TCI EXPERIENCING A SURGE IN WORK PERMIT APPLICATIONS

BY Staff Writer

The Turks and Caicos Islands is faced with a huge surge in work permit applications, pushing its screening processes to the limit.

Work permit applications are said to have soared in the past 10 years, tripling from around 5,000 to 15,000. A significant number also form a backlog of permits awaiting decisions. The process is expected to be streamlined with the introduction of a new automated system through which applications are vetted.

One of the challenges facing the government’s Labour and Employment Department and Immigration and Border Services has been inadequate staff numbers to process the large number of applications.  

The TCI government says there are some 16,000 persons in the territory on work permits, mainly in the tourism sector, with demand running high for additional workers as new facilities are opened.

A major issue emerged recently surrounding reports of one new tourism property seeking to recruit over 200 workers from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The TCI has a strict work permit vetting system, including fees up to $9,500 depending on the type of profession being applied for.

The territory has been experiencing an economic resurgence which is said to reflect the surge in the demand for work permits.

There’s a renewed emphasis by the government on prioritising nationals in the workforce. A recently held job fair for the tourism industry attracted a large turnout of TCIslanders, although many were said to be already employed and seeking alternative opportunities.

According to official figures from the government’s Statistics Authority, unemployment has continued to fall from a high of 11 per cent in 2020 down to around 5.5 per cent in 2024.

Economic activity is projected to increase in 2025, with a forecast expansion of 4.5 per cent, with that outlook based on anticipated increases in the main drivers of the economy.

The territory’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) is expected to increase by 5.4 per cent this year.

The TCI’s financial sector is also reported to be experiencing what has been described in industry publications as “a transformative period marked by robust growth in trusts and wealth management, captive insurance, and banking”. This emerging sector is expected to enhance the territory’s investment potential, making it an increasingly attractive domicile for targeted high-net-worth individuals.