Money & duty free for Cape Verde

Currency information: 

Cape Verde Escudo (CVE) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of CVE5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CVE200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1.

Credit cards: 

Credit cards are rarely used. A few major hotels accept Visa. Currency can be obtained in banks from credit cards but charges are very high. There are ATMs in Sal, Praia and Sâo Vincent.

ATM: 

There are ATMs in Sal, Praia and Sâo Vincent.

Travellers cheques: 

Accepted in main towns and tourist areas, though the exchange can often be problematic.

Banking hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1400.

Currency restriction: 

The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration on and arrival and on departure. The export of foreign currency is limited to the equivalent of CVE1,000,000 or the amount declared on arrival, whichever is the larger.

Currency exchange: 

Available at the airport and in local banks. Currency cannot be reconverted, except in Portugal.

Cape Verde duty free

The following goods may be imported into Cape Verde without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes.
• 1L of liquor.
• A reasonable amount of perfume, lotion and eau de cologne in opened bottles.

Note: Currency must be declared on arrival.

There is, in principle, no free import of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages.