Investment property: Cabo Verde

Updated 5 October 2026

A foreigner can buy a flat, villa or plot in Cabo Verde with no nationality restrictions or permits.

Demand centres on resort complexes on Sal and Boa Vista, and homes in the capital Praia on Santiago and in Mindelo on São Vicente. Title is registered in the land registry under the Portuguese legal model: the deal is formalised by a notarial deed. The escudo is pegged to the euro at 110.265 escudos per euro, so prices are usually quoted in euros. Dollar amounts use the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026, $1.12 per euro.

Permanent residence by buying a home

A foreigner who buys a home as a second residence can obtain permanent residence. The threshold depends on the island:

• from €120,000, about $134,500, on Santiago, São Vicente, Sal and Boa Vista;
• from €80,000, about $89,700, on smaller islands such as Brava, Maio and São Nicolau.

Both completed and off-plan properties qualify. For living on the islands for up to a year without buying, there is the remote work programme: it requires an average account balance of at least €1,500 over the last six months.

Taxes and costs on purchase

• Property transfer tax: about 1.5% of the price, paid at the notary. The rate was checked against several independent sources.
• Notary and registration of title in the land registry.
• The buyer's lawyer to check title and contract.

Owner's taxes

• Annual property tax is paid to the municipality.
• Rental income is subject to income tax in Cabo Verde; letting to holidaymakers as a business requires registration and usually a company.
• Tax residency arises after more than 183 days in the country in a year, and then worldwide income is taxed.

Buying in a resort under construction

Much of the supply on Sal and Boa Vista is flats in resort complexes under construction. Before signing, check the building permit and the developer's rights to the land, and tie the payment schedule to construction stages so you do not pay in advance for what does not yet exist. Separately check who will manage the complex after completion and what upkeep costs.

Funds for the purchase

Money is transferred from abroad through a local bank account, and proof of the transfer is kept: it will be needed to lawfully take sale proceeds abroad later. Cash payments without a bank trail cause problems both at registration and on resale.

How the purchase works

1. Tax number for the buyer and a local bank account.
2. Shortlisting for your goal: living, letting, permanent residence.
3. Checks in the land registry: owner, mortgages, seizures; for new builds, permits and construction progress.
4. Promissory contract and deposit.
5. Notarial deed, payment of transfer tax and title registration.
6. Permanent residence application, if the purchase is for that.

Risks

• Unfinished resort complexes: developers sell units before works are complete.
• A plot without clear boundaries or with several claimants in the registry.
• Holiday letting without registration and a management company.
• Resale on a small market can take time.

What we do

We obtain the tax number and account, shortlist a property, check it in the land registry and with the developer, and support the contract, notarial deed and title registration with locally licensed partners. If the goal is permanent residence, we select a property above the threshold and prepare the application.

What we do

• Property shortlist for your investment goal
• Legal due diligence on the property
• End-to-end transaction support
• Ownership structuring (company, trust)
• Property management and letting

See also

Business account · Personal account · Country taxes · All country programs

FAQ