The island nation of Cape Verde, with a population of around 500,000, has officially ended visa-on-arrival facilities for Pakistan and 95 other countries, significantly impacting international travel regulations.

The new visa policy came into effect on January 1, 2026, under Decree No. 244/GMAI/2025, published in Cape Verde’s official gazette in November 2025. Previously, travelers could pre-register via the EASE (Efficient Automatic and Safe Entry) portal and receive visas upon arrival at Cape Verdean airports.

Under the revised rules, citizens of affected countries must now obtain entry, transit, or airport stopover visas from Cape Verdean embassies or consulates before departure. Travelers arriving without valid visas risk denial of entry or transit.

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The suspension applies to nationals from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and parts of Europe, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Cape Verde has retained limited exemptions for airline crew members, accredited diplomats, certain residence permit holders, and individuals of Cape Verdean origin who later acquired foreign nationality.

Authorities confirmed that the EASE registration and Airport Security Tax remain mandatory for all travelers, even those who remain visa-exempt. For affected countries, the EASE portal now clearly warns that travel without a prior visa is prohibited.

Complete List of Countries Affected by Suspension of Visa-on-Arrival