Turks and Caicos Islands Visa Policy

There are different types of visas available for the Turks and Caicos Islands. You will be required a visa even if you are transiting through the Turks and Caicos Islands unless you are from a visa-exempt group.

You can realize your planned trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands by obtaining a Turks and Caicos Islands visa. Foreign nationals can apply to the Turks and Caicos Islands short-term visas via embassy for temporary reasons (tourism, business, cultural, and other short-term purposes). Applications for entry clearance will be made from outside the islands to the nearest British High Commission, Embassies/Consulates, or to the Director of Immigration, Grand Turk.

Nationals of countries and territories who are legal residents of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada, or holders of a valid visa to travel to any of these three countries, may be granted to enter the islands without a Turks and Caicos Islands visa.

Persons requiring a visa to enter or transit through the Turks and Caicos Islands must apply to the nearest British Embassy or Consulate with a Visa Section.  

For detailed information about UK visas, you can check UK Visa Policy.

Upon arrival in the Turks and Caicos Islands, you must show a valid passport. You must also have a valid onward or return ticket.

Upon arrival, everyone will need to complete an immigration form which will be provided to an immigration officer. Also, the head of each family will be asked to complete a customs form (C105). In the case of friends traveling together with different surnames, each of them will need to complete their own customs declaration form.

As borders will be reopened, each traveler will also need to complete a health screening questionnaire.

You can apply for the Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Visa for realizing your temporary travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Visa applications for entry clearance will be made from outside the islands to the nearest British High Commission, Embassies/Consulates, or to the Director of Immigration, Grand Turk. 

Required Documents for the Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Visa

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Two Photos (must be certified by a Justice of the Peace)

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 45 x 35 mm size

4. Residence Permit/ Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

5. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas

6. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation (return ticket must be included)
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

7. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)

• The letter must include:
  • Name, postal address, and telephone number of sponsor/company
  • Details regarding the applicant’s working position, starting date of the employment, and salary
  • The timeframe of work leave (expected date to resume duties) and purpose of travel
• Valid trade license copy and company ownership documents (if a person is an owner of the company).
• Letter from University (if student)
• Copy of sponsor’s valid passport and residence visa (if any) to be attached to letter from sponsor (if an applicant is a dependent)

8. Proof of Financial Means

• Original bank reference letter on applicant's behalf

9. Police Clearance

• Current police record of the country of origin (must be translated if not in English)

10. Copy of Surety's Identification (must be Certified)

11. Covering Letter

• From surety applying for a visa on behalf of the applicant

12. Original School Letter

13. Parents Legal Status (in the country where he/she resides)

14. Evidence of Surety Legal Status in TCI

15. For Minors:

• Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
• Letter of consent from parent/s or legal guardian/s, if traveling unaccompanied

*Additional documents can be required.

Processing Time for the Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Visa

The average processing time for a Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Visa is 10-15 calendar days. It depends on your Visa application country.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Visa Fee

Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Administrative fee is 100 USD (non-refundable) and Upon Approval, an Additional Payment - 150 USD (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay others such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

Where to Apply for the Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Visa?

You will apply for a Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Visa at the Director of Immigration, Grand Turk, in UK visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

Application for a work permit should only be submitted if an employee/s is/are needed to perform a real job and all efforts to recruit Turks and Caicos Islanders have failed. Your efforts must include newspaper advertisements and proof of contact with the Department of Employment Services to determine if there are job seekers, whether they are registered with the Department, with the skills you need.

If the application is for a self-employed or self-employed work permit, there is no need to comply with that requirement.

If work clearance is required, the law now requires the following condition of advertising to be met.

The employer must advertise in two consecutive issues a newspaper published and sold or distributed on the islands, and the advertisement must:

• Describes the nature of the position available in sufficient detail to allow persons reading the advertisement to have a reasonable indication of the nature of the work and the conditions of employment
• Include the name of the employer and the location of the office or other place to which the application is to be submitted together with the contact details, including telephone and fax numbers and the e-mail address
• Define clearly the salary package relating to the position
• Invite prospective applicants who are Islanders to send copies of their applications to the Work Permit Board
• State whether the position is currently held by the holder of the work permit

There are three types of work permits:

• Employed (Skilled and Unskilled)
• Self-employed
• Freelancer

Required Documents for Turks and Caicos Islands Work Permit

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Two Photos (Only ONE photograph must be certified)

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 45 x 35 mm size

4. Residence Permit/ Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

5. Photocopies

• Certified copy of the foreign worker’s main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas

6. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

7. Certificate of Good Health (please contact the Ministry of Health for further information)

8. Confirmation of up to date NHIP and NIB Contribution (if applying for renewal)

• For self-employed:
  • Cover letter describing the need for a work permit
  • Statement of Bank
  • Proof of Company Ownership
  • Listing of Partners/Shareholders/Incumbency Certificate
  • The organizational structure 
  • Certificates and Diplomas Academic/Professional Qualifications
  • If not, from an English-speaking country, proof of proficiency in both spoken and written English
  • Cover letter describing the need for a work permit
  • Form of the application completed signed by the employer and the applicant
  • Business License of Employer
  • News Paper Advertising
  • Description of job
  • Contract for employment
  • Certificates and Diplomas Academic/Professional Qualifications
  • If not, from an English-speaking country, proof of proficiency in both spoken and written English
• For employed:
  • Cover letter describing the need for a work permit
  • Form of the application completed signed by the employer and the applicant
  • Business License of Employer
  • News Paper Advertising
  • Description of job
  • Contract for employment
  • Certificates and Diplomas Academic/Professional Qualifications
  • If not, from an English-speaking country, proof of proficiency in both spoken and written English
• For freelancer:
  • Education and education
    • Diploma in High School
  • Correspondence from public secondary school(s) with a minimum of five (5) years of attendance.
  • Genealogy:
    • The applicant's Birth Certificate
    • Applicant's parents' birth certificate
    • Birth certificate of the applicant's grandparent
    • Applicant's great grandparent's birth certificate

NB: The employment contract must also be awarded to the Employment Services Department after it has been established.

*Additional documents can be required.

Processing Time for Turks and Caicos Islands Work Permit

The average processing time for a Turks and Caicos Islands Work Permit is 1-3 months. It depends on your Visa application country.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Work Permit Fee

For Work Permit fees, please check this website. Turks and Caicos Islands Visitor’s Administrative fee is 150 USD (non-refundable). If required, Labour Clearance Fees 100 USD per application and non-refundable Fast Track Service Fee of 500 USD (i.e., 7 days processing service) (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay others such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

Where to Apply for Turks and Caicos Islands Work Permit?

You will apply for a Turks and Caicos Islands Work Permit at the Director of Immigration, Grand Turk, in UK visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.