Reduction in International Flights Via Portugal
Due to the rising incidence of COVID-19 cases in Portugal, the Government of Portugal instituted a state of emergency from January 31 through February 14. The new restrictions include strict limitations on international travel. See U.S. Embassy Lisbon’s website for more details on how these restrictions may affect your travel plans. Cabo Verde Connect, which contracts for Azores Airlines (formerly SATA), announced the suspension of its flights to Cabo Verde between February 10 – March 17. TAP has also reduced flights connecting Portugal and Cabo Verde and other international destinations. Please contact your airline as soon as possible regarding any upcoming travel. International flights to Dakar and Casablanca are still operating as of February 4.
Rising COVID-19 Cases in Cabo Verde
As of February 3, Cabo Verde had a total of 673 known active COVID-19 cases. The active cases are on Santiago (361), São Vicente (222), Fogo (34), Sao Nicolãu (28), Santo Antão (21), Sal (7), and Boa Vista (1). Maio and Brava had no known active cases. Please see https://covid19.cv and the Government of Cabo Verde’s Facebook page for more information, including details about prohibited activities during Carnival and Ash Wednesday.
Negative COVID-19 Tests Required to Enter the United States
Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR-RT test taken within three calendar days of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the United States may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Check the CDC order for details and the CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
International Travel
The Government of Cabo Verde has authorized the use of antigen tests (Ag-RDT) to detect COVID-19 prior to travel to Cabo Verde. Travelers entering Cabo Verde must present results of a negative COVID-19 PCR-RT test or an antigen test (Ag-RDT, commonly known as a “rapid test”) administered no more than 72 hours prior to flight departure to gain entry to Cabo Verde. Children under age seven are exempt from presenting test results to gain entry to Cabo Verde. Please contact your airline or ship operator directly to confirm details regarding COVID-19 testing documentation requirements as well as requirements for any other stopover on your journey. PCR test results are still required to transit Lisbon and the Azores. Upon arrival in Cabo Verde, each traveler will have their temperature checked and must submit a completed health questionnaire. Anyone displaying symptoms such as fever may be put in isolation and subjected to a COVID-19 test on arrival.
Inter-island Travel
Islands with a COVID-19 infection rate below 20 per 100,000 inhabitants are considered “green;” passengers from those islands do not need COVID-19 tests for inter-island travel. As of February 3, tests are not required for those traveling from Sal, Boa Vista, and Brava or for passengers under the age of seven. Passengers traveling from Santiago, Fogo, Maio, São Vicente, São Nicolãu, or Santo Antão to any island with a lower incidence rate must show a negative COVID-19 rapid test result taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure. Testing requirements are subject to change and are regularly updated on the Government of Cabo Verde’s Facebook page. All inter-island travelers are required to fill out a Health Surveillance Survey prior to departure.
For available flights, please visit https://www.ticv.cv. For the latest ferry schedule, please visit https://www.cvinterilhas.cv/routesschedules.
COVID-19 Testing
U.S. citizens requiring a COVID-19 PCR-RT test for international travel departing Cabo Verde should contact their nearest health delegation. The cost for the PCR-RT test is 6,500 CVE (approximately $72).
U.S. citizens requiring a rapid test (Ag-RDT) for international or inter-island travel should contact their nearest health delegation or a private lab. The cost for a rapid test is generally less than 2,000 CVE (approximately $22).
Note: This information will continue to be sent regularly for the benefit of new registrants in STEP. If you wish to stop receiving these messages from U.S. Embassy Praia, you may unsubscribe from STEP here.
Actions to Take:
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates from the Embassy.
- Review our Frequently Asked Questions website for information on current travel restrictions and the phased resumption of routine consular services.
- Check with your airline, cruise line, or travel operator regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- Consider What the U.S. Government Can and Can’t Do for Citizens in a Crisis.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Cabo Verde.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Praia
RuaAbilio Macedo 6
Praia, Cabo Verde
Phone: (+238) 260-8900
PraiaConsular@state.gov
https://cv.usembassy.gov/ - State Department – Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444 - Cabo Verde Country Information
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