Egypt has joined a growing list of tourism-dependent nations grappling with fresh travel barriers following a sweeping decision by Cape Verde to scrap visas on arrival for nearly one hundred countries.

As of January 1, 2026, citizens of Egypt, Mexico, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Jamaica and 89 other nations must obtain a visa in advance from a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate, ending years of relatively easy last-minute access to the Atlantic archipelago.

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A Sudden End to a Traveler-Friendly Regime

Cape Verde’s shift marks a decisive end to a system that made the country one of West Africa’s more accessible destinations for international visitors.

Until December 31, 2025, most travelers from outside Europe could complete an online pre-registration, pay entry fees through the government’s Efficient Automatic and Safe Entry portal and finalize their visa on arrival at the airport.

The new rules, introduced via a decree issued in late 2025 and in force from January 1, 2026, freeze that option for 96 nationalities, including Egypt and several large outbound tourism markets.

Under the revised framework, those travelers must now apply in person or by appointment at Cape Verde’s diplomatic missions before boarding a flight.

Airlines are expected to intensify document checks to avoid carrying passengers who lack the required visa.

For many would-be visitors, the convenience of spontaneous trips or late travel bookings has effectively disappeared, replaced by multi-week lead times, paperwork and potential extra costs.

The government in Praia has framed the reform as a way to streamline border management and tighten control of who enters the country. Officials say the changes will improve security screening, reduce irregular stays and align Cape Verde more closely with international partners.

Yet for travelers from the affected 96 countries, the immediate experience is one of tightening borders and diminished flexibility at a moment when post-pandemic tourism recovery is still fragile.

Egypt, Mexico, Turkey and Others Caught in a Wider Net

Egypt’s inclusion on the list resonates well beyond North Africa. Egypt is both a major tourist destination and an increasingly important source of outbound travelers, particularly to sun-and-sea destinations that complement its own Red Sea resorts.

Being required to secure a visa in advance for Cape Verde adds a fresh layer of bureaucracy for Egyptian holidaymakers, tour operators and airlines that may have been counting on growing traffic between the two destinations.

Mexico and Turkey, both sizable middle-income countries with strong aviation links to Europe and Africa, face similar challenges. Travelers from these countries tend to be accustomed to visa-on-arrival or electronic authorization schemes in many parts of the world.

The sudden removal of that option in Cape Verde may push some to switch to destinations that still allow more flexible or last-minute travel arrangements.

For tour operators catering to these markets, Cape Verde packages could become harder to sell compared with Caribbean or Mediterranean competitors.

Central Asian and African nations such as Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe are also among those affected, as are popular outbound markets in Latin America and the Caribbean including Costa Rica and Jamaica.

The breadth of the list means that families with mixed nationalities, diaspora travelers and multi-country itineraries involving Cape Verde will now require more detailed planning.

Even travelers transiting through the archipelago on certain routes could be impacted if they previously relied on easy visa issuance on arrival.

From EASE Portal to Embassy Queues

The reform represents a major downgrade in the functionality of Cape Verde’s once-praised EASE portal. Previously, travelers from many non-European countries could pre-register online, pay both their airport security tax and visa fee and then receive a visa sticker on arrival with minimal extra steps.

The portal was marketed as a digital gateway that reduced airport queues and removed the need for consular visits.

Now, when nationals of the 96 affected countries select their nationality on the same portal, the system displays a stark message instructing them to apply instead at Cape Verdean embassies or consular offices.

The visa must be fully in place before departure, under penalty of refusal of entry at the border. While the platform still processes the mandatory airport security tax for all visitors, it no longer substitutes for a visa channel for most of Africa, large parts of Asia and the Americas.

In practical terms, travelers who might have once completed a few online forms days before departure now need to gather supporting documents, schedule appointments, and wait for processing.

For residents of countries with limited Cape Verdean representation, this can mean overseas travel to reach a consulate or the use of intermediaries, raising costs and logistical hurdles.

For backpackers and independent travelers, the added friction undermines Cape Verde’s appeal as a spontaneous, off-the-beaten-path stopover.

