We are now looking at other visa options – by Y. & D. Hamilton
For 4 years myself and my husband have held a residency visa which we have processed here on Sal. We visit Sal a number of times during the year for different lengths of time. We have re-applied every year to renew our Residency visas. Although the Residency Visa lasts for 5 years you still have to have it restamped annually. So off we went to the police station in Espargos in October 2014 with copies of all last years paperwork but no, this year they want 12 lots of information, finger prints AGAIN and the application form for the stamp!!!!This information now includes 3 lots of police checks, a medical, finance check to name a few things, all of these cost extra money on top of the 50 euros for the stamp – 26 euros for finance, 5 euros for police check etc etc.
List of documents requested by police in Espargos when applying for 12 month Residency Visa below. A number of documents will also need to be notorised.
1. Request addressed to the Hon Mr Regional Police Commander of Sal. (Letter written in Portuguese)
2. Completed form
3. 1 x passport photo
4. Proof of the existance of economic resources in CV – means of subsistance (Bank Account funds in a CV bank account)
5. Criminal record of CV
6. Police record of National Police
7. Police record of Judicary Police
8. Medical certificate (obtainable from hospital) ankare
9. Travel document – valid passport
10. Fiscal situation declaration of finance (From Finanza – which shows you don’t owe any outstanding taxes)
11. 2 x copies of residence card
12. 1 x copy of passport
13. Any other required documents (that the the Police may ask you to provide);
As well as the additional cost, you have to go back to Espargos, more taxi’s to different offices and can take several visits or more, time we don’t want to spend on our holiday getting hot and bothered and more frustrated!….. they say: NO STRESS CABO VERDE!
We have now decided enough is enough. We will either contact Jonathon Lux in London (HC to Cabo Verde) or spend a day in Lisbon to visit the Embassy there to enquire about a Multi Entry Visa – these visa’s are different, they are cheaper and there is less running around for us gathering information. In comparison the Multi Entry visa from Lisbon is the better deal, 1 year for a multi-entry – visits lasting up to 90 days with the visa costing 85 euros. We will take note of Alyson’s blog about her experience of getting her visa in Lisbon, see links below.
NOTE: Other links you may find useful:
Officially recognised translators on Sal: Tino Mosso and Daniel R Monteiro
HONORARY CONSUL TO CV – LONDON
LISBON EMBASSY TO CV – ALYSONS EXPERIENCE
