Guyana
Guyana CARICOM free movement
CARICOM skilled nationals free movement (CSME Skills Certificate)
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
CARICOM free movement is a long-stay route for Guyana. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Work rights are limited
- Only for passports from 11 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The person is a national of one of the 12 CSME states subscribed to the free movement regime; The Bahamas, Haiti and Montserrat are not covered.
- Approved categories include university graduates (bachelor degree or equivalent), associate degree holders, musicians, artistes, sports persons and media workers.
- Registered nurses, trained teachers, CVQ artisans, household domestic workers, agricultural workers, security officers and licensed aviation personnel also qualify.
What you must show1
- The Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges G$1,500 to process a certificate application.
Documents1
- Birth certificate, qualification, valid police clearance, CARICOM passport and a recent passport photograph are required for a certificate.
Steps3
- Apply to the competent authority of a participating state, or online through the Guyana CSME portal, then verify the original documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Processing of a certificate application takes about 3 to 6 weeks.
- Certificate holders can request a definite stay letter for contract work or an indefinite stay through the CSME portal.
After you arrive1
- The certificate has no expiry date.
What happens at day 183
How Guyana decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in the yearResiding in Guyana more than 183 days in the year makes an individual resident in Guyana (s. 2 definition)
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis
Guyana taxes income accruing in or derived from Guyana or elsewhere, but income arising outside Guyana that is earned income, or that arises to a person not ordinarily resident in Guyana or not domiciled there, is taxed only on the amount received in Guyana.
- Special regime
Guyana remittance basis · Tax relief
All tax rules for Guyana Tax records checked
Full official text
Nationals of 11 other CSME states in an approved skills category (such as university graduates) can work in Guyana without a work permit with a CARICOM Skills Certificate; certificate holders can request indefinite stay through the Guyana CSME portal. 1 2 3
Requirements
- The person is a national of one of the 12 CSME states subscribed to the free movement regime; The Bahamas, Haiti and Montserrat are not covered. 1 2
- Approved categories include university graduates (bachelor degree or equivalent), associate degree holders, musicians, artistes, sports persons and media workers. 2 3
- Registered nurses, trained teachers, CVQ artisans, household domestic workers, agricultural workers, security officers and licensed aviation personnel also qualify. 2 1
- The Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges G$1,500 to process a certificate application. 2 3
- Birth certificate, qualification, valid police clearance, CARICOM passport and a recent passport photograph are required for a certificate. 2 3
- Apply to the competent authority of a participating state, or online through the Guyana CSME portal, then verify the original documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1 2 3
- Processing of a certificate application takes about 3 to 6 weeks. 2 3
- Certificate holders can request a definite stay letter for contract work or an indefinite stay through the CSME portal. 1
- The certificate has no expiry date. 2
Stay
- Indefinite stay for certificate holders; a definite stay letter is available for temporary contract work.
Nationality
Nationals of the CSME free movement states: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Work
No work permit needed in the approved categories.
Family
Spouses and immediate dependent family members are allowed to move with the holder of the Skills Certificate.
Official sources
- CSME Certificate Portal · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Free Movement of Skills · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
CARICOM free movement and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARICOM free movement | – | – | Limited |
| Visa-free stay Mexico | – | 6 mo | No |
| Andean free movement Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| Free movement by treaty Brazil | – | – | – |
| Mercosur residence Argentina | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the CARICOM free movement?
Indefinite stay for certificate holders; a definite stay letter is available for temporary contract work.
Can I work on the CARICOM free movement?
Limited. No work permit needed in the approved categories.
Can I bring my family on the CARICOM free movement?
Spouses and immediate dependent family members are allowed to move with the holder of the Skills Certificate.
Who can apply for the CARICOM free movement?
Nationals of the CSME free movement states: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Is there a tax break for CARICOM free movement holders in Guyana?
Guyana remittance basis for foreign-source income of persons not ordinarily resident or not domiciled: Guyana taxes income accruing in or derived from Guyana or elsewhere, but income arising outside Guyana that is earned income, or that arises to a person not ordinarily resident in Guyana or not domiciled there, is taxed only on the amount received in Guyana. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Guyana remittance basis for foreign-source income of persons not ordinarily resident or not domiciled
Tax relief
Details
- On: Foreign-source income of that kind: amount received in Guyana
- Who: Income arising outside Guyana that is earned income (any person)
Guyana taxes income accruing in or derived from Guyana or elsewhere, but income arising outside Guyana that is earned income, or that arises to a person not ordinarily resident in Guyana or not domiciled there, is taxed only on the amount received in Guyana.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income of that kind: amount received in Guyana (proviso to s. 5 of the Income Tax Act); Guyanese-source income and employment exercised in Guyana (s. 6) is taxable whether received in Guyana or not.
Who it applies to
- Income arising outside Guyana that is earned income (any person), or income of a person who is not ordinarily resident in Guyana or not domiciled in Guyana.
- An individual is resident in Guyana if he or she resides, or intends to reside, permanently in Guyana, or resides in Guyana more than 183 days in the year.
Exclusions
- Unearned foreign-source income of a person who is ordinarily resident and domiciled in Guyana is not covered by the proviso as read.
- Employment exercised in Guyana is deemed Guyana-source.
Days in the country
- More than 183 days in the year · Residing in Guyana more than 183 days in the year makes an individual resident in Guyana (s. 2 definition)
Tax residence
The proviso refers to 'ordinarily resident' and 'domiciled' without day counts; the 183-day test is the s. 2 definition of 'resident in Guyana'.
Visas
No immigration-status condition appears in the proviso; it applies by residence, ordinary residence and domicile.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 3 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- CSME Certificate Portal · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Free Movement of Skills · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.