Deep coverage14 verified routes across visit, study, work, investment, family and more.
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Select the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Guyana.
5 routes
Visit
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Guyana CARICOM National Entry (Six-Month Stay)
Under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, nationals of fellow Community member states (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago) are entitled to a definite entry of six months on arrival in Guyana without a visa. This hassle-free entry covers visits, tourism and family travel; taking up employment still requires a CARICOM Skills Certificate or a work permit. The six-month entry is a treaty right under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Family: CARICOM nationals' dependants have facilitated entry under CSME provisions.
Government fee
$0
Max stay
180 days
Document checklist (4)
CARICOM passportValid passport of a CARICOM member state.
Immigration arrival cardCompleted arrival/embarkation card at the port of entry.
Proof of onward travelOptionalReturn or onward ticket where requested.
Proof of fundsOptionalEvidence of means to support the stay where requested.
Tourist Visa
Guyana Visitor/Tourist Visa (eVisa)
Nationals who are not visa-exempt apply online through the Immigration Support Services eServices portal for a visitor/tourist visa, which is generally issued on arrival at the port of entry once approved. The standard fee is US$25 (US$35 for expedited processing); a single-entry visa is typically issued for a stay of up to three months, with multiple-entry visitor visas valid up to one year. Applicants provide a passport bio-page, photograph, proof of accommodation, return ticket and evidence of funds for the stay. The visa is for tourism and short visits and does not permit employment.
Online visa applicationCompleted application via the ISS eServices portal (iss.gov.gy).
Passport bio-data pageScanned copy of the passport bio-data page, valid six months.
Passport photographRecent passport-sized photograph (two for some posts).
Proof of accommodationHotel booking or letter of invitation with the host's address.
Return or onward ticketEvidence of onward or return travel.
Proof of fundsEvidence of finances to cover expenses for the stay.
Visa fee paymentPayment of US$25 (US$35 expedited), often collected on arrival.
Tourist Visa
Guyana Visa-Free Tourist Entry
Nationals of roughly fifty countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, all EU member states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most Commonwealth states, may enter Guyana for tourism or short visits without a visa. The exemption period is typically 90 days for the main developed-country list, with shorter exemptions (60, 30 or 14 days) for some nationalities. Travellers must hold a passport valid at least six months, a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds. The stay is for tourism, family visits or short business and does not authorise employment or lead to residence.
Government fee
$0
Max stay
90 days
Document checklist (5)
Valid passportPassport valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
Return or onward ticketEvidence of onward or return travel out of Guyana.
Proof of sufficient fundsEvidence of funds to cover the intended stay.
Proof of accommodationOptionalHotel booking or address of the host in Guyana.
Immigration arrival/embarkation cardCompleted arrival card presented to immigration at the port of entry.
Transit Visa
Guyana Transit Visa / Landing Permit
Visa-required nationals passing through Guyana en route to a third country, or making a short landing, obtain a transit visa or landing permit. It authorises a brief stay limited to the transit and requires proof of onward travel and, where relevant, a visa for the onward destination. Applications follow the same online ISS eServices route as other visitor categories. The permit does not authorise tourism beyond the transit period or any employment.
Onward ticketConfirmed ticket to the onward destination.
Onward-country visaOptionalVisa for the final destination where required.
Business Visitor Visa
Guyana Business Visa
The business visa is for foreign nationals travelling to Guyana for meetings, negotiations, conferences, workshops, training or short maintenance work, and for accompanying family of foreign workers. Applications are submitted online to Immigration Support Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the visa is issued on arrival once approved. Business visas can be issued for validity up to five years (multiple entry), with each stay limited to short non-employment business activity. A letter of invitation from the Guyanese business partner and proof of the business relationship are required; the visa does not authorise taking up local employment.
Letter of invitationInvitation from the Guyanese company with sponsor contact details.
Proof of business relationshipEvidence of the business purpose or relationship.
Proof of fundsEvidence of means to cover the stay.
Return or onward ticketOptionalEvidence of onward or return travel.
Not yet researched
Medical Treatment Visa
Pilgrimage Visa
1 route
Study & Training
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
Guyana Student Visa
The student visa is for foreign nationals admitted to study at a registered or accredited university or school in Guyana, and for school-age children of foreign nationals residing or working in Guyana. Applications are submitted online to Immigration Support Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, with an acceptance letter from the institution and proof of financial means. Multiple-entry student visas are typically issued for up to three years and are renewable for the duration of the programme. Fees vary by post (for example, one consulate publishes EUR 130 for a three-year multiple-entry student visa). The visa authorises study, not general employment.
Study: Full enrolment at the admitting institution.
Residency: Time on a student visa may count toward the ordinary-residence test for naturalisation, but study is not an automatic residence track.
Online visa applicationCompleted student-visa application via ISS eServices (iss.gov.gy).
Student acceptance letterAcceptance letter from a registered/accredited Guyanese institution.
PassportPassport valid at least six months, with bio-data page copy.
