Retirees showing passive income of roughly EUR 1,500 a month can obtain a long-stay visa and then a residence permit; buying property can also support a residence application.
A few things to line up early:
Visa rules change often — treat this as a starting point and confirm the latest official requirements before you plan.
Remember: buying a home and gaining the right to live there are usually separate steps. See how ownership works in Cape Verde, and what it costs to live there in our cost-of-retiring guide.
Residents are taxed on worldwide income in principle, but a non-habitual-resident style regime can fully exempt foreign pensions and other passive income for qualifying newcomers. The rules and paperwork matter, so take local advice before relying on the exemption.
Healthcare is limited: state facilities are basic and the better private clinics cluster on Sal and in Praia, with serious cases flown to Portugal or the Canaries. Private international insurance is strongly advised and reasonably priced. Friendly and broadly safe, with the usual care against petty theft in tourist spots; Portuguese and Creole dominate and English is limited outside resorts, and they drive on the right.
Sal (Santa Maria) is the main expat and tourist hub, Boa Vista offers quieter beaches, Sao Vicente's Mindelo is the cultural capital, and Santiago's Praia is the busy main city.
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