Work, money and avoiding scams

Updated 24 Oct 2026

General information. Not legal or immigration advice.

Working legally

To work legally, a foreign national normally needs an employment visa. It is handled by Immigration Support Services (ISS), part of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The online application asks for a contract or letter of employment, a police clearance and a medical report, among other documents. https://eservices.iss.gov.gy/employment-visa
The Ministry of Labour deals with workers' rights, complaints, workplace safety and the regulation of recruitment agencies. It also runs a public vacancy service. https://labour.gov.gy/ . Phone 226-6115.

Your basic rights

If you have a problem with your pay, hours or safety at work, you can go to the Ministry of Labour at 82 Brickdam, Georgetown. For a specific case, ask the Legal Aid Clinic for guidance.

Signs of a fake job or trafficking

Be very careful if someone:

asks for money up front for the job, transport or "papers";
wants to keep your passport or documents;
promises very high pay without explaining the work;
gives no address, company name or written contract;
tells you not to talk to anyone, or stops you from leaving;
offers work to a child.

Trafficking in persons hotline: 227-4083, 623-5030 or 624-0079 (Spanish). It is confidential, run by the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Banks and money

Usual requirements to open an account: photo ID or passport, recent proof of address, proof of income and, if you work in Guyana, a TIN certificate from the GRA (Guyana Association of Bankers).
Never share your PIN or codes. No bank will ask for them by phone or message.
Do not receive money from strangers into your account or "lend" your account. It is a common scam and could get you into trouble.

On GuyanaHub

In the GuyanaHub Marketplace, every job post is checked before it goes live. It must name the employer, location and pay range. It must never charge the worker.
If you see a suspicious offer, use the Report button or email service@computingcore.net.

Sources

ISS, Employment Visa. https://eservices.iss.gov.gy/employment-visa
Ministry of Labour. https://labour.gov.gy/
Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit (MHSSS). https://mhsss.gov.gy/counter-trafficking-in-persons-unit/
Ministry of Home Affairs, press release, 14 Apr 2024. https://moha.gov.gy/press-release-18/
Guyana Association of Bankers. https://gabigy.org/resource-center/the-account-opening-process/