English 
Français The short version
- Cape Verde has the lower entry bar: €1,500 per month versus €1,725 for Malaysia.
- Malaysia grants a longer initial stay (12 months vs 6), and it is renewable.
- Tax treatment differs: Cape Verde — foreign income exempt; Malaysia — territorial taxation. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Cape Verde Remote Working Program | Malaysia DE Rantau |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €1,500 (better) | €1,725 |
| Income basis | Savings accepted | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 6 months | 1 year (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | 1 year | 2 years |
| Path to permanent residence | No | No |
| Path to citizenship | No | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Tax treatment | Foreign income exempt (Remote Working Program tax exemption (foreign-source income)) | Territorial taxation |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Not specified |
| Application fee | ≈ €20 (better) | ≈ €202 |
| Where to apply | Online | Online |
| Processing time | 2 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Cape Verde Remote Working Program →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Malaysia DE Rantau →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Remote Working Program in Cabo Verde — Turismo de Cabo Verde (official ITCV portal) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Remote Working Program — 'Proof of Income' requirement (Individual 1.500 EUR / Family 2.700 EUR average bank balance, last 6 months) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Remote Working Program — 'Insurance' requirement (travel + health insurance with evacuation and body-transportation cover) and 'Costs' (visa fee 20 EUR/person, airport fee 34 EUR/person) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Cabo Verde — Individual — Residence (>183-day aggregate rule in a calendar year and 31-December habitual-residence test), PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Cabo Verde Digital Nomad Visa: Key Benefits, Tax & Income — caboverdeexpert (tax-resident carve-out, no PR/citizenship path, local clients prohibited) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Cape Verde suspends visa on arrival for citizens of 96 countries (Decree No. 244/GMAI/2025, eff. 1 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government EASE — Cabo Verde official traveller pre-registration & Airport Security Tax (TSA) platform (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Cabo Verde Digital Nomad Visa — Remote Working Cabo Verde (consolidated requirements: 1.500/2.700 EUR balance, 6+6 month validity, 20 EUR visa fee, 34 EUR airport fee, ~2-week processing) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Health Services & Regulations in Cape Verde — overview of the public/private health system and fees for non-nationals (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government DE Rantau | MDEC (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ V8 (MDEC) — payments, tax (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Mandatory Documents for Remote Worker (MDEC) — Medical Insurance (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15