Cabo Verde is raising its Airport Security Tax (TSA) by 33% on domestic flights and 29% on international routes, while also directing 20% of the levy's revenues to the National Civil Protection and Fire Service. The changes are set out in a decree-law published on Tuesday, 3 November, in the Official Gazette and took effect the following day.

The decree fixes the domestic rate at 200 escudos (€1.82), up from 150 escudos (€1.36), and the international rate at 4,400 escudos (approximately €40), compared with the previous 3,400 escudos (€31). Both new rates entered into force on Wednesday, 4 November.

According to Lusa, the change is contained in Decree-Law No. 49/2026, which justifies the upward revision on the grounds of strengthening the financial sustainability of the activities funded by the tax.

The decree establishes that the TSA contributes to financing airport and border security services, surveillance, search and rescue, and evacuation operations — providing the basis for including the National Civil Protection and Fire Service among the entities that benefit from the revenues.

Under the new distribution arrangement, that institution will receive 20% of the tax's income. The funds must be used exclusively to reinforce operational capacity, including the acquisition of equipment, vehicles and communications systems, as well as staff training and emergency prevention and response.

The decree-law also amends the TSA exemption regime on international flights for the children of Cabo Verdean nationals, removing the previous age cap of 18 years. The measure therefore broadens the pool of eligible beneficiaries regardless of age.

A further change in the decree allows citizens of 91 countries subject to prior visa requirements to once again submit their visa applications online.

The digital submission of applications does not, however, waive the prior security and migratory-risk assessment carried out by Cabo Verdean authorities, who may request additional documentation or interviews from applicants. The list of countries covered, published in January, includes only one European nation: Belarus.