Buying land and property registration in Cabo Verde
Buying land means checking who the legal owner is and exactly what you are buying. In Cabo Verde, ownership is proven by the land registry (Conservatória) and the plot is identified by the cadastre (INGT).
Indicative information, with source and date. Not legal or tax advice: always confirm with the named authority before acting.
Last updated: 2026-07-23
How do I confirm the legal owner?
Ask for an up-to-date Land Registry Certificate at the Conservatória: it shows the registered owner and any charges (mortgages, liens). Registration confers the presumption of ownership and is now mandatory (Land Registry Code, DL 10/2010). Confirm the seller is the registered owner.
Sources
- Código do Registo Predial – Decreto-Lei n.º 10/2010, Boletim Oficial n.º 12 · 2010-03-29official
- DGRNI – Registo Predial e Notariado (Ministério da Justiça) · 2026-07-23official
What is the INGT cadastre?
The property cadastre, run by INGT, is the administrative record that identifies and physically maps each parcel. It differs from the land registry: the cadastre characterises the plot; the registry establishes ownership. Confirm the on-the-ground boundaries match the cadastral map. A new cadastre regime has been in force since 2024.
Sources
- INGT – Cadastro Predial · 2026-07-23official
Special care near the sea?
Yes. An 80 m strip from the shoreline is maritime public domain, inalienable and imprescriptible, and cannot be private property; use is only by concession (Law 44/VI/2004 and the Constitution). Some coastal buildings are sold as "private" when legally they can only be a concession. Always confirm in writing with the Council and INGT.
Sources
- Lei n.º 44/VI/2004 (domínio público marítimo) · 2004-07-12official
Am I buying full ownership or a surface right?
Always confirm. Full ownership includes the soil and the building; a surface right is only the right to build/keep a construction on someone else’s land, often time-limited, with the soil staying with the owner. It is a common source of confusion, especially on State/municipal and coastal land. Have the notary/lawyer check the title.
Sources