U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

Consular Information Sheet

Cape Verde

October 4, 2004

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Republic of Cape Verde consists of nine inhabited and several uninhabited volcanic islands off the western coast of Africa. Most are rugged and mountainous; three (Sal, Maio, and Boa Vista) are flat, desert islands with sand beaches. The capital city of Praia is located on the island of Santiago. Cape Verde International Airport is located on the island of Sal, 100 miles north of the capital. While the tourist industry is bringing ever-growing numbers of tourists, facilities on many islands remain limited. The island of Sal has the most developed tourist industry. Cape Verde enjoys a stable, democratic government. Portuguese is the official language, although Crioulo is also spoken.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are required. For further information on entry requirements, contact the Embassy of the Republic of Cape Verde, 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20007, tel (202) 965-6820, website: www.capeverdeusa.org; or the Consulate General of Cape Verde in Boston (tel. 617-353-0014). Overseas, inquiries should be made to the nearest Cape Verde embassy or consulate.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s)or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political gatherings, and street demonstrations. Visitors traveling to Cape Verde wishing to partake in water sports, swimming, boating and fishing should note that the tides and currents around Cape Verde can be quite strong. Several small fishing boats have been lost at sea in recent years.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found.

Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

CRIME: Petty thievery (especially in market areas) and burglary are common. Local police statistics reflect an increase in crime in Cape Verde, particularly in the city of Praia. Petty thievery and burglary are common events, and muggings are occurring more often, particularly at night and in more isolated areas. Occasionally violence is associated with these crimes. Crimes associated with drugs and drug use are also on the rise. At night, be vigilant, always travel accompanied, keep vehicles locked and windows up, and stay away from dark and isolated places.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlets, A Safe Trip Abroad and Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa, for ways to promote a trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical facilities in Cape Verde are limited, and some medicines are in short supply or unavailable. Further information on prescription drugs is found in the section below on Customs Regulations. A list of medical providers and hospitals is available at the U.S. Embassy in Praia.

MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas, including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost well in excess of 50,000 dollars (US). Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.

OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Cape Verde is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance:

Safety of public transportation: Fair
Urban road conditions/maintenance: Fair
Rural road conditions/maintenance: Fair
Availability of roadside assistance: Fair

Cape Verde has an extensive road system. Paved roads on most islands are narrow and winding and almost always paved with cobblestones. Cobblestone roads are slippery when wet and some are in poor repair. Roads and streets are often unlit. Driving at night can be hazardous. Service stations are widely available. Taxis and buses offer reasonably dependable service. Bus service in the capital is reliable, relatively inexpensive and buses are fairly new. Inter-urban van service can be hazardous due to careless driving of van drivers.

In Cape Verde, one drives on the right side of the road. At intersections, the car on the right has the right-of-way. At roundabouts (traffic circles), cars in the circle have the right-of-way. According to

Cape Verdean law, seat belts must be worn at all times by the driver and the person seated in the front passenger seat. Children under 12 years old must sit in the back seat of the car. Additionally, motorcyclists must wear crash helmets and must illuminate headlights at all times.

For emergency assistance on the island of Santiago in the event of an accident, call 130 for medical assistance; 131 for fire; and 132 for police. Each of the other eight islands has its own emergency numbers. Some form of ambulance service is available on all islands. However, there are few ambulances on each island and limited emergency care. There is no organized system of roadside assistance. Third-party insurance is required and will cover damages if you are involved in an accident resulting in injuries and you are found not to have been at fault. An individual found to have caused the accident may be charged a fine. A person involved in an accident that results in death may be incarcerated.

For specific information concerning Cape Verdean driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, please contact the Cape Verdean Office of Tourism, at Achada Santo Antonio, Caixa Postal 89brc, Oraia, Cape Verde, tel. 238-622-621. For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_roadsafety.html.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Cape Verde's Civil Aviation Authority as Category 1 -- in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Cape Verde air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact DOD at (618) 229-4801.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Cape Verdean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Cape Verde are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Under the PROTECT Act of April 2003, it is a crime, prosecutable in the United States, for a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18, whether or not the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien intended to engage in such illicit sexual conduct prior to going abroad. For purposes of the PROTECT Act, illicit sexual conduct includes any commercial sex act in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18. The law defines a commercial sex act as any sex act, on account of which anything of value is given to or received by a person under the age of 18.

Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act of 1998, it is a crime to use the mail or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce, including the Internet, to transmit information about a minor under the age of 16 for criminal sexual purposes that include, among other things, the production of child pornography. This law makes it a crime to use any facility of interstate or foreign commerce, including the Internet, to transport obscene materials to minors under the age of 16.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: Airport police and customs officials routinely inspect incoming and outgoing luggage. Travelers in possession of prescription drugs should carry proof of their prescriptions, such as labeled containers. Police have been known to arrest foreigners carrying unlabeled pill containers. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Cape Verde in Washington or the Consulate General of Cape Verde in Boston (see Entry Requirements section above for contact information) for specific information regarding customs requirements. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products are illegal and bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines. A current list of those countries with serious problems in this regard can be found here.

TELEPHONES: Telephone communication to and from Cape Verde is generally reliable. Likewise, cellular telephones and Internet connections are generally available.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: There are several inactive volcanoes in Cape Verde. U.S. citizens should be aware of the possibility of tremors associated with these volcanoes on the islands of Santao Antao, Fogo, and Brava. The last eruption occurred on the island of Fogo in 1995. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.

CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/family/index.html or telephone (202) 736-7000.

EMBASSY LOCATION/ REGISTRATION: U.S. citizens who plan to travel to Cape Verde are encouraged to register with the consular section of the U.S. Embassy and obtain update information on travel and security in Cape Verde. The embassy is located at Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia; tel. (238) 61-56-16 or 17, fax (238) 61-13-55; website: http://usembassy.state.gov/praia/. Please note that the U.S. Embassy is located on the island of Santiago; currently only international flights from Dakar, Senegal land on this island. The main international airport is on the island of Sal, a 45-minute flight from Praia.

* * *

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 16, 2004, to update sections on Country Description, Safety and Security, Crime, Traffic Safety and Road Conditions, Criminal Penalties, Customs Regulations and Disaster Preparedness.