Immigration
Immigration Act with CARICOM free movement for skilled nationals
The Immigration Act governs entry and residence, administered by the Central Immigration and Passport Office. As a CARICOM member Guyana participates in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, under which qualifying skilled nationals holding a CARICOM Skills Certificate may live and work without a work permit. Others require permits from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National, with CARICOM free-movement obligations
- Deadline — Work permit: granted for up to three years, renewable
- Deadline — Naturalisation: seven years of residence under the Constitution and Citizenship Act
Governing law
- Immigration ActCap 14:02
- Caribbean Community (Free Entry of Skilled Nationals) Act
- Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
In practice
The CARICOM Skills Certificate route is the practically important one for regional nationals: categories include university graduates, media workers, artists, musicians, sportspersons, nurses, teachers and, following later decisions, artisans and household workers with qualifications. The oil boom has driven a large increase in work-permit applications from outside CARICOM, and processing capacity has been a recurring constraint.