Cape Verde: Knowledge Base profile
Published 9 July 2025
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About: Cape Verde
This document contains useful information about Cape Verde which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.
Contacts
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Publication
Below is information on when this version of the document was published:
- version 2.0
- published for Home Office staff on 3 July 2025
Changes from last version of this document
This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.
Cape Verde: nationality
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Cape Verde.
Dual nationality is recognised in Cape Verde.
Cape Verde: legitimacy
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Cape Verde.
Legitimacy
Cape Verde does not recognise a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births. This means all births are considered legitimate whether a child’s parents are married or not.
Cape Verde: gender recognition
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Cape Verde.
Transgender citizens are not recognised in Cape Verde.
Cape Verde: civil partnerships and marriage
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Cape Verde.
Same sex marriage is illegal in Cape Verde.
Civil marriages are legal in Cape Verde.
Religious and non-civil marriages are allowed in Cape Verde but are not recognised as legal unless a separate legal civil ceremony is conducted with the Notary Conservatory or Registrar.
Cape Verde: documents
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Cape Verde.
All birth, marriage and death records are centralised with civil registration services and must be registered with the Directorate of Registries, Notaries and Identification (Ministry of Justice) in Cape Verde.
Birth certificates
All births in Cape Verde must be registered within 15 days of the date of birth. Late registration is allowed. A birth certificate is issued on the date of registration.
Marriage certificates
Civil marriages are registered at the time the marriage takes place.
Religious marriages must be registered within 3 days of the date of marriage.
A marriage certificate is issued on the date of registration.
Death certificates
All deaths in Cape Verde must be registered within 2 days of the date of death. Late registration is allowed, taking into consideration different causes of death.
A death certificate is issued on the date of registration.