Importing Personal Effects into Cabo Verde: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2026 · Download the Cabo Verde Import Guide (PDF)

Household Goods/PE

• Non-Diplomatic (expat, retirees, home buyers, investors…)
• Copy of the ID page of the passport.
• Copy of the entrance stamp.
• NIF – Capeverdean Tax number – client might ask his employer to have it issued on his behalf if he is in the country yet
• Valued inventory in Portuguese and stated in CVE or Euros as well as invoices for every new item (purchased in the last 6 months).
• Mission Letter (employment declaration in Portuguese) or Certification of employment or BO (Boletim Oficial)
• Original car documents (if applicable). Please be advised that local DMV requires presentation of original car documents or purchase invoice in case on brand new car for importation clearance.
• Certificate of change of residence issued by the CV Embassy at origin country.
• If the client bought a property in CV, add the proof of ownership – escritura and proof of payment of IUP tax.
• Expats might need to issue a bank guarantee for a temporary import duration of their permanence in the country (all items must be reexported by the end of his/her mission). The exact
• amount is to be informed by Customs broker later on the process (after value of goods and transport is known).
• For definitive imports (client pays all import duties, taxes and fees) that might amount to 150% of the CIF Value with a supplementary 20% in case of any item deemed to need an especial licensing.
• Returning Citizen
• Your contact information and full address in Praia.
• Copy of your passport, identification page and entry stamp.
• Cape Verde Taxpayer Identification Number (NIF).
• Original valued inventory (€ or CVE) in Portuguese, dated and signed and certified by the CV Embassy at origin country.
• Certificado de regresso definitivo (issued at CV Embassy at origin country) – must mention the time permanence abroad, including value inventory and/or invoices for new purchases.
• Mission statement or employer's statement or Official Bulletin (BOBoletim Oficial).
• Original vehicle documents or purchase invoice if the vehicle has not been put into circulation in the country of origin (if applicable).
• Other documentation might be required during the process.
• Diplomats
• Copy of the ID page of the passport
• Copy of the entrance stamp
• NIF – Cape Verdean Tax number – Embassy may have it issued on your behalf.
• Valued inventory in Portuguese and stated in CVE or Euros as well as invoices for every new item (purchased in the last 6 months)
• Mission Letter (employment declaration in Portuguese) or Certification of employment or BO (Boletim Oficial for returning diplomats).
• Diplomatic franchise – we provide a template to submit to the MOFA CV.
• Original car documents. Local DMV requires presentation of original car documents or purchase invoice in case on brand new car for importation clearance.

• Diplomatic shipments are duty-free during the entire period spent in Cape Verde.

Prohibited items

• Drugs, narcotics, weapons and explosives

• Alcohol and tobacco are permitted in reasonable quantities and only for personal use.

Cabo Verde Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the Cabo Verde Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.

• Copy of passport
• Bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
• Commercial invoice
• Certificate of origin (when required)
• Packing list / inventory
• Proof of residence or employment in Cape Verde
• Health or phytosanitary certificates (for applicable goods)

Specific Information

Import licensing: Import operations require a commercial operator certificate and, depending on the goods, an import licence. Both are issued by the Chambers of Commerce.

Shipping options: Sea freight takes 3-6 weeks. Air freight is available weekly for smaller consignments. Most shipments arrive by sea.

Duties & Taxes

Duty-free conditions — Returning citizens: Personal effects may be imported duty-free if the import occurs within 6 months of the owner's initial arrival in Cape Verde and all documentation is available.

Duty-free conditions — Foreign diplomats: Personal effects may be imported duty-free during residence in Cape Verde, provided documentation is available.

Used personal items are tax-free. Used personal items such as furniture and household basics are duty-free for import by persons relocating to Cape Verde on a permanent or long-term basis. Only used items qualify. New items are taxed as commercial cargo at applicable rates.

New items: Subject to customs duties. Rates range from 0% to 50% depending on the item. A special consumption tax of 10-150% applies to goods deemed superfluous, luxurious, or socially undesirable. New items should be declared separately with invoices.

VAT: 15% standard rate applies to most imported goods (confirmed by PwC). Used personal effects qualifying for duty-free treatment are also exempt from VAT.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

• Narcotics and illegal drugs — Strictly prohibited
• Weapons without licence — Prohibited
• Endangered species and their products CITES — Prohibited or restricted
• Counterfeit goods — Prohibited
• Hazardous waste — Prohibited

• 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco (or a mix not exceeding 250g)
• Alcohol in quantities corresponding to personal needs
• Perfume in quantities corresponding to personal needs
• Tools, instruments, and portable utensils related to profession
• Other goods for personal use (jewellery, sporting equipment, musical instruments, toys)

• Firearms, ammunition PERMIT REQUIRED — Special licence required
• Drugs and controlled substances PERMIT REQUIRED — Special licence required
• Animals, plants, and animal products PERMIT REQUIRED — Health and phytosanitary certificates required
• Medicines — Subject to sanitary controls and non-automatic licensing
• Fuel — Subject to legal restrictions
• Weapons — Subject to legal restrictions

Items deemed superfluous or luxurious are subject to a special consumption tax of 10-150%. Locally produced alcoholic beverages receive exemptions from the ad valorem component.

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

Agent recommended: Use a registered agent to handle importing, shipping, and clearance. The customs process requires local knowledge.

Used vs. new: Only used items are duty-free. New items are taxed as commercial cargo. Ensure the inventory clearly distinguishes between used and new items.

6-month deadline: For returning citizens, goods must arrive within 6 months of the owner's initial arrival.

Routing / port of entry: Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands in the central Atlantic Ocean, approximately 570 km off the west coast of Africa. The capital is Praia (Santiago island). The primary sea port is Porto da Praia (Santiago). Amílcar Cabral International Airport (Sal island) and Nelson Mandela International Airport (Santiago) handle international flights. Inter-island transport is by domestic flights (Binter Canarias / TICV) or ferry (CV Interilhas).

Island logistics: Goods arriving at one island that need to reach another island require inter-island transport, adding time and cost. Confirm the destination island with the agent.

Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (CVE), pegged to the euro at CVE 110.265 = EUR 1.

Regulatory Updates

• 2026: State Budget Law for 2026 increased specific tax on cigarettes from CVE 150 to CVE 180 per pack. New real estate taxes entered into force from January 1, 2026.
• 2020: National Certification Commission (CONCERT) created to develop certification processes.
• Ongoing: Cape Verde's customs nomenclature is based on the Harmonized System. Import licensing follows a general automatic regime with non-automatic exceptions for controlled goods.