Real Estate in Cape Verde.
Foreigners are generally allowed to own property in Cape Verde - with no residency requirement and no special permit. That said, the concrete status of each plot (coastal protection zones, public domain, liens, land registry entry) still needs to be checked as carefully as the tax side, property by property - a blanket claim of "the same legal protection as locals" does not replace this individual due diligence. Since January 1, 2026, a completely new tax system has also been in effect. These eight topic pages walk you through the market, the buying process, taxes, inheritance law, renting, and the practical risks of building - fact-checked, with cited sources, and without the exaggerations found on many sales sites.
Everything you need to know before you buy.
Each page stands on its own, fact-checked with references to legal sources - together they cover the full process from first interest to land registry entry.
Market & Top Locations
The legal framework for foreign buyers, sought-after locations on Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago and São Vicente, plus an overview of the buying process and cost structure.
Available soon (EN)Residency from €80,000
The "golden visa": indefinite residency through a property purchase from €80,000 or €120,000 - the threshold depends on the GDP per capita of the specific municipality, not a blanket per-island rule (Santiago, São Vicente, Sal and Boa Vista usually fall into the higher group in practice) - with no minimum presence requirement.
Available soon (EN)Property Tax Reform 2026
Since January 1, 2026, the ITI (1% property transfer tax) and the IPI (0.1% annual tax) have replaced the old flat-rate IUP tax - with a new, formula-based valuation method.
Available soon (EN)Buying Process & Land Registry
Due diligence, the preliminary contract (Promessa), notarial deed (Escritura), and registration with the Conservatória - including completing the purchase remotely by power of attorney.
Available soon (EN)Inheritance & Wills
Cape Verde's Civil Code (1997) includes forced-heirship rules - what that means for cross-border inheritance cases and your own estate planning.
Available soon (EN)Renting & Yield
Since November 2024, the Alojamento Local law formally regulates short-term rentals - plus taxes on rental income and a realistic yield assessment.
Available soon (EN)Abandoned Builds & Red Flags
Unfinished projects especially on Sal and Boa Vista, land registry problems, and "lost" deposits - a warning guide with a checklist.
Available soon (EN)Building & Renovating
Buying an old house and renovating it, especially in Mindelo: finding tradespeople, imported material costs, and building regulations.
Available soon (EN)The path to ownership.
The eight pages work independently of each other - but if you want to understand the whole process, this order works best.
Market & Top Locations
The starting point: the legal framework, sought-after locations, and a first overview of costs.
Property Tax Reform 2026
Which taxes apply on purchase (ITI) and on an ongoing basis (IPI) - the foundation for any cost calculation.
Buying Process & Land Registry
The actual purchase process, from due diligence to registration.
Real Estate Overview
If the investment should also establish residency - requirements and process.
Renting & Yield
For anyone who wants to (also) rent out the property: legal framework, taxes, realistic yield.
Inheritance & Wills
Finally, estate planning - what happens to the property in the event of inheritance.
Why the numbers look different now than in 2025
On January 1, 2026, Cape Verde replaced its decades-old flat-rate tax (IUP) with two separate, new taxes: the ITI on transfer of ownership (1%) and the IPI as an ongoing annual tax (0.1%), both for the first time using an objective, formula-based valuation method. Anyone still reading information from before 2026 - including on other sites - may be working with outdated rates.
Sources & status of this page
- Property ownership for foreigners without a residency requirement: several independent, specialized Cape Verdean real estate law portals agree on this - a directly reviewed official statutory source for this exact wording was not found, so the finding rests on the matching expert consensus.
- 2026 tax reform (ITI 1%, IPI 0.1%/0.15% for land, replacing the IUP on 1/1/2026): confirmed by PwC Portugal (pwc.pt) and the Cape Verdean law firm BTOC Advogados (btoc.com.cv) - both agree on the key figures.
- Golden visa thresholds (€80,000 or €120,000) and island assignment: consistently confirmed by several independent investment-migration specialist portals (including IMI Daily); no official regulation was directly reviewed.
- Forced heirship in inheritance cases: verified directly in the text of Cape Verde's 1997 Código Civil, supplemented by a specialist overview of Cape Verdean inheritance law (Atlas CPLP/CSM).
- Alojamento Local law since November 2024: confirmed by the official Boletim Oficial de Cabo Verde gazette - Decreto-Lei n.º 56/2024 of November 13, 2024.
Questions about real estate in Cape Verde.
Can foreigners buy property in Cape Verde?
Yes, generally with no residency requirement and no special permit - but the concrete status of each plot (coastal protection, public domain, liens) still needs to be checked individually, just as it would for local buyers. Details in the Market & Top Locations guide.
What taxes apply when buying property?
Since January 1, 2026, the ITI (1% transfer tax on purchase) and, on an ongoing basis, the IPI (0.1% annual tax) - both replace the former flat-rate IUP tax. Details in the Tax Reform guide.
From what purchase price do you get a residency right?
The threshold depends on the GDP per capita of the specific municipality, not a blanket per-island rule: from €80,000 for below-average municipal GDP, from €120,000 for average or above-average - in practice usually Santiago, São Vicente, Sal and Boa Vista. Details and the important limitations in the Golden Visa guide.
Can you buy property without being there in person?
Yes, the entire purchase process can be handled via a notarial power of attorney. Details in the Buying Process guide.
What happens to a Cape Verdean property in the event of inheritance?
Cape Verde's Civil Code includes forced-heirship rules that a will cannot fully override - cross-border inheritance cases raise additional legal questions. Details in the Inheritance guide.
This overview page and its linked subpages do not replace individual legal, tax or investment advice. Legislation, tax rates and market prices change - adjustments and implementing regulations are possible, especially immediately after the 2026 tax reform. Check all details with an independent, Cape-Verde-licensed lawyer and tax advisor before making a purchase decision.
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