The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands plans to discontinue all new and first-time Freelancer’s Work Permits under the proposed Immigration Bill 2026. While the new legislation will remove this category from the immigration framework, more than 600 current permit holders will be allowed to complete their path to residency.
Immigration Minister Jamell Robinson stated that the change addresses the high volume of people utilizing this visa type. Under the transitional provisions, individuals who currently hold a valid permit may renew it to finish their 10-year qualifying period for a Permanent Residence Certificate, rather than transitioning to the proposed 20-year route required for others. The government intends to stop issuing any new permits once the new system takes effect, ensuring those already in the system can still reach eligibility.