Expat insurance and health insurance in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde’s healthcare system relies on a public sector organised around the Ministry of Health and Social Security, with partial coverage for those affiliated to the Instituto Nacional de Previdência Social (INPS), the local equivalent of social security. A smaller private sector has developed mainly in Praia, Mindelo and on the island of Sal, with shorter waiting times and a stronger focus on expatriates and tourists. France Diplomatie describes local medical capacity as “weak” and notes sometimes limited access to medication. Serious cases or those requiring heavy medical infrastructure are frequently evacuated abroad, most often to Portugal — historical and linguistic ties along with the Portuguese hospital network make it the preferred destination rather than Dakar, despite being geographically closer; a planned national hospital in Praia should eventually reduce reliance on these evacuations.

• No Cabo Verdean legal health insurance requirement identified for a tourist stay of under 30 days (visa exemption) or 30 to 90 days (tourist visa).
• Mandatory pre-registration on the EASE platform for any non-Cabo Verdean or non-resident traveller, at least five days before arrival, with an airport security tax of 3,400 CVE (≈31 €).
• France Diplomatie formally recommends an assistance contract covering hospitalisation, surgery and medical repatriation, not covered by the embassy.
• For a work stay or long-term move: ordinary temporary visa for 180 days followed by a residence permit, with a medical certificate and INPS registration required.
• The French state directs residents not covered by a secondment towards CFE.

The general France-Cabo Verde social security agreement, signed on 15 January 1980 (in force since 1 April 1983, supplemented by an administrative arrangement of 18 December 1986 and an additional arrangement of 6 March 1987), coordinates all social protection branches except unemployment insurance. Unlike several other African agreements on this site (Senegal, Niger), the sickness-maternity branch is explicitly included (articles 8 to 17), alongside invalidity, old-age/survivors, work accidents/occupational diseases, family benefits and death.

In practice, this coordination mainly benefits seconded employees of an employer established in France: an employee seconded to Cabo Verde keeps their full French health insurance and coverage for care received locally, with no extra contribution (forms SE 396-01 or SE 396-02). Their accompanying dependants receive the same coverage.

• For a resident settled in Cabo Verde outside secondment (retiree, local-contract employee, self-employed), the agreement does not create automatic portability of French health insurance: affiliation to the Cabo Verdean INPS or private/CFE cover remains necessary.
• The reciprocal mechanism for covering care during a temporary stay “while on paid leave” is reserved for Cabo Verdean nationals on leave in their home country — it does not benefit a tourist or resident of French nationality.
• For a French tourist insured in France without secondment, the general rule applies: no automatic coverage abroad; the French health insurance fund may, purely as an option and not an obligation, reimburse certain costs on presentation of receipts once back in France.
• The old-age/survivors branch allows pensions to be exported and insurance periods totalised between the two schemes.

• Before departure: assistance contract covering hospitalisation, surgery and medical repatriation.
• Mandatory pre-registration on the EASE platform (ease.gov.cv), at least five days before arrival, with payment of the airport security tax (3,400 CVE, ≈31 €).
• Registration recommended with the roll of French nationals living abroad (French embassy in Praia).
• Seconded employee: have the employer issue forms SE 396-01 or SE 396-02 to keep French health coverage with no extra contribution.
• Resident outside secondment (retiree, local contract): affiliation to the Cabo Verdean INPS and/or CFE recommended, as the agreement does not guarantee automatic sickness cover in this case.