Common menu bar links
|
Last Updated:
November 7, 2007 12:18
EST
Still Valid: November 15, 2007 23:05 EST |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. RECENT UPDATES Sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Travel Report have been updated. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is no Official Warning for this country. Cape Verde
You are advised to exercise a high degree of caution in the country. Travellers should maintain a high level of security awareness at all times and avoid public gatherings and street demonstrations. OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad. BACK TO TOP 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. Violent crime is low but has recently increased. Petty crime and burglary can occur, especially in market areas. Purse snatching occurs, especially in the city of Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, and in Praia, on the island of São Tiago. Avoid displays of affluence and ensure your personal belongings and travel documents are secured. It is recommended to travel in groups, particularly after dark. Tourist facilities are limited. Strong currents and powerful waves make swimming and water sports dangerous at some locations. Canadians should be vigilant on beaches and never swim alone. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Cape Verde authorities and was valid on June 27, 2007. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change. It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy of the Republic of Cape Verde, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Cape Verde. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa. Tourist Visa: Required Business Visa: Required Student Visa: Required Travellers are required to carry evidence of yellow fever vaccination if they are arriving from infected areas. A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada. Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services. Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders. Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order. Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada. BACK TO TOP 5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS There is no Canadian government office in Cape Verde. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address: Senegal - DAKAR, Embassy of Canada Address: corner of Galliéni and Amadou Cissé Dia Streets, Dakar, Senegal Postal Address: P.O. Box 3373, Dakar, Tel.: 221 33-889-47-00 Fax: 221 33-889-47-20 E-Mail: dakar@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.dakar.gc.ca For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Dakar, Senegal, and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. BACK TO TOP 6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare. Homosexual activity is illegal. There are strict penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs. Foreigners have been arrested for carrying unlabelled pills. For a complete list of prohibited items, please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Cape Verde (see section 4 above). BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY The road system is extensive, particularly on the island of São Tiago. Main roads are usually paved with cobblestones but can be narrow, winding, and poorly lit. Most other roads are unpaved. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise caution, particularly after dark. Organized roadside assistance is not widely available. An ambulance service operates in São Tiago, São Vicente, Sal, Fogo, and Ribeira Grande on Santo Antão. Intercity van service can be hazardous due to bad driving habits. Taxis hailed from hotels are generally reliable. Car rentals are available on the islands of São Tiago and São Vicente. It is strongly recommended to purchase sufficient car insurance. In Praia, city buses and taxis are reliable, clean and in good condition. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. Domestic flights are available through TACV, the national air carrier. Delays or sudden cancellations can occur due to violent winds or sandstorms. A ferry service operates between Praia and the islands of Brava and Fogo, and between São Vicente and Santo Antão. Delays and frequent schedule changes occur. Boats may have limited space for luggage. Sea conditions may be treacherous. Mariners should seek local advice prior to travel, particularly to the islands of Fogo and Brava. You should advise local ports of arrival and departure times and provide relatives with your itinerary. The currency is the Cape Verde escudo (CVE). Some hotels and restaurants in Praia will convert U.S. dollars and euros into local currency. Major credit cards are accepted in some hotels and restaurants. Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine ( BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE Cape Verde is very hot and receives extremely little rain throughout the year. The climate is dry and windy. The rainy season usually occurs from August to October, but there has been a severe drought for several years. Fogo Island receives more rain than the average. Natural disasters are possible due to regional volcanic activity. The last volcano eruption was on Fogo Island in 1995. BACK TO TOP 9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site. The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date. Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage. The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada. BACK TO TOP 10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION Medical facilities are poor and many medicines are not available. Basic medical procedures are available in Praia and Mindelo, but travellers requiring specialized care or having sustained serious injury may need to be evacuated. Travellers should carry their prescription medicine in the original container along with a copy of the prescription. Tap water is not safe to drink, and even bottled water may be unsafe. It is wise to buy mineral water. You should take measures to reduce the risk of insect bites. BACK TO TOP 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Returning to Canada Traveller's Checklist Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal. Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
