Moving back to Guyana (re-migrant scheme)

General information only. The Ministry decides who qualifies, and GRA decides which tax exemptions apply. Confirm the details before you ship anything or buy a vehicle.

How the scheme works

The Government's Re-migrant Scheme is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation together with the Guyana Revenue Authority. The Ministry decides who is a "qualifying re-migrant", and GRA administers the tax exemptions ^[1].

Who qualifies ^[1]

• A Guyanese citizen aged 18 or over who has lived legally overseas for at least five consecutive years and is returning; or
• A Guyanese graduate who studied abroad and lived overseas for at least three years.

When and where to apply ^[1]

• Apply within six months of your last date of entry into Guyana.
• Apply in person to the Re-migration Officer at the Ministry, Takuba Lodge, 254 South Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.
• Phone (592) 226-1606-8 ext. 339, 367, 340 or 219; email remigration@minfor.gov.gy ^[1]. The documents list also gives 592-225-8824 ^[2].
• The Ministry encourages you to get your approval letter before shipping household items ^[1].

Documents (two copies of each, originals shown) ^[2]

1. Passport bio-data page and all stamped pages (and your previous passport if the current one is less than five years old)
2. Travel records for the last five years from the Passport Office
3. Proof of legal residence abroad (for example a citizenship certificate, work permit, tax returns or permanent residence card; CSME certificates for the Caribbean)
4. A statutory declaration sworn before a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner of Oaths in Guyana
5. Proof you are resettling (for example a transport, lease, rent receipt or business licence)
6. Students: study permit or visa, certificate, student ID, transcripts and a letter from the university
7. Vehicle title, or a quotation if you plan to buy a new vehicle
8. A typed, itemised and quantified list of household and personal effects
9. Two passport photos
10. TIN certificate and birth certificate
11. Deed poll or marriage certificate if your name has changed
12. Pension, medical or social security papers, if you are disabled or a pensioner

Documents not in English must be translated and certified ^[2].

Conditions on a vehicle ^[1]

• You must live in Guyana at least 183 days a year for three consecutive years if the vehicle is older than four years, or five consecutive years if it is under four years old. Otherwise the exempted taxes become payable under the Customs Act.
• You cannot sell, transfer, lease or give away the vehicle during that period.
• You no longer need to have owned the vehicle for six months before returning. You may import a new vehicle or buy one in Guyana.

Processing and validity ^[1]

• The Ministry processes complete applications in seven working days.
• The approval letter is valid for six months and cannot be changed once issued. If you do not use it in time, you must reapply with a letter explaining why.
• GRA then examines your documents, interviews you and decides the exemptions ^[1].

House lots

The re-migrant approval letter does not give you a house lot. For the Re-migrant Housing Scheme, contact the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Block CHPA, Plantation Houston, Greater Georgetown, +592 226-5533 ^[1][3].