Passport photographRecent passport-sized photograph (two for some posts).
Proof of financial meansEvidence of funds to support the stay and studies.
Proof of accommodationEvidence of accommodation in Guyana.
Proposed travel itineraryOptionalIntended travel dates and itinerary.
Not yet researched
Language Course Visa
Internship / Trainee Visa
Exchange Program Visa
3 routes
Work & Self-Employment
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Skilled Work Visa
Guyana Permission to Land (Pre-Work-Permit Entry)
A Permission to Land approval letter, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, allows a foreign national to enter Guyana and begin working while a full work-permit application is processed. The letter must be used to enter within six months of issuance and permits a stay of up to three months. One extension of three months is allowed if applied for no later than one day before expiry, for a fee of GYD 20,000 (about US$91), with a seven-business-day processing time. It is a bridging authorisation tied to an ongoing employer-sponsored work-permit case, not a standalone residence route.
Work: Permits work for the sponsoring employer while the work permit is processed.
Processing time
7 days
Max stay
90 days
Validity
180 days
Document checklist (5)
Employer request letterRequest from the sponsoring Guyanese employer to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
PassportPassport valid at least six months.
Pending work-permit applicationEvidence of the filed or pending work-permit application.
Police clearanceCertificate of good conduct from the country of residence.
Extension fee paymentOptionalGYD 20,000 fee for the one permitted three-month extension.
Skilled Work Visa
Guyana CARICOM Skills Certificate (Free Movement of Skills)
Under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, skilled nationals of member states may live and work in Guyana without a work permit once they hold a Free Movement of Skills certificate. Eligible categories include university graduates, associate-degree holders, registered nurses, trained teachers, media workers, artistes, musicians, sportspersons, and artisans/holders of Caribbean Vocational Qualifications. In Guyana the certificate costs G$1,500 and is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Free Movement Unit) in three to six weeks; it has no expiry. It removes the work-permit requirement but does not itself confer permanent residence.
Work: Holders may work or be self-employed in Guyana without a work permit.
Study: Lawful presence permits study alongside work.
Residency after 5 years
Family: Spouse and dependants of skilled CARICOM nationals have facilitated entry and stay under CSME.
Processing time
35 days
Document checklist (7)
Skills-certificate applicationApplication to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Free Movement Unit.
CARICOM passportValid passport of a CARICOM member state.
Birth certificateBirth certificate of the applicant.
Police clearanceValid police clearance / certificate of character.
Professional qualificationsDegree, diploma, CVQ or other proof of the eligible skill category.
Marriage/divorce documentsOptionalMarriage or divorce certificate where the name differs.
Skilled Work Visa
Guyana Work Permit and Employment Visa
Every foreign national who intends to work in Guyana, paid or voluntary, must hold a work permit and employment visa issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Guyanese employer sponsors and files the application; the foreign worker must hold a valid passport, a clean immigration record and a police clearance (certificate of good conduct). Work permits and employment visas are issued for up to three years and are renewable, with approval typically taking four to eight weeks. On approval a payment is due (reported at around GYD 28,700 / about US$140); the oil-and-gas boom has driven heavy demand. Time on a work permit counts toward the residence required for naturalisation.
Work: Authorises work for the sponsoring employer in the approved role only.
Residency after 5 years
Family: Accompanying family enter on visitor/business visas; no automatic dependent work rights.
Processing time
42 days
Validity
1,095 days
Document checklist (8)
Employer applicationWork-permit application filed by the sponsoring Guyanese employer via ISS eServices.
PassportPassport valid for the full permit period, with bio-data page.
Police clearancePolice clearance / certificate of good conduct from the country of residence.
Employment contract / offerContract or offer letter stating the role, salary and duration.
Company registrationProof the sponsoring company is registered in Guyana and tax-compliant.
Qualifications / CVEvidence of the worker's qualifications and experience.
Medical / fitness evidenceOptionalMedical or fitness documentation where requested.
Not yet researched
Digital Nomad Visa
Freelancer Visa
Self-Employment Visa
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Seasonal Work Visa
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
1 route
Invest & Capital
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Business Investor Visa
Guyana Investor Route (GO-Invest Company + Work Permit)
Guyana has no passive investor visa or citizenship-by-investment programme; foreign investors establish a business and obtain residence through a work permit. The Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) facilitates company registration under the Companies Act 1991 (which may be wholly foreign-owned, with no local-ownership requirement) and access to tax concessions. There is no fixed minimum-investment threshold for entry; the investor, as a director or employee of the registered company, then applies for an employment visa and work permit (typically valid up to three years). The route is active-business based and oriented to Guyana's oil, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and energy sectors.
Work: Authorises managing/working in the registered company via the linked work permit.
Residency after 5 years
Family: Family enter on visitor/business visas; no automatic dependent work rights.
Validity
1,095 days
Document checklist (7)
Company registrationIncorporation/registration under the Companies Act 1991 via the Deeds & Commercial Registry.
