Cape Verde ends visa-on-arrival for 96 countries, including Nigeria, tightens border rules
By Aboki Forex —
Cape Verde has scrapped its visa-on-arrival programme for citizens of 96 countries, including Nigeria, in a major immigration policy overhaul. The new rules, introduced under Decree-Law No. 13/2025 and Decree No. 244/GMAI/2025, abolish both the visa-on-arrival system and the Electronic Airport Security Tax (EASE) digital entry platform for affected nationalities.
Eligible travellers must now obtain a visa from a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate before travelling. For Nigerian travellers, spontaneous trips to the island nation are no longer possible through airport-issued visas or online pre-clearance.
Stricter screening and in-person interviews
Under the new regulations, applicants must complete the visa process at a diplomatic mission. Authorities say stricter background checks and identity verification measures, including mandatory in-person interviews, will now be conducted before approval is granted. According to Cape Verde's Directorate of Foreigners and Borders (DEF), the reforms are designed to improve immigration controls, enhance national security and curb irregular migration.
Officials said the previous system, which allowed visitors to secure entry through the EASE platform or obtain visas upon arrival at selected airports, no longer provided the level of scrutiny required under the country's updated border management strategy. Cape Verde said the policy reflects a broader global trend toward tighter immigration rules and stronger identity verification for international travellers.
Consequences for non-compliance and impact on travel
Under the revised rules, travellers arriving without a valid visa already stamped in their passports risk being refused entry, deported immediately or required to pay the full cost of their return journey to their country of departure. The government warned that airlines and travel operators are also expected to enforce the new rules strictly by ensuring passengers possess valid visas before boarding flights to the country.
Industry observers believe the new measures could affect tourism flows, airline operations and last-minute travel arrangements, particularly for visitors who previously relied on visa-on-arrival facilities for business or leisure trips. The stricter entry requirements are expected to have the greatest impact on travellers across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Oceania and the Americas who benefited from Cape Verde's simplified entry process, according to a report by the Nigerian Tribune.
Affected countries across regions
The new restrictions apply to 96 countries across four regions. In Africa, the affected nations include Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Tunisia, among others. The list also covers 31 countries in Asia and the Middle East, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Yemen. In the Americas and the Caribbean, countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela are affected, while Belarus and several Pacific island nations are included under Europe and Oceania.
What this means for Nigerian travellers and businesses
The latest immigration reform marks one of Cape Verde's most significant border policy changes in recent years. For Nigerian travellers, the end of visa-on-arrival means higher costs, longer planning times and more bureaucratic hurdles for visits to the popular tourist destination. Nigerian businesses with operations or trade links to Cape Verde may also face disruptions, as last-minute business travel becomes more difficult. The naira could see indirect pressure if reduced travel demand affects tourism-related foreign exchange flows, but the immediate impact on the Nigerian currency is expected to be limited.