Cabo Verde operates with a single national currency called the escudo caboverdiano, abbreviated CVE. The currency maintains a fixed peg to the euro at 110.265 escudos per 1 euro, established through an exchange cooperation agreement with Portugal. This peg has remained stable since the country shifted from the Portuguese escudo to the euro peg in 1999. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 escudos. Coins exist in values of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 escudos, though the smallest denominations see limited practical use.
International flights arrive at four airports with scheduled commercial service. Amílcar Cabral International Airport on Sal island receives the majority of international connections, particularly from Europe. Nelson Mandela International Airport serves Praia on Santiago island. Cesária Évora Airport operates on São Vicente near Mindelo. Aristides Pereira International Airport on Boa Vista handles primarily charter and seasonal flights. Sal airport offers the most frequent connections to Lisbon, with TAP Air Portugal and the Cabo Verdean carrier Cabo Verde Airlines operating daily services. Connections exist from multiple European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Rome, with frequency varying by season. Limited transatlantic service connects Sal to Boston and Washington Dulles, operated by Cabo Verde Airlines. No direct flights connect Cabo Verde to North American cities outside the United States east coast. Flights from West African cities including Dakar, Bissau, and Fortaleza reach Praia.
Visa requirements depend on nationality. Citizens of Economic Community of West African States member countries enter without visa for stays up to 90 days. This exemption covers Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Citizens of 60 other countries including all European Union members, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Brazil may obtain visa on arrival for tourist stays up to 30 days. The airport visa costs 3400 escudos, approximately 31 euros at the fixed exchange rate. Travelers must present a valid passport with minimum six months remaining validity, proof of accommodation, and a return ticket. All other nationalities require visa approval before travel. The official government portal at www.ease.gov.cv allows pre-registration for airport visa, which reduces processing time on arrival but does not change the fee or requirements.
ATMs dispense escudos in most towns on inhabited islands. The two largest banks, Banco Comercial do Atlântico and Caixa Económica de Cabo Verde, operate networks covering Praia, Mindelo, Santa Maria, Assomada, São Filipe, and Porto Novo. Daily withdrawal limits typically range from 20000 to 40000 escudos depending on the issuing bank and card type. International cards on Visa and Mastercard networks function reliably. American Express acceptance remains sparse outside resort hotels. ATM availability drops sharply in rural areas and smaller islands. Maio, Brava, and settlements outside main towns often lack any ATM access. Several banks in Praia and Mindelo offer currency exchange at rates matching the euro peg, with typical commission of 1 to 2 percent. Exchange bureaus operate at international airports with slightly higher margins.
Euro acceptance occurs widely in tourist zones, particularly on Sal and Boa Vista, where hotels, restaurants, and tour operators quote prices in euros and accept euro cash. This dual pricing reflects clientele rather than legal requirement—the escudo remains sole legal tender. Paying in euros typically yields an informal exchange rate less favorable than the official 110.265 rate, often rounded to 100 or 105 escudos per euro. Outside tourist areas, escudos become necessary. Local markets, public transport, small restaurants, and government services operate exclusively in domestic currency.
Credit cards see acceptance in hotels above budget tier, international car rental agencies, and restaurants serving tourist markets in Santa Maria, Mindelo, and Praia. Visa holds wider acceptance than Mastercard. Smaller establishments, family-run guesthouses, street vendors, and interprovincial transport operate cash-only. The country maintains no requirement for chip-and-PIN—signature authorization remains standard, though this creates occasional compatibility issues with European cards that have disabled signature fallback.