Citizenship by descent: reclaiming your Cabo Verdean roots

Cabo Verdean nationality is governed by the Nationality Law (Law No. 33/X/2023 of 22 August), implemented by Decree-Law No. 29/2024 (the regulation of the Nationality Law), within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of Cabo Verde.

Nationality by origin

The law attributes nationality by origin, broadly, to persons born in Cabo Verde to a Cabo Verdean father or mother, as well as other cases set out in the law.

Descendants born abroad

Persons born abroad to a Cabo Verdean parent or grandparent may acquire nationality by option/declaration, in the cases provided by the Nationality Law. It is not an automatic effect of the family tie: the route is the one laid down in the law, by means of a declaration in the form and before the competent entity.

Procedure and documents

• applications run through the competent ministries and consular channels;
• documentation typically includes birth and marriage certificates;
• documents from abroad may need legalisation/apostille;
• requirements and forms change; confirm the current procedure with the official channels.

Key points

• the Cabo Verdean origin of a parent or grandparent is the starting point, but acquisition follows the routes laid down in the law;
• the option declaration is made before the competent entity, in the form required;
• certificates issued abroad may need legalisation/apostille.

When to speak with a lawyer

Legal help is valuable when documentation is old or incomplete, when there are doubts about the parent’s or grandparent’s origin, or when an application is refused. The directory lists lawyers in this field.

This page is general information, not legal advice.