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Cape Verde
Africa
Lucky Nomads World Index
65.99 / 100
Global rank
#102
Corporate tax
20%
Personal tax
25%
Lucky Nomads Proprietary Indices
22 scoring dimensions scored independently using a deterministic methodology built on primary sources and structured analytical inference.
- SafetyShield Index6.3 / 10
- Affordability Index6.6 / 10
- Entry Ease Index6.3 / 10
- Tax Freedom Index6.5 / 10
- WiFi Index6.2 / 10
- Admin Ease Index6.3 / 10
- Healthcare Index6.9 / 10
- City Comfort Index7.1 / 10
- WeatherComfort Index8.2 / 10
- Banking Index6.4 / 10
- GeoStability Index9.1 / 10
- Justice & Order Index7.4 / 10
- Quality of Life Index7.4 / 10
- Open Society Index7.8 / 10
- Flight Index3.7 / 10
- Environmental Quality Index6.3 / 10
- English Index4.2 / 10
- Wealth Protection Index7.8 / 10
- AI Access Index5.6 / 10
- Economic Openness Index6.9 / 10
- Market Depth Index3.8 / 10
- ClimateShield Index7.1 / 10
Country snapshot
- Capital
- Praia
- Population (approx.)
- 525,000
- Area (km²)
- 4,033 km²
- Currency code (ISO 4217)
- CVE
- Currency name
- Cape Verdean escudo
- Main airport IATA code
- SID
- Airport name
- Amílcar Cabral International Airport
General facts
- Minimum monthly cost
- From $1,640/month
- Main languages
- Portuguese
- Jurisdiction type
- Country
- Region
- Africa
- Web TLD
- .cv
- Phone calling code
- +238
Web TLD and phone codes are general references and can differ for territories or special numbering plans.
Tax system
- Marginal CIT (corporate income tax)
- 20%HighWorldwide
- Marginal PIT (personal income tax)
- 25%ModerateWorldwide
Corporate taxation basis: Worldwide. The country generally taxes worldwide income of resident companies.
Resident companies taxed on worldwide income with no foreign branch exemption by default. PE rules expanded post-BEPS Action 7 to include preparatory or ancillary activities and dependent agents acting almost exclusively for closely related enterprises. Foreign tax credit available via the 10-plus DTA network including Portugal, Spain, Macau, and Senegal. CIN-licensed entities operate as a free zone carve-out.
Flat 20 percent IRPC since OE 2026 (down from 21 percent in 2024). Withholding 22 percent on non-resident Cabo Verde-source income absent a PE, reduced under the 10-plus DTA network. Reduced rates apply under CIN-CV (5.0/3.5/2.5 percent by job creation, valid until 2030), ZEET (2.5 percent for tech), Tourist Utility Status (5-year IRPC exemption), and REMPE (4 percent flat below annual turnover).
Personal income tax basis. Worldwide. Resident individuals are generally taxable on their worldwide income, subject to relief under applicable tax treaties.
Tax residency triggered by 183 days of presence in any 12-month period or a habitual residence intended as a permanent home. Residents taxed on worldwide income with foreign tax credit through the DTA network. The NHR regime exempts foreign-source income for 10 years for new residents with 5 years of prior non-residence.
Progressive 14 to 25 percent IRPS on Category A and pension income. The 25 percent top marginal rate applies above monthly (approximately EUR 1,360 per month, EUR 16,300 per year). Self-employment follows the same scale. Capital gains flat 1 percent on real estate, IP, and shareholdings. The NHR regime (Lei 20/IX/2017) caps qualifying high value-added income at 10 percent for 10 years.
Tax percentages here are editorial reference figures for comparison, not individualized tax advice.
Special tax regimes
For companies
International Business Centre (Centro Internacional de Negocios de Cabo Verde, CIN-CV)
AvailableFree zone-style regime created by Decree-Legislative No.
Special Economic Zone for Technologies (Zona Economica Especial para Tecnologias, ZEET)
AvailableSector-specific special economic zone introduced by the State Budget Law for 2023 (OE 2023), targeting technology and R&D companies.
Tourist Utility Status (Estatuto de Utilidade Turistica, EUT)
AvailableSector-specific concessionary regime governed by Decree-Law No.
Special Regime for Micro and Small Enterprises (Regime Especial das Micro e Pequenas Empresas, REMPE)
AvailableSimplified flat-tax regime for micro and small enterprises (and individual entrepreneurs) created by Law No.
For individuals
Special Regime for Micro and Small Enterprises (Regime Especial das Micro e Pequenas Empresas, REMPE)
AvailableSimplified flat-tax regime for micro and small enterprises (and individual entrepreneurs) created by Law No.
You either qualify for Cape Verde's special tax regimes, or you don't. GeoCompass determines your eligibility, highlights the applicable conditions, and helps estimate your potential tax exposure.
Check my eligibilityVisa and mobility
Your access
Visa need and length of stay for Cape Verde. Saved on your device.
Overview
- Citizenship by investment
Not currently available
- Residence by investment
Available
- Remote work visa (digital nomad visa)
Available
Programmes
Cape Verde lists several residency and mobility routes across residence by investment and remote work visas. Lucky Nomads tracks these programmes as editorial reference points. Thresholds, documents, and personal eligibility are evaluated in GeoCompass against your exact profile.
2 programmes listed · 2 are marked available in our editorial review
Residence by investment
1 programmeCapital, property, fund, or declared investment routes that can lead to longer-term residence.
- Available
Cape Verde Green Card (Permanent Residence by Real Estate Investment)
Remote work visas
1 programmeRemote work or digital nomad style permits.
- Available
Cabo Verde Remote Working Program
Not all residency routes are accessible. Some require minimum income, investment thresholds, local substance, or strict eligibility conditions. GeoCompass evaluates which options you can actually secure in Cape Verde.
Evaluate my residency optionsVisa and programme labels reflect editorial research, not individualized legal advice. Thresholds, documents, and personal eligibility are evaluated in GeoCompass. Always confirm rules with official government sources before you plan a move.
Dimensions breakdown
Strongest dimensions
- GeoStability Index9.1 / 10Exceptional geostability index
- WeatherComfort Index8.2 / 10Very comfortable climate year-round
- Wealth Protection Index7.8 / 10Strong wealth protection index
Weakest dimensions
- Flight Index3.7 / 10
- Market Depth Index3.8 / 10
Published ranks by index
One row per leaderboard we publish (the composite index plus each proprietary dimension). A rank appears only when this country is currently in the published top 10 for that list. Open a row to see the full ranking. Hover an index name for the same short definition as elsewhere on the site.
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Founder, Lucky Nomads · Wealth manager
Researched from official sources, leading global indices and Lucky Nomads' own scoring.
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