Living in Guyana
This guide sets out essential information for British national residing in Guyana, including advice on health, education, benefits, residence requirements and more.
Overview
This guide sets out essential information for British national residing in Guyana, including advice on health, education, benefits, residence requirements and more. We are unable to provide any guidance on general lifestyle enquiries apart from the information and links listed below.
The British High Commission Georgetown, do provide consular assistance to British nationals in Guyana. Please view our services
Coronavirus
You should follow the advice of the Guyanese government and your local authority. You can also read our Guyana travel advice for our latest guidance.
For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Guyana see our coronavirus travel advice.
Entry requirements
If you are British and hold a passport for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, its colonies, Territories and Dependencies you do not require a visa for vacation and flight connections.
A valid British passport must be held for entry to and exit from Guyana as a visitor. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in Guyana.A departure tax of GYD4, 000.00 or USD21.00 must be paid when leaving Guyana. Children 8yrs and under are exempted from this tax.
Residence, work and study requirements
British Citizens who wish to reside, work and study in Guyana can apply for the relevant visa. Further details on supporting documents, application forms and fees needed, can be found below:
Advisory on new immigration procedures / visa fees
Sponsoring family members
British Citizens who want to sponsor family members and or minors to reside in Guyana must follow the same criteria and procedure ‘for residence requirements’ above.
Health
Guyana is operated under a two tier health care system. This means, there is an existence of both private and public health care facilities. Public Health Care is available free of charge to both citizens and foreign nationals. For the various regions you can find a number of Health Centres / Clinics. For all public health care facilities and services you can visit: Ministry of Health Guyana
Private healthcare is available to anyone who could afford. Credit card facilities and insurance schemes and plans are accepted and honoured once cleared at two private hospitals only.
Please see links for the St Joseph Mercy Hospital and Balwant Singh Hospital
Education
Education in Guyana is free to Foreign nationals at Government nursery, primary and secondary schools.
Employment
British nationals can work in Guyana providing they have the required permissions and correct documents to do so. For requirements and applications for work permits, please check the website below:
Driving licenses and vehicles
The British High Commission cannot issue or renew a UK driving license. Contact the DVLA for information about renewing a license or applying for a new license
Driving in Guyana
The minimum age to drive a rental vehicle in Guyana is 18 years old but you must have a valid driver’s license. You can drive in Guyana on a U.K. driver’s license but you must for go into the Guyana Revenue Authority to obtain an international driving permit which will be valid for one (1) month.
Driving in Guyana is on the left hand side of the road the speed limits are 43 mph in towns and up to 50mph on the highways.
The roads in Guyana are generally good, but traffic in Georgetown and larger towns can be very heavy at times. For general regulations and further information please visit the website below.
Finance
Guyana has many banks for the expat to choose from and two of these are international banks. The two international banks are Scotia Bank and Republic Bank.
A current account in Guyana is also known as a Chequing Account. There are a number of requirements which will need to be met before you can open a current account.
For information, useful Links, Guidance on Account Opening and investing your money visit Bank of Guyana.
Taxation
There are importation tax issues which affect all aspects of foreign investment in Guyana, including the very decision to invest and the choice of structure to pursue investment.
As part of the undertaking to improve the conditions for investment, there have been a series of tax reforms including reductions in taxes.
Taxation is a complex issue and it is strongly recommended that professional advice is sought. For information visit the Guyana Revenue Authority or the Ministry of Finance
Bringing medication into Guyana
Talk to your doctor or a travel medicine specialist and discuss both the prescription and over the counter medicines that you will need to take with you: take only those for personal use. Contact the High Commission of the country you are visiting to ensure the medicine is legal there.
Carry a letter from your prescriber with your prescription medicines. The letter should include the name of the medicine, how much you are taking or sending, and state the medicine is for your personal use.
All medicines should be kept in their original container displaying your name and dosage requirements, and carried in hand luggage to prevent their loss. For further information visit the Ministry of Public Health or the Guyana High Commission in the UK.
Social ethics and traditions
Guyana has a conservative attitude to homosexuality and homophobic views are common. Sodomy remains a criminal offence, although penalties concerning sexual relations between members of the same sex are rarely enforced.
Returning to the UK
If you live in Guyana and are considering returning to live in the UK, you should consider how you will support yourself and how non-British family members of your family may be able to accompany you. There is information available to help you make informed choices about living abroad and thinking about returning to the UK.
Disclaimer
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Guyana authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office makes no representation as to the quality or accuracy of the information which is available at the web address listed nor do we endorse them. We are not involved in the production or sale of the company’s products nor do we monitor their quality.
Last updated 23 March 2021 + show all updates
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Coronavirus section added with a link to guidance on vaccines
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First published.