The Retired Foreigner Residence Authorization (Autorizacao de Residencia para Estrangeiro Reformado) is a permanent residence permit for retired foreign nationals who wish to settle in Cape Verde. Governed by Lei no 66/VIII/2014 and its amendments, with implementing regulations under Decreto-Lei no 2/2015, the program is administered by the Direcao de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (DEF) under the Alta Autoridade para a Imigracao (AAI). It offers a direct path to permanent residence without the standard five-year temporary residence requirement, targeting retirees with stable foreign pension or passive income. Holders also benefit from exemption from personal income tax on foreign-source pension income.
Eligibility is based on retired status rather than a fixed minimum age — applicants prove retirement through a pension or retirement statement from the competent authorities. There is no published statutory minimum income; instead, applicants must demonstrate "adequate and sufficient means of subsistence" from a regular pension or other passive income (such as rents, royalties, or investment returns), sufficient to support themselves without local employment. Sufficiency is assessed case-by-case by the DEF. Some legal advisers informally cite a benchmark of roughly EUR 1,200 per month, but this is a practitioner estimate, not an official threshold. The program is open to all nationalities. Holders are not authorized to engage in local employment — the authorization is strictly for retirees living on passive income.
All documents must be legalized and translated into Portuguese by a certified translator.
The authorization grants permanent residence directly. The physical residence title (Titulo de Residencia para Estrangeiros, TRE) is valid for up to 5 years and must be renewed every 5 years with updated documentation submitted to the DEF.
Holders may apply for family reunification for spouses, minor children, and adopted minors. The sponsoring resident must demonstrate adequate housing and sufficient means of subsistence. Family members receive their own residence authorization tied to the sponsor's status.
Retired residents whose pension income was not generated in Cape Verde benefit from exemption under the Personal Income Tax Code (CIRPS), and exempt income is not aggregated with other taxable income. Otherwise, resident individuals are subject to personal income tax on worldwide income at progressive rates of 16.5% to 27.5%. Cape Verde has double taxation treaties with Portugal, Spain, and other countries.
The process begins with obtaining a residence visa (Visa D, valid for 6 months) from a Cape Verdean consulate or embassy; the consular fee is EUR 90. Upon arrival, the applicant must register their address and apply for the residence authorization at the DEF within 30 days, either through the e-Residencia digital portal (e-portaldef.gov.cv) or in person at DEF offices. Applicants must also obtain a tax identification number (NIF) and undergo biometric registration for the TRE card. Processing takes approximately 30 to 60 days for the visa, plus about 15 days for the residence title card.
Applicants must submit a declaration assuming responsibility for medical and pharmaceutical costs in case of illness; valid health insurance covering Cape Verde satisfies this requirement. Coverage must be maintained throughout the stay.
After 5 years of habitual residence, holders may be eligible to apply for Cape Verdean citizenship, subject to additional requirements including knowledge of Portuguese and integration criteria.