Cabo Verdean citizenship: residency and naturalisation

Cabo Verdean nationality is governed by the Nationality Law (Law No. 33/X/2023 of 22 August), which repealed and replaced Law No. 79/VII/95 of 21 November (and was itself amended in 2024), within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of Cabo Verde.

Nationality by origin

The law attributes nationality by origin, broadly:

• persons born in Cabo Verde to a Cabo Verdean father or mother;
• persons born in Cabo Verde to foreign parents under the residence conditions set by the law, where the person does not hold another nationality;
• persons born abroad to a Cabo Verdean parent or grandparent may acquire nationality by option/declaration in the cases provided by law.

Naturalisation

Naturalisation is an administrative act granted to applicants who meet the legal conditions, broadly: being of age under Cabo Verdean law; habitual residence in Cabo Verde for the statutory period; civic suitability; and means of subsistence. The 2023 reform adjusted, among other points, the conditions for acquisition through marriage (including a minimum duration of marriage) and reinforced loss provisions for fraud or serious crimes in the process.

Dual citizenship

Cabo Verde admits dual citizenship within the terms of the law: acquiring or keeping another nationality does not automatically cause loss of Cabo Verdean nationality, subject to the legal conditions and the loss rules introduced by the 2023 amendment.

Procedure

Applications run through the competent ministries and consular channels (Ministry of Justice; consular portal of Cabo Verde). Documentation typically includes birth and marriage certificates, proof of residence and means, and criminal-record certificates. Requirements and forms change; confirm the current procedure with the official channels.

Practical points

• residence time must generally be lawful and habitual;
• marriage to a Cabo Verdean national does not confer nationality automatically; statutory conditions apply;
• documentation from abroad may need legalisation/apostille;
• the 2023 reform tightened fraud-related loss rules.

When to speak with a lawyer

Legal help is valuable for complex origin cases, dual-citizenship questions, refusals, and loss/reacquisition issues. The directory lists lawyers in this field.

This page is general information, not legal advice.