Important to Know

The student should be aware that upon arrival in Cape Verde, an airport tax needs to be paid. This amounts to €31. It’s recommended that the student pays the exact amount. Typically, receiving change at the relevant counter is not possible.

Cash can be withdrawn from any ATM, and most places accept payment with a Dutch debit card, although the card needs to be set for international transactions. However, using a debit card for payment in shops and restaurants is not universally possible. The general practice is to use cash.

In Cape Verde, the currency is the Escudo (CVE). The exchange rate is approximately 1 to 110. In many places, especially on the tourist islands, Euros are also accepted. However, you should note that for each Euro, you’ll generally get only 100 CVE.

Wifi is not standard in Cape Verde, and the options are limited. Renting a modem is possible, with average costs of around €70 per month per apartment. Creating a hotspot using your mobile phone is sometimes a better alternative. Roaming costs in Cape Verde are quite high. We recommend students to purchase a local SIM card upon arrival from one of the local providers, CV Movel or Unitel. CV Movel is a government-owned company, and Unitel is a private company.

Subscription plans in Cape Verde work a bit differently than in the Netherlands. All providers use a prepaid system. However, you can use your credit to buy a package (weekly/monthly) with a fixed amount of data. Once the data limit is reached, you can buy a new package via SMS. The condition is that there is enough credit for the package purchase. New credit can be purchased online or from local sales points. It’s advisable for students traveling or interning together to purchase their SIM cards from the same provider upon arrival. The advantage is that calling within the same provider is free or at least cheaper.

One of the most enjoyable experiences abroad is visiting a supermarket. It’s a great opportunity to discover new products. Students will notice that some things are different from the Netherlands.

Supermarket prices are often higher than in the Netherlands. Many products need to be imported by plane or boat. Transport costs increase, thus driving up the product prices. Additionally, import duties must also be paid. Therefore, students should be prepared for higher prices. In Cape Verde, it might be convenient for students to take advantage of the “dagmenu” or “prato do dia” (daily menu) offered by many restaurants. This allows you to enjoy a meal at a fixed price, with options for fish, meat, or vegetarian dishes. The cost of a daily menu ranges between €3 to €5 per meal. Bread is generally priced similarly to that in the Netherlands.

Before departure, students will receive a packing list with tips, including advice to bring along spreads, coffee, tea, and other daily products. This list may also include other everyday items.

Students are advised to bring along some basic medications. In addition to any prescribed medications, it’s recommended to have paracetamol (acetaminophen), anti-diarrheal medication, and oral rehydration solution (ORS) with you. Including dietary supplements like vitamins might also be beneficial. A small first aid kit could also come in handy.

Most students might not immediately think about it, but their student public transportation pass (studentenreisproduct) is not usable when they temporarily reside abroad. In this case, it’s possible to apply for a monthly public transportation reimbursement. We provide information to students about the necessary steps to take in order to apply for this reimbursement.

Traveling to Cape Verde is relatively accessible due to the various options available. There are daily flights to the islands from Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Brussels. Tickets are currently available for booking with TUIFLY, Tap air Portugal (TAP), or Royal Air Maroc.

In general, internship allowances are not commonly provided. However, there might be instances where meals are offered. This depends on the specific company where the student will be interning.

It is recommended that students delve into the country, its culture, and language before their departure. In collaboration with Mr. Agostinho Santos, a lecturer at the People’s University of Rotterdam, a tailored masterclass is organized upon consultation with students. While not mandatory, we strongly advise attending. The Masterclass delves into Cape Verdean language, culture, norms, and values. The cost for a 2-hour session is €15 per student. Additionally, there is the option to take a language course or acquire learning materials to independently study the language. Costs for these options are determined in consultation with Mr. Agostinho Santos.

Before students can depart for Cape Verde, Intercambios ensures that they are informed about the required vaccinations. Vaccinations for Cape Verde are not mandatory, and it is therefore the students’ responsibility to decide whether to get them or not. Given the level of medical care in Cape Verde, Intercambios strongly advises students to get vaccinated.

Cape Verde is generally safe to travel to. The Dutch government does highlight some safety risks and recommends precautionary measures. However, some of these precautions may be exaggerated and certainly do not apply to most locations. Intercambios advises students to use common sense and avoid situations that they would also avoid in the Netherlands. Check the most up-to-date travel advice on the website of the Dutch government, but also read the experiences of students who have already completed a internship in Cape Verde through Intercambios.

For interning abroad, it’s important to have the right insurance coverage. Students should have health insurance, travel insurance, and liability insurance. Many travel insurance policies have a maximum coverage period of 90 consecutive days abroad. Since internships typically last longer than 90 days, students going abroad for an internship should ensure they have travel insurance that covers the entire duration of their stay. Also, make sure to carefully review the coverage details of the insurance policy.

For a tourist stay, no visa is required in Cape Verde. However, students coming for internships do need a visa. Intercambios assists students in obtaining the necessary visa documentation for a maximum stay of 90 days before their departure. The visa has a cost of €45 and, as of now, is provided to students for free based on existing agreements. While Intercambios continues to work towards this, no rights can be derived from Intercambios in this regard. The visa must be personally collected from the Consulate of Cape Verde in Rotterdam.

The visa will be stamped in the passport. The passport should have at least 6 months of validity remaining at the time of departure back to the Netherlands. This is a requirement when applying for a visa.

In Cape Verde, if needed, an extension of the 90-day visa can be requested two weeks before its expiration. This extension can also be submitted with the assistance of Intercambios. The extension is valid for another 90 days. Failure to extend the visa may result in a fine of €150 upon departure from Cape Verde.

Doing an internship in Cape Verde also means temporarily living there. Intercambios has contacts and arrangements with good and safe locations where students can stay at their own expense. The apartments are fully furnished and located in a secure environment. Intercambios ensures that housing is available before the students depart for Cape Verde.

Tap water is generally consumed by locals without issue. However, students are advised to buy bottled water. The tap water can be used for cooking, showering, and other non-consumable purposes.