While you’ll likely hire new team members abroad during your international expansion, you may also send some of your current employees to Guyana. When you send talent to another country, you need to confirm they have the proper documentation for legal work.
Types of Work Visas in Guyana
Immigration services only offer one type of permit for employment in Guyana. The standard work permit covers any non-national wishing to work for a company in the country, and it lasts for three years. Work permit holders can renew their visas as many times as they’d like, but they will have to pay a fee each time.
Guyana also offers a business visa. While this visa doesn’t allow a person to be employed within the country, it does allow for various other business matters. This documentation is useful for people planning to invest in companies in the area. It would also be a valid visa for establishing a subsidiary.
Requirements to Obtain Guyana Work Visas
To receive a work permit, applicants must have the following:
- A valid passport
- Work permit application
- Copy of passport photo
- Job offer
Individuals should confirm their passport is valid for at least six months when they enter the country. The work permit application is available online at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The application requires an attached copy of a passport photo for identification purposes.
The work permit application also requires information on the employer, including their address, registration number, and the name of all directors. The company will need to provide some additional details, including a reason for hiring a non-national over a legal resident and the names of any other non-national employees besides the applicant.
Application Process
Before an individual can apply for a work permit, they need to receive a job offer from an employer in the country. Once they accept this offer, they can fill out the permit application and attach their passport photo. Before a worker enters the country, the employer must contact the Ministry of Home Affairs with the worker’s name, address, and gender.
Once the employee submits their application, their employer and immigration services will have to approve them for a work permit. The approval process can take anywhere from a week to a month. Once the license is approved, the employee will receive their visa on arrival.
Other Important Considerations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation recognizes 75 countries that do not need a visa to enter the country. If you are from an area not on this list, you’ll need to apply for a visitor visa at your nearest consulate before entering. Regardless of your visa status at the border, you’ll receive your work permit on arrival.
There is no official residence permit in the country. Nonresidents are only taxed on their Guyanese income, but if they stay in the country for 183 days or more, they are considered residents by the Revenue Authority. This recognition means these individuals qualify for personal allowance every year.
It’s also important to note that the work permit application and processing cost GYD 29,250.97. Applicants will have to pay this fee every time they renew their permit.
Partner With G-P
When you expand your company internationally, you’ll want an experienced global PEO on your side. The team at G-P will work around the clock to ensure a seamless expansion to Guyana. Want to learn more? Reach out to our team today.