Sal Airport (SID) SIM Cards: Where to Buy on Arrival

Yes, Alou and Unitel T+ are officially listed at Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID). Buying there suits visitors who want a physical SIM and have time for setup; arranging an eSIM before departure is more practical when avoiding a shop visit matters most.

SIM Options at Sal Airport

Keep airport purchases and online offers separate when comparing costs. The two local operators have confirmed airport listings, but their complete new-SIM prices at SID are not reliably published.

Airport listings and online offers checked on October 7, 2026. Both local operators appear in the official airport telecom directory. The online eSIM prices above are separate products, not quotes from airport counters.

Finding the Shops and Understanding the Total Price

Ask airport staff for the Alou or Unitel T+ sales point accessible from your arrival route. The public directory does not specify exact counter positions or clearly identify whether each outlet is before or after customs.

Opening hours: Hours not reliably published. If your flight lands late or your transfer is waiting, have a connection option that does not depend on finding an open counter.

At the shop, explain that you need a new SIM and a working data package. Ask for one total covering the SIM itself, your chosen bundle and any activation or service charge. Getting a quote for a recharge alone leaves part of the purchase unresolved.

Before paying, establish:

• How much usable data you receive and when it expires.

• Whether the package includes a local number, calls or SMS, if you need them.

• Whether staff will activate the package and help you test the connection.

• The complete amount due, rather than only the advertised bundle price.

There is no verified basis here for claiming that an airport SIM is always more expensive than buying in town. Compare complete quotes for equivalent packages before making a separate shopping trip.

Documents, Payment and Activation

Bring your passport and an unlocked phone. Tourist-specific document requirements and accepted payment methods for the airport outlets are not clearly detailed in the public information checked, so ask the seller what is needed before beginning registration.

Carry a payment card and some Cape Verdean escudos as a backup. Ask which payment methods the counter accepts; do not assume that a foreign card, euro cash or an online payment option advertised elsewhere will work there.

Physical-SIM buyers should also check that their exact phone model has a SIM tray. An unlocked, eSIM-only phone needs a digital plan.

Before leaving the counter:

1. Have the seller complete any required registration and activate the agreed package.

2. Confirm the allowance and expiry date on the activation message or account.

3. Turn off Wi-Fi and load a webpage to test mobile data.

4. Keep the receipt, SIM packaging and account details for top-ups or support.

Testing with Wi-Fi switched off matters: a working airport Wi-Fi connection can otherwise hide an unfinished mobile-data setup.

Buying in Santa Maria Instead

Buying after you reach Santa Maria makes sense if your transfer is ready, the airport counter is unavailable or you would rather compare packages once settled. Plan a visit to an official operator shop instead of assuming that any place selling recharge credit can issue and register a new SIM.

Save your hotel address and meeting instructions before leaving the terminal. Arrange your airport transfer in Cape Verde so the journey to your accommodation does not depend on completing a SIM purchase first.

Waiting until town also gives you more time to decide whether you need ordinary mobile data, local calling features or a larger allowance. Compare the options in our guide to buying a local SIM in Cape Verde, then judge the offer on its full purchase cost.

Arranging an eSIM Before You Fly

Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked to use a digital plan. Check the exact model and regional version before buying.

Unitel T+ offers its own Morabeza eSIM, including the online package shown above. Purchase requires an account and login, but its portal says no identification document is required for that digital product. This rule applies to Morabeza eSIM, not automatically to a physical SIM bought at the airport.

Roafly’s Cape Verde eSIM uses Unitel T+ and provides data-only service, with top-ups and hotspot use within the purchased allowance. It does not include a local phone number or ordinary calls and SMS.

Install your eSIM over a stable internet connection before departure and follow the supplied instructions for using it on arrival. Roafly suits a trip where you want mobile data arranged in advance for maps, bookings and messaging, without handling a physical SIM purchase.

Larger allowances or local calling needs can make a local operator product more attractive. You can compare Cape Verde eSIM providers before deciding which plan fits your stay.

Free Airport Wi-Fi and Your First Journey

Sal Airport has free Wi-Fi. The airport operator describes its Wi-Fi service as unlimited and says access requires a valid email address.

Use it to message your accommodation, retrieve transfer details or access your eSIM instructions. Save the information you need for the journey before leaving the network’s coverage.

Airport Wi-Fi can bridge the gap between landing and getting mobile data, but it cannot provide a connection throughout your stay. Compare the broader internet options in Cape Verde if you are still deciding how much to rely on mobile data and accommodation Wi-Fi.

If your transfer is already arranged and you can wait to buy in town, airport Wi-Fi may cover your immediate needs. If you need data during the journey, prepare an eSIM before flying or complete and test a local SIM purchase before leaving SID.