Photo: Florian K. / Unsplash
Practical info for Cape Verde
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British Embassy LisbonEmbassy
- Address
- Rua de São Bernardo 33, Lisbon, 1249-082, Portugal
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/portugal/british-embassy-lisbon
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 28/07/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Cabo Verde escudo (CVE).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for CVE.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC-01:00, −1 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Traffic drives on the right.
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a valid UK photocard driving licence to drive in Cape Verde for up to 6 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you should update it to a photocard licence, or get the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and carry it with your licence. Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.”
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: CV Movel (Sirocco); CVMOVEL (Sirocco); UNITEL (Airalo).
eSIM prices for Cape Verde
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Cape Verde?
Police: 132 ; Police: 134 ; Medical emergencies: 130 ; Fire brigade: 131
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Cape Verde?
British Embassy Lisbon, Rua de São Bernardo 33, Lisbon, 1249-082, Portugal. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for Cape Verde?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 28/07/2026.
What is the travel advice for Cape Verde?
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
What currency is used in Cape Verde?
Currency: Cabo Verde escudo (CVE). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for CVE.
What is the time difference in Cape Verde?
Local time: UTC-01:00, −1 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Cape Verde?
Traffic drives on the right. Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a valid UK photocard driving licence to drive in Cape Verde for up to 6 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you should update it to a photocard licence, or get the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and carry it with your licence. Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.”
Which mobile networks operate in Cape Verde?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: CV Movel (Sirocco); CVMOVEL (Sirocco); UNITEL (Airalo).