IMMIGRATION & RESIDENCY
The Turks &
Caicos Islands is a Common Law, British Dependent Territory which
places no restrictions on foreign investment in real estate, the currency is the US
dollar, and the language is English. These factors alone make
the islands a particularly attractive and convenient jurisdiction for many
individuals considering acquiring a second residence or working in
the islands.
There are six categories of
residency in TCI which arise in different ways, namely:
Temporary Residence Permits
- which are 30 day permits granted to tourists on arrival (can be
extended on application for a further 30 days).
Residence Permits -
which entitle individuals to reside in the islands for a period of
one year from the date of issuance at a cost to Government of
US$1000.00 per annum.
Permanent Residence Permits
(PRC's) - PRC's last for the duration of the life of the holder and extend to
the holder's spouse and dependents (until the age of majority when they can apply for
their own PRC). PRC's are issued to applicants who have made the requisite
investment in TCI and come either with the right to work (i.e. individuals who have held
work permits for 5 years) and without the right to work (i.e. the retirement investment
category). The investment prerequisite for PRC's in the retirement category varies
depending on where the investor acquires property. The fee
payable to Government on issuance of a PRC also varies depending
upon the category of the Applicant.
View a schedule of the Government fees payable on application and
issuance of PRC's.
Work Permits
Non-Turks & Caicos
Islanders require work permits in order to work in the Islands.
The majority of work permits are issued on a year to year basis
however it is possible to obtain permits for 3 years (employed
persons) and 5 years (self-employed persons). It tends to be
easier to obtain permits in the self-employed category as
applications of non-Belonger employees must demonstrate that the
employer was not able to find a suitably qualified Belonger for
the post.
Employees’ work permit applications are generally handled by the
employer or through law firms or companies retained by the
employer. Organizing, submitting and pursuing a work permit
application is an involved process and self-employed persons are
best served retaining professional assistance with initial
applications.
Government work
permit fees range from US$100 per annum in the farming category to
US$7,000 for professionals and business managers. The Immigration
Regulations were amended twice in 2001 alone, increasing work
permit fees significantly to bring TCI into line with neighboring
jurisdictions.
More detailed information on the fees currently
payable for work permits can be found here.
-
Citizenship/Belongership -
although logically separate (the grant of TCI passports falls under the British
Nationality Act - whereas the discretion to grant Belongership rests with TCI Government)
these two categories tend to be bound together. Belongership status entitles an
individual to vote in general elections, be considered for public offices, and so forth.
The possibility of acquiring Belongership status for persons not born to TCI
citizens is generally restricted to individuals who have made a significant contribution
to the islands.
If you are considering
living and/or working in
TCI or have related questions, feel free to contact us by
email or otherwise and we will be happy to provide
you with further, more detailed information, relating to the requirements, projected costs
and considerations.
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(649) 946-4344
Telefax: (649)-946-4564
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Finbar F. Dempsey & Company Group:
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Finbar F. Dempsey & Company
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Dempsey & Co - All Rights Reserved
