Everything you need to know about a Guyana Visa

guyana-visa-image British nationals, who own valid documents that prove they are of UK origins, do not need a visa to visit Guyana. Once you arrive at the port of entry, you would normally be granted a 30-day stay by the immigration authorities.

If you wish to extend the allowable stay period, you can obtain an extension from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Georgetown.

Without the extension permission, you cannot, in any case, overstay the granted span. If you do, you can be imprisoned for up to 12 months, in addition to paying a fine of up to G$50,000. Deportation is also likely after your release from prison.

In order to be granted a trouble-free entry into Guyana, please ensure that you carry a British citizen passport (with a minimum validity of six months and at least two blank pages), evidence of sufficient funds, and proof of onward or return travel.

We strongly recommend that you contact your airlines beforehand and confirm if they allow passengers to board without a visa.

Additionally, check if your journey includes any connecting flights overseas. If yes, you need to enquire whether any of the international countries, forming a part of your itinerary, need a separate transit visa.

Entry requirements for foreigners

Citizens residing in the UK who do not hold a British passport or do not belong to any of the visa-exempt countries might need a visa to enter Guyana, applied in advance through the Guyana High Commission in London.

For the complete list of visa-free jurisdictions, you can scroll down to Schedule 1 and check the listhere.

The High Commission generally issues two types of ordinary Guyanese visas, which are:

Tourist visa
Business visa

Tourist Visa

A single-entry tourist or visitor visa allows you to enter Guyana for travel, recreation, or pleasure purposes. The documents required to file an application include:

A completely filled and signedvisa application formin original, accompanied by a clear photocopy of the completed form
An original passport which has at least six months’ remaining validity and two blank pages
Two recent, colored, passport-size photographs (taken within the last six months against a light background)
The required visa fee of £20, payable only in cash or through a Postal Order or via an International Bank Draft, which is payable to the Guyana High Commission in pounds sterling. You cannot make payments through personal cheques
Evidence of return or onward travel
Proof of sufficient funds in the form of bank statements or cash
Proof of accommodation such as hotel bookings or a letter of invitation from your host in Guyana
A cover letter from your employer
International yellow fever vaccination card if arriving from a region with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Business Visa

A multiple-entry business visa allows you to visit Guyana for business-related purposes. It is valid for up to five years.

The primary documents required in this case are a visa application form, visa fee (£80), passport, yellow fever certificate, and photographs.

The specifications for these documents are the same as those for a tourist visa, which are already outlined above.

Additionally, you will need:

A letter of invitation from your sponsor (i.e the registered company in Guyana)
A recommendation letter from your company in the UK

Once you have the documents ready, you can submit an application either in person or via post. In the latter case, you should ensure that you include an additional cover charge of £10 (if staying overseas) to pay for international registered postage.

You should also mention your address clearly in the self-addressed envelope.

Once the documents reach the consular section, the authorities generally take a processing time of at least five working days to approve your visa, provided the application package meets all the specifications.

You can choose to collect the stamped passport through courier or in person.

You should make it a point to submit an application at least a week in advance from your travel dates. For safety, we would advise you to apply for a visa one month before your arrival date in Guyana.

After arriving in Guyana, if you wish to extend your stay period, you can apply for an extension through the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, located in Georgetown, Guyana.

Dual citizens

If you are a Guyanese citizen and have a British passport, you do not need a visa if your passport specifies that your place of birth is Guyana. If not, you can present documented proof of birth in

Guyana to the immigration authorities at the port of entry, which can be a birth certificate, a marriage certificate (for married individuals), or an expired Guyana passport.

Minors who have a Guyanese parent and can present proof of the same do not need a visa to enter Guyana.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

UK Emergency Travel Documents are accepted by Guyanese authorities at ports of entry, airside transit and exit from the country

Additional points

Guyana holds a risk of Zika virus transmission as per reports from UK health authorities. Even cases of malaria and dengue fever are common in the region.

Hence, you should always make it a point to take out an all-inclusive travel health insurance before your travel dates.

Drug-related offenses are common in Guyana. So, you should be extremely wary when you travel in the country. If found involved in such activities, you can face severe penalties such as heavy fines and imprisonment (with the minimum sentence being up to three years).