for Cabo Verde identifies EASE Cabo Verde as the principal official reference, with the current route described as pre-registration / ease. Before uploading passport data, verify that the website belongs to EASE Cabo Verde and that its security certificate and domain match the published government source. Keep copies offline because connectivity problems can make portal-only evidence difficult to show at the airport or office. Government fees, private service charges, translations and courier costs should be listed separately before payment. If the local office gives verbal instructions, request a written reference, receipt or case number and record the officer’s service point. Where current office operations cannot be confirmed, contact the official authority before travelling across the city or making a non-refundable booking.
Praia visa-planning questions
Can I apply for a Cabo Verde visa after arriving in Praia?
Entry visas are generally obtained before boarding unless the traveler qualifies for a lawful visa-on-arrival or visa-free route. In-country offices usually handle extensions, permits, registration and status matters.
Which office should I visit?
Start with DEF office or local police and immigration branch. Confirm the current address, appointment rule and services before travelling.
Can AfricaTourVisa approve my application?
No. AfricaTourVisa can provide private document-planning support, but only the responsible government authority can issue, extend, refuse or cancel immigration permission.
Prepared by: AfricaTourVisa Visa Research Team.
Last reviewed: .
Source status: Country-level authority reviewed. City office details and operating conditions must be reconfirmed before visiting.