Tourism Industry Braces for Disruption

Tourism operators, hotel owners and airlines serving Cape Verde are beginning 2026 with an unusual degree of uncertainty.

The country’s tourism growth in recent years has depended not only on European charter flights but also on a steady trickle of regional and long-haul visitors who appreciated the ease of entry compared with more tightly controlled destinations.

Cutting off visa-on-arrival access for 96 countries risks shrinking this segment at least in the short term.

Industry figures warn that the new system may dampen demand from emerging markets where advance visa procedures are viewed with suspicion or fatigue after years of tightening borders worldwide.

Small tour businesses that target visitors from Egypt, Turkey, Mexico or Brazil could face cancellations and lower booking volumes as clients encounter unexpected documentation requirements.

Cruise lines that incorporate Cape Verde into transatlantic itineraries may also need to re-evaluate shore excursion logistics for passengers holding passports from the newly restricted countries.

On the other hand, some Cape Verdean officials and local analysts argue that the shift could eventually improve visitor quality and spending if fewer casual day-trippers arrive and a larger proportion of tourists plan longer stays.

They also point out that many European travelers, who already enjoyed visa-free entry, are unaffected by the reform and continue to represent the bulk of arrivals.

The real test will come over the next high season, when statistics will reveal whether the new restrictions have merely rebalanced source markets or significantly depressed overall visitor numbers.

Security Objectives and Global Context

Although Cape Verde’s decree focuses on procedural changes rather than explicit security threats, it lands amid a broader international move toward tighter pre-travel screening. Electronic authorization systems such as the European Union’s forthcoming ETIAS, along with the long-standing United States ESTA program, have normalized the idea that even visa-exempt travelers must secure permission in advance.

Cape Verde’s new rules extend that logic further by eliminating visas on arrival altogether for a wide group of nationalities.

Officials argue that consular vetting prior to travel allows authorities to detect problematic applicants, verify supporting documents and reduce overstay risks before a traveler ever boards a plane.

For a small island nation with limited border control resources, this front-loaded approach may be viewed as more sustainable than relying on checks at busy airports.

It also aligns Cape Verde with larger partners that expect more rigorous screening from countries benefiting from air links, tourism investment and development support.

However, the policy also reflects the persistent imbalance between travelers from the Global North, who often enjoy broad visa-free mobility, and those from the Global South, who face rising walls of documentation.

The fact that Egypt, Mexico, Jamaica and Zimbabwe are among the countries now required to clear higher hurdles to visit Cape Verde illustrates how even tourism-reliant destinations are increasingly differentiating between “low-risk” and “high-risk” passports, often in ways that track income levels and geopolitical alignments.

Workarounds, Exemptions and Grey Areas

Despite the sweeping nature of the new rules, Cape Verde has carved out several exemptions. Airline crew members, foreign residents already living in Cape Verde and holders of valid residence permits from European Union states are among those who may still enter without going through the full advanced visa process, albeit under strict conditions.

Certain diplomatic passport holders and individuals born in Cape Verde who later acquired another nationality may also benefit from special provisions.

These exceptions aim to avoid disruption to commercial aviation, essential services and longstanding diaspora ties. Yet they also introduce a layer of complexity that travelers and even border officers must interpret on a case-by-case basis.

A traveler with dual nationality, for instance, might be exempt if entering on an EU passport but face restrictions when using a different passport from the affected list.

Airlines will need updated training and guidance to correctly assess documents at check-in counters, especially in airports that handle only sporadic Cape Verde traffic.

At the same time, the requirement for all visitors to continue using the EASE portal to pay the airport security tax remains in effect.

This means that even travelers who hold the correct visa or enjoy an exemption must still complete online registration, sometimes leading to confusion about which steps are visa-related and which are purely administrative.

Travel agents report fielding a growing number of questions about whether EASE confirmation alone is sufficient, underscoring the need for clearer public communication from Cape Verdean authorities.

