New procedures for issuance of visas to Guyana
February 4, 2012 | By KNews | Filed Under News
The Home Affairs Ministry has instituted new procedures governing the issuance of visas for persons desirous of entering Guyana.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee at a press conference at the Police Training Center at Carifesta Avenue and Young Street said that this decision was taken by Cabinet based on recommendations made by his Ministry.
Guyana has several agreements with foreign countries, which are reciprocal in nature that allows for certain categories of visitors to enter the country without visas.
“In keeping with the global trends and the need for Guyana to accelerate its development, we have decided to further liberalise our immigration policies by putting in place certain new procedures…our visa on arrival policy would now mean that we have instituted four categories of visas for persons desirous of entering the country,” Minister Rohee explained.
A GINA release said these categories are: visitor, employment, student, and business visas.
With regards to visitors, they are now required to pay US $25 for a visa for a period of one month in the first instance and an additional US $25 for every extension that is granted. A visitor is given a maximum of three months to stay.
As it relates to employment, this category of visa now cost the person who is bringing an employee to Guyana US $140 for a period of three years in the first instance and a similar sum for every time that visa is renewed.
Likewise, student visas now cost US $140 for a three-year period in the first instance and a similar sum every time that stay is extended.
Meanwhile, persons who are desirous of coming to Guyana to engage in business activities are now required to pay US $140 for a period of five years and a similar sum to extend their stay in the country.
The immigration authorities have been informed of this new policy, which came into effect in May 2011. It has been working very smoothly from all indications at both the level of the immigration authorities and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which have embassies and consulates abroad authorised to issue visas.
There are certain conditions attached to the granting of the visas; these can be found on the websites of the Ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs and the Guyana Police Force.
In July 2010, a workshop was held by Trevor Hamilton and Associates, who were contracted by Government through the Citizen’s Security Programme (CSP) to undertake the consultancy to review and enhance the country’s immigration policies to be on par with the evolving demands of globalisation.
While the existing immigration laws and procedures have served the country well, the demands of globalisation and its many implications such as increase in movement of people across national borders, new initiatives like the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and emerging social issues such as Trafficking In Persons (TIP), drugs, fugitives from other countries and terrorists.
February 4, 2012 | By KNews | Filed Under News
The Home Affairs Ministry has instituted new procedures governing the issuance of visas for persons desirous of entering Guyana.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee at a press conference at the Police Training Center at Carifesta Avenue and Young Street said that this decision was taken by Cabinet based on recommendations made by his Ministry.
Guyana has several agreements with foreign countries, which are reciprocal in nature that allows for certain categories of visitors to enter the country without visas.
“In keeping with the global trends and the need for Guyana to accelerate its development, we have decided to further liberalise our immigration policies by putting in place certain new procedures…our visa on arrival policy would now mean that we have instituted four categories of visas for persons desirous of entering the country,” Minister Rohee explained.
A GINA release said these categories are: visitor, employment, student, and business visas.
With regards to visitors, they are now required to pay US $25 for a visa for a period of one month in the first instance and an additional US $25 for every extension that is granted. A visitor is given a maximum of three months to stay.
As it relates to employment, this category of visa now cost the person who is bringing an employee to Guyana US $140 for a period of three years in the first instance and a similar sum for every time that visa is renewed.
Likewise, student visas now cost US $140 for a three-year period in the first instance and a similar sum every time that stay is extended.
Meanwhile, persons who are desirous of coming to Guyana to engage in business activities are now required to pay US $140 for a period of five years and a similar sum to extend their stay in the country.
The immigration authorities have been informed of this new policy, which came into effect in May 2011. It has been working very smoothly from all indications at both the level of the immigration authorities and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which have embassies and consulates abroad authorised to issue visas.
There are certain conditions attached to the granting of the visas; these can be found on the websites of the Ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs and the Guyana Police Force.
In July 2010, a workshop was held by Trevor Hamilton and Associates, who were contracted by Government through the Citizen’s Security Programme (CSP) to undertake the consultancy to review and enhance the country’s immigration policies to be on par with the evolving demands of globalisation.
While the existing immigration laws and procedures have served the country well, the demands of globalisation and its many implications such as increase in movement of people across national borders, new initiatives like the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and emerging social issues such as Trafficking In Persons (TIP), drugs, fugitives from other countries and terrorists.
