Visa for the United States from Cape Verde: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. A Cape Verdean passport does not allow entry into the United States as a tourist without a visa obtained in advance. This visa is issued by a US embassy or consulate, following an application that includes an in-person appointment. Conditions can change: check the official US government information page before you start.

• Government fee185 USD
• Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator
• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
• ExtrasVariable

For each applicant, gather a currently valid passport in good condition, a compliant photo, the form confirmation and the fee receipt. Supporting documents about the stay (accommodation, itinerary), finances and travel insurance, along with proof of ties to Cape Verde, complete the file. The official fee observed is 185 USD per application.

First check on the official page which US consular post receives applicants residing in Cape Verde. Each traveller, children included, then completes their own visa application form and pays their own fee, after which an appointment is booked. On the day, the applicant attends with their documents for the interview and any fingerprinting.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Cape Verde, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Cape Verde but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

There is no single timeframe: the wait for an appointment and the processing time depend on the consular post and the season. If the competent post is outside Cape Verde, also budget for the trip and accommodation there. In all cases, wait until the visa is issued before buying non-refundable tickets.

Thinking that one application covers the whole family is a common mistake: each person needs their own. Other files suffer from a damaged passport, a non-compliant photo or contradictions between the form and the interview. Also be wary of intermediaries selling appointments or promising a result.