Turks and Caicos Islands
Self-Employed Work Permit
The Self-Employed Work Permit allows foreign nationals to establish and operate their own business in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Governed by the Immigration Ordinance 2015, the permit targets entrepreneurs, sole traders, and business owners. Unlike employed-person work permits, self-employed applicants do not need labour clearance or proof that no qualified local is available. TCI has no income tax, capital gains tax, corporation tax, or inheritance tax, making it attractive for business formation.
- Valid TCI business licence from the Revenue Department (must be obtained before applying for the work permit)
- Cover letter outlining the need for the work permit
- Bank statements and proof of company ownership
- Partner/shareholder listings or certificate of incumbency
- Organisational structure documentation
- Academic and professional qualification certificates
- Evidence of English proficiency (if not from an English-speaking country)
- Local medical certificate issued within 6 months
- Two passport-size photographs (one certified)
- Police record
- Must be 18 years or older
- May only work in the self-employed capacity specified on the permit and matching the business licence
- Cannot take up employment with another entity without a separate work permit
- Most business types require a local partner with Turks and Caicos Islander Status (Belongership), with majority ownership by a TCI Islander
- 90 business activity categories are reserved exclusively for TCI Islanders
- Moratoriums may apply to specific business categories
- A business licence does not guarantee that a work permit will be issued
Processing time: 15 days standard (exempt from labour clearance); 7 days with Fast Track Service (additional USD 500)
Fee: Non-refundable admin fee of USD 150 or 10% of permit fee (whichever is greater); work permit fees range from USD 200 to USD 10,000 depending on occupation category; USD 500 repatriation fee; USD 100 for physical permit card
Applications submitted in person at Customer Service Centers on Providenciales (Sam's Building) or Grand Turk (Three Degrees Office Complex). Self-employed persons may submit their own applications directly.
Renewal applications must be submitted at least 30 days before expiry. Requires a local police record and proof that NHIP and NIB contributions are up to date. A USD 250 penalty applies if the permit has already expired. National Insurance contributions are 10% of earnings.
After 10 consecutive years of holding work permits, holders may apply for a Permanent Residence Certificate with the right to work (fee: USD 10,000). Alternatively, a business investment of USD 750,000 to USD 1,500,000 qualifies for the investment-route PRC (fee: USD 25,000).
Links
Other Digital Nomad Visas in North America
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇮 Anguilla | Residence by Investment | — | — | ||||
🇦🇮 Anguilla | Work from Anguilla Certificate | — | — | ||||
🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda | Citizenship by Investment Programme | — | — | ||||
🇦🇼 Aruba | Investor/Shareholder Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇦🇼 Aruba | One Happy Workation | — | — | ||||
🇦🇼 Aruba | Retiree / Interest Rate Earner Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇧🇸 Bahamas | Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇸 Bahamas | Economic Permanent Residence Certificate | — | — | ||||
🇧🇸 Bahamas | Permit to Reside (Independent Economic Resident) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇧 Barbados | Special Entry and Reside Permit (Category 1: High Net Worth Investor) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇧 Barbados | Special Entry and Reside Permit (Category 2: Retired Property Owner) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇧 Barbados | Welcome Stamp | — | — | ||||
🇧🇿 Belize | Long Stay Visitor Permit | — | — | ||||
🇧🇿 Belize | Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Program | — | — | ||||
🇧🇿 Belize | Temporary Residence Permit (Investment) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇲 Bermuda | Economic Investment Residential Certificate | — | — | ||||
🇧🇲 Bermuda | Global Entrepreneur Work Permit | — | — | ||||
🇧🇲 Bermuda | Permission to Reside on an Annual Basis | — | — | ||||
🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands | Right to Reside Permit | — | — | ||||
🇨🇦 Canada | Digital Nomad Policy | — | — | ||||
🇨🇦 Canada | Quebec Immigrant Investor Program | — | — | ||||
🇨🇦 Canada | Self-Employed Persons Program | — | — | — | |||