GO-Invest facilitation / project summaryOptionalInvestment project summary and engagement with GO-Invest for incentives.
PassportPassport valid for the intended stay.
Work-permit / employment-visa applicationEmployment-visa and work-permit application for the investor as director/employee.
Police clearanceCertificate of good conduct from the country of residence.
Proof of investment / business planEvidence of the planned investment and business activity.
Tax compliance evidenceOptionalEvidence the company is tax-registered and compliant.
Not yet researched
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Residence by Real Estate
Citizenship by Investment
Non-Lucrative / Passive Income Visa
No verified routes yet
Retire & Lifestyle
Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Not yet researched
Retirement Visa
Working Holiday Visa
3 routes
Family & Origin
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Spouse / Partner Visa
Guyana Citizenship by Registration (Marriage to a Citizen)
A foreign national married to a Guyanese citizen may apply to be registered as a citizen of Guyana. Applications (Form R1) are submitted to Immigration Support Services at the Ministry of Home Affairs, typically after around three years of marriage and joint residence, with an interview usually scheduled a few weeks after filing. Guyana permits dual citizenship, so registration does not require renouncing the existing nationality. Once registered, the applicant holds full Guyanese citizenship with unrestricted rights.
Work: Citizenship confers full, unrestricted work rights.
Study: Full access to study as a citizen.
Residency: This is direct acquisition of citizenship, not a residence permit.
Family: Each spouse registers on their own basis; minor children may derive or register separately.
Document checklist (6)
Registration application (Form R1)Completed citizenship-by-registration form filed with Immigration Support Services.
Marriage certificateCertified copy of the marriage certificate to the Guyanese citizen.
Spouse's proof of citizenshipGuyanese spouse's passport bio-data page or citizenship evidence.
Applicant's passport and IDApplicant's passport and identification documents.
Police clearanceOptionalCertificate of good conduct where requested.
Spouse / Partner Visa
Guyana Spouse / Family of Guyanese or Resident
Guyana has no separate codified family-reunification residence permit; foreign spouses and accompanying family of Guyanese citizens or of foreign nationals working in Guyana enter on visitor or business visas and regularise their stay through the immigration extension and, ultimately, citizenship-by-registration routes. A foreign spouse of a Guyanese citizen may apply to be registered as a citizen, generally after about three years of marriage and joint residence, through Immigration Support Services at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Pending that, the foreign spouse remains on extended visitor status rather than a dedicated dependent permit.
Residency after 3 years
Family: Covers the spouse and accompanying minor children of the citizen or resident worker.
Document checklist (6)
Visa applicationVisitor/business visa application via ISS eServices for the accompanying family member.
PassportPassport valid at least six months.
Marriage certificateMarriage certificate evidencing the relationship to the Guyanese citizen or resident worker.
Sponsor's statusGuyanese spouse's passport/ID or the worker's permit and contact details.
Proof of accommodationOptionalAddress and accommodation in Guyana.
Ancestry / Repatriation
Guyana Citizenship by Descent (Parent or Grandparent)
A person born outside Guyana with at least one Guyanese parent (and, subject to registration, in some cases a Guyanese grandparent) may acquire Guyanese citizenship by descent. The claim is established by registering the overseas birth at a Guyanese embassy, high commission or consulate, providing the applicant's birth certificate and documents proving the ancestor's Guyanese citizenship. Guyana permits dual citizenship, so the applicant need not give up another nationality. This is an ancestry-based citizenship route rather than a temporary visa.
Work: Citizenship by descent confers full work rights.
Study: Full access to study as a citizen.
Residency: Direct acquisition of citizenship; no residence step required.
Family: Each person claims on their own ancestry; minor children may register separately.
Document checklist (6)
Registration of overseas birthApplication to register the birth abroad / claim citizenship by descent at a Guyanese mission.
Applicant's birth certificateFull birth certificate of the applicant born abroad.
Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Permanent Residence
Guyana Citizenship by Naturalisation
Guyana issues no general permanent-residence card; long-term settlement of foreign nationals is achieved through naturalisation. An applicant must show that they are of good character, intend to reside in Guyana, and have been ordinarily resident in Guyana throughout the five years immediately preceding the application (Commonwealth and Irish citizens follow an equivalent five-year registration route combining residence and/or government service). Applications go to Immigration Support Services, Ministry of Home Affairs. Guyana allows dual citizenship. Foreign spouses of citizens follow the separate, shorter registration-by-marriage route.
Work: Naturalised citizens have full, unrestricted work rights.
Study: Full access to study as a citizen.
Residency after 5 years
Family: Spouses use the registration-by-marriage route; minor children may derive or register.
Document checklist (7)
Naturalisation applicationCitizenship-by-naturalisation application filed with Immigration Support Services.
Proof of five years' ordinary residenceEvidence of continuous ordinary residence in Guyana for the five years before applying.
Passport and immigration historyPassport plus residence/work-permit history showing lawful stay.
Police clearance / good characterPolice clearance and references attesting to good character.
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