Implications for Travelers from Egypt and Other Affected Countries

For travelers in Egypt and the other countries on the list, the new rules change not only the mechanics of visiting Cape Verde but also how trips are conceived and marketed.

Egyptian tourists planning multi-stop itineraries across Africa or the Atlantic islands will now need to consider visa processing times for Cape Verde alongside their other destination formalities.

That may shift demand toward regional hubs or destinations where visas can be obtained electronically in a matter of hours rather than through consular queues.

Travel agencies in Mexico, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica and Jamaica face similar recalculations.

Package deals that once highlighted Cape Verde as an easily accessible beach and culture add-on may become harder to promote if travelers must secure paperwork weeks ahead.

Budget travelers and digital nomads, who often plan flexible day-to-day route changes, are likely to be especially affected, as Cape Verde will now require greater commitment before departure.

For business travelers, the stakes are also rising. Last-minute trips for conferences, investment missions or maritime and aviation work may no longer be feasible without prior visa arrangements.

Companies with regular dealings in Cape Verde will have to adapt internal travel policies, perhaps encouraging key staff to secure multi-entry visas well in advance or to travel on passports that still benefit from visa-free access.

Failure to adapt could result in costly missed meetings, route changes and denied boarding situations.

FAQ

Q1. What exactly has Cape Verde changed about its visa policy in 2026?
As of January 1, 2026, Cape Verde has ended visas on arrival for citizens of 96 countries, including Egypt, Mexico, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica and Jamaica, requiring them instead to obtain a visa in advance from a Cape Verdean embassy or consulate.

Q2. Does this mean all foreigners now need a visa before traveling to Cape Verde?
No. The new requirement applies to the 96 specified countries. Many European nationals and some other travelers remain visa-exempt but must still complete online pre-registration and pay the mandatory airport security tax before arrival.

Q3. How are travelers from Egypt specifically affected?
Egyptian citizens who previously relied on online pre-registration and visa issuance on arrival must now secure a visa in advance from Cape Verdean diplomatic missions. Without a valid visa, they risk being denied boarding or refused entry at the border.

Q4. What is the role of the EASE portal under the new rules?
The EASE portal remains in use for mandatory pre-registration and payment of the airport security tax for all visitors. However, for nationals of the 96 affected countries, it no longer serves as a path to obtain a visa on arrival, which must now be issued by embassies or consulates.

Q5. Are there any exemptions to the new visa requirements?
Yes. Certain categories including airline crew, current foreign residents in Cape Verde, holders of valid residence permits from some partner countries and some diplomatic or special passport holders may be exempt, provided they meet strict conditions.

Q6. How might this impact tourism to Cape Verde in 2026?
The end of visas on arrival is expected to create short-term disruptions, with potential declines from markets that now face consular procedures. Operators hope that clearer communication and streamlined processing may, over time, limit the damage to overall visitor numbers.

Q7. Can travelers still plan last-minute trips to Cape Verde from the affected countries?
In most cases, no. Because a visa must now be obtained in advance, travelers from the 96 countries will generally need to plan several weeks ahead, making spontaneous or last-minute visits difficult unless they already hold a valid multi-entry visa.

Q8. How should airlines and tour operators respond to the new policy?
Carriers and tour companies will need to update their internal guidance, train staff on the revised entry rules, clearly inform customers at the booking stage and encourage affected travelers to secure visas well before departure to avoid denied boarding incidents.

Q9. Do these Cape Verde changes affect travel to other countries in the region?
Directly, no. The decree applies only to entry into Cape Verde. Indirectly, however, multi-country itineraries that include Cape Verde may need to be reworked, and some travelers may opt to skip the archipelago in favor of destinations with more flexible entry policies.

Q10. What should travelers do now if they are from one of the 96 affected countries and want to visit Cape Verde?
They should first check the latest guidance from Cape Verdean authorities, contact the nearest Cape Verdean embassy or consulate to understand visa requirements and processing times, complete mandatory online registration and airport tax payment and avoid purchasing nonrefundable tickets until their visa is issued.