The Process – Residency
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS RESIDENCE PERMITS
Following changes to the Immigration Ordinance, there are now two main categories of residence permits available to applicants, a Permanent residency (which frequently comes with the right to work and the ability to obtain a passport) and a shorter term residency.
Permanent residency, which is not based upon making a qualifying investment, is available, in the main, to those who have lived and worked in TCI for a ten (10) year period on foot of either a work permit or a residence permit.
The Immigration Ordinance provides that there are two forms of shorter term residency, namely:-
1. Non-investment short-term residency where the applicant:-
(i) owns, rents or has available for his use a house, condominium or apartment in TCI,
(ii) does not intend to engage in any gainful occupation and
(iii) can maintain himself and his dependents for the duration of his residency without engaging in gainful occupation.
This type of residence permit may be granted for periods of between 1 and 3 years (and upon the expiration of that period, will be renewable for further periods). There is a non-refundable Government application fee of US$450.00 with a basic annual fee payable to Government of US$1,500.00. There is a once off additional fee of US$150.00 in respect of each person (spouse and dependent children) who are endorsed on that residence permit.
2. Investment short term residency where the applicant:-
(i) has invested not less than US$500,000.00 in a business or home for himself on Providenciales, its outlying cays or West Caicos (or half that sum on a business or residence elsewhere in TCI),
(ii) does not intend to engage in any gainful occupation (other than undertaking such activities that may be necessary to oversee his investment in the Islands) and
(iii) can maintain himself and his dependents in the Islands without engaging in any gainful occupation, other than overseeing his investment in the Islands.
This type of residence permit may be granted for periods of between 1 and 3 years (and upon the expiration of that period, will be renewable for further periods). There is a non-refundable Government application fee of US$450.00 with a basic annual fee payable to Government of US$1,500.00. There is a once off additional fee of US$150.00 in respect of each person (spouse and dependent children) who are endorsed on that residence permit.
2. Investment short term residency where the applicant:-
(i) has invested not less than US$500,000.00 in a business or home for himself on Providenciales, its outlying cays or West Caicos (or half that sum on a business or residence elsewhere in TCI),
(ii) does not intend to engage in any gainful occupation (other than undertaking such activities that may be necessary to oversee his investment in the Islands) and
(iii) can maintain himself and his dependents in the Islands without engaging in any gainful occupation, other than overseeing his investment in the Islands.
This type of residence permit may be granted for a period of up to ten (10) years. As above, there is a non-refundable Government application fee of US$450.00 with a basic annual fee payable to Government of US$1,500.00. There is a once off additional fee of US$150.00 in respect of each person (spouse and dependent children) who are endorsed on that residence permit
The benefit of this type of residence permit is that applicant can initially obtain a residence permit for a period of up to 10 years and the limitation on gainful occupation is not as broad as in the short term category. An applicant in the investment category can take such steps as are necessary to oversee his investment. Further, at the end of the ten year period, the applicant can then apply for Permanent Residency with no current requirement for any additional investment.
When applying for either a non-investment short term residency or an investment short term residency applicants will need to submit the following documents in respect of each applicant:-
1. Completed and duly executed application form.
2. Copy of passport – to include ID page – exhibiting a copy of TCI Immigrations stamp of last date of entry / departure.
3. Locally certified medical certificate obtained within six months.
4. Undertaking in writing that the applicant will not engage in any gainful occupation while resident in the Islands.
5. Evidence of the applicant’s financial standing ~ a reference from a local bank with whom the applicant has opened an account and a bank statement (not necessarily from the same bank).
6. Two (2) Passport sized photographs of each applicant.
7. Original Police clearance certificate or similar.
8. Character reference letters (x3).
9. Notarized copy or original marriage certificate (if married) or other evidence of relationship (passport).
10. Copy birth certificate (for children and spouse).
11. Government fees (see above)
12. Legal fees (quotes available upon request)