🇨🇦 Canada | Start-Up Visa Program | — | — | ||||
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Certificate of Direct Investment | — | — | ||||
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Certificate of Permanent Residence for Persons of Independent Means | — | — | ||||
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means | — | — | ||||
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Zone Employment Certificate | — | — | ||||
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | ||||
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Inversionista | — | — | ||||
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Pensionado | — | — | ||||
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Rentista | — | — | ||||
🇨🇺 Cuba | Real Estate Resident Visa | — | — | ||||
🇩🇲 Dominica | Work In Nature Extended Stay Visa | — | — | ||||
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Inversionista | — | — | ||||
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Jubilado o Pensionado | — | — | ||||
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Rentista | — | — | ||||
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Definitive Residency for Investors | — | — | ||||
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Freedom Visa | — | — | ||||
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Temporary Residency for Pensioners | — | — | ||||
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Temporary Residency for Rentistas | — | — | ||||
🇬🇩 Grenada | Citizenship by Investment Programme | — | — | ||||
🇬🇩 Grenada | Remote Work Permit | — | — | ||||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Permanent Residence for Rentistas or Pensioners | — | — | ||||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Intellectuals, Researchers, and Scientists | — | — | — | |||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Investors | — | — | ||||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Self-Employed Workers | — | — | ||||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Workers with Foreign Employer | — | — | ||||
🇭🇳 Honduras | Investor Residency | — | — | ||||
🇭🇳 Honduras | Pensionado Residency | — | — | ||||
🇭🇳 Honduras | Rentista Residency | — | — | ||||
🇯🇲 Jamaica | Permanent Residence (Retirement) | — | — | ||||
🇲🇶 Martinique | Talent Porteur de Projet — Business Creation | — | — | ||||
🇲🇶 Martinique | Talent Porteur de Projet — Innovative Economic Project (French Tech Visa) | — | — | ||||
🇲🇽 Mexico | Permanent Resident Visa for Retirees and Pensioners | — | — | ||||
🇲🇽 Mexico | Temporary Resident Visa by Economic Solvency | — | — | ||||
🇲🇽 Mexico | Temporary Resident Visa for Investors | — | — | ||||
🇲🇸 Montserrat | Permit of Economic Residence | — | — | ||||
🇲🇸 Montserrat | Remote Employment Stamp | — | — | ||||
🇨🇼 Netherlands Antilles | @Home in Curacao | — | — | ||||
🇨🇼 Netherlands Antilles | Investor Permit | — | — | ||||
🇨🇼 Netherlands Antilles | Rentier or Retired Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Investor Permanent Residence | — | — | ||||
🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Residencia Temporal Pensionado | — | — | ||||
🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Residencia Temporal Rentista | — | — | ||||
🇵🇦 Panama | Permanent Residence Permit for Retirees and Pensioners | — | — | ||||
🇵🇦 Panama | Professional Foreign Residence Permit | — | — | — | |||
🇵🇦 Panama | Qualified Investor Permanent Residence | — | — | ||||
🇵🇦 Panama | Short Stay Visa for Remote Workers | — | — | ||||
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis | Citizenship by Investment Programme | — | — | ||||
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis | Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | Citizenship by Investment Programme | — | — | ||||
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | Live It Extended Stay Program | — | — | ||||
🇵🇲 Saint Pierre and Miquelon | Visitor Temporary Residence Card | — | — | ||||
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | Independent Means Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | Permanent Residence Certificate (Investment) | — | — | ||||
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | Self-Employed Work Permit | — | — | ||||
🇺🇸 United States | EB-1A Extraordinary Ability | — | — | — | |||
🇺🇸 United States | EB-2 National Interest Waiver | — | — | — | |||
🇺🇸 United States | EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program | — | — | ||||
🇺🇸 United States | International Entrepreneur Parole | — | — |