Buying a home in Cape Verde from abroad: the diaspora guide

If you live in Boston, Rotterdam, Lisbon or Paris, buying a home in Cape Verde used to mean cramming everything into an August holiday. It no longer has to: with the right instruments, the entire process can be done remotely — we regularly support diaspora buyers who only saw their house in person after it was already theirs.

The key instrument: consular power of attorney

A power of attorney issued at a Cape Verdean consulate in your country of residence lets a representative — a trusted relative, lawyer or solicitor — sign the promissory contract, the deed and the registration on your behalf. If you prefer a local notary in your country, it needs a Hague apostille to be valid in Cape Verde.

• Request specific powers (sign promissory contract, purchase, register, open a bank account if needed) — generic powers are sometimes refused by notaries;
• If possible, name the property in the document; if still searching, use wording acceptable for "any property in Cape Verde".

Viewing homes without boarding a plane

This is our daily work: complete photo and video coverage (including common areas, the view and the street), live video-call viewings where you can ask questions and request close-ups, and an honest second opinion on the property's real condition. Always ask for street and neighbourhood videos — that is what listing photos never show.

Diaspora mortgages

• Several Cape Verdean banks accept foreign income (contracts and payslips from where you work);
• They typically finance up to 70–80% of the appraised value;
• Emigrant foreign-currency accounts come with favourable conditions and smooth the process.

Always compare two or three banks — spreads and document requirements vary. More in our mortgage guide.

The money: exchange rate and transfers

The Cape Verdean escudo has been pegged to the euro since 1999 (€1 = 110.265 CVE) — euro earners face zero currency risk. Dollar earners should budget for EUR/USD fluctuation. Always send deposit and completion funds through the banking system with a stated purpose: safer, and it documents the origin of funds.

Documents you will need

• Passport or Cape Verdean ID;
• Cape Verdean tax number (NIF) — your representative can obtain it for you;
• Consular or apostilled power of attorney;
• Proof of income, if applying for a mortgage.

The property-side paperwork is covered in our documents article.

Advice from experience

The biggest risk of buying remotely is not bureaucracy — it is entrusting verification to someone with an interest in the sale, or to relatives with no experience of the process. Separate the roles: whoever shows you the house should not be the one checking the paperwork. An independent local lawyer costs a fraction of what is at stake.

We keep a dedicated page of properties for the diaspora and a team used to working over WhatsApp in your time zone. The dream of returning home often starts with a simple message.