The same data shows that 8,686 applications for long-term visas have been submitted to the Portuguese embassy in Cape Verde since the start of 2023, and 8,125 of those applications, or 95.8% of them, have been granted, according to EU Helpers.

The Portuguese Embassy has already issued 1,049 visas for 2022, and the average number of visas issued each month through the end of August was 1,085, which is significantly more than the maximum of 700 in the previous four years.

On the other hand, this year's rejection rate is 4.2%, which translates to 353 visa requests that resulted in Cape Verdean applicants being refused admission. The percentage of visa applications that were turned down this year was obviously smaller than it was last year. In contrast, in 2021 and 2020, 42.2 and 23.9% of applicants, respectively, had their applications turned down. The rejection rate for Cape Verdean visa applicants was 29.5% in the year before the outbreak (2019).

Portugal's generosity follows the company's scheduling and processing of requests from the Praia consular division, where individuals submit their requests for employment, study, medical, and family reunification visas.

According to the Embassy, work visas are the most often requested visa type, and as a result, 4,948 of them have already been issued. In contrast, in prior years, such as 2022, only a total of 1,667 work visa applications were approved. The same data shows that 1,930 visas for study and 1,247 for other purposes have already been issued this year.

Following the Portuguese government's adoption of a new law that facilitated the issuance of visas for citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), of which Cape Verde is a founding member, the recognition rate of visa applications submitted by Cape Verdeans has also increased.

On the VFS Global website, which recently opened expanded facilities with more branches, more staff, and improved waiting circumstances at Praia Shopping in Quebra Canela, appointments can be booked for document delivery related to national visas.

Additionally, applications for short-term visas are submitted through the Common Visa Centre (CCV), which is run by Portugal and issuing such visas on behalf of the Schengen region since 2012.

The dates and hours for opening new slots have been announced - every 15 days - to accommodate demand for Schengen visa applications. Prior to two months ago, in order to prevent third parties from hoarding applications for national visas, the pre-payment of a service fee of €40 that is not refundable was also put into place.