If the visitor arrives from a country that is not exempt from the visa regime, he/she must obtain a visa from the nearest diplomatic office. To stay on the island more than 3 month are required to apply for an appropriate permit with the payment of state duty (from $27).
The term of the visa will depend on the planned activity and the length of the stay. Short-term permits are issued for up to 90 days, and if one needs to stay more than 3 months, an appropriate residence permit is issued.
Freelancer Visa
Grenada became one of the Caribbean countries that launched its own program "Digital Nomad Visa". It is legally regulated by the Law "On Remote Employment" dated May 21, 2021. The main objective was to attract visitors for a long-term and provide them with the right to remote employment.
The Digital Nomad Visa is valid for 1 year and can be extended for a similar period of time. Spouses and dependents under the age of 18 can be included in the application. It usually takes up to 10-12 days for the request to be processed.
To obtain a permit, one must meet several basic conditions:
- Availability of remote work. The applicant must prove that he/she is an employee or owner of a company registered outside Grenada. It is allowed to work as a freelancer and earn income abroad.
- Remote earnings of at least $37,000 per year. When requesting a visa, you should provide proof of a stable income not lower than the minimum threshold.
- No serious illnesses. The candidate must provide a medical examination report and international health insurance.
How much does the visa cost?
When applying for a visa, you will have to pay a number of mandatory fees for its processing. You can pay the fee in person at the embassy at the time of registration or online. In 2024, the amount of duties is as follows:
- Single entry – $100.
- Multiple entry – $250.
To the amount of mandatory fees it is necessary to add additional payments for legal services and legalization of documents. Additionally, separate conditions may be established for each visa category. For example, one applicant for a digital nomad visa will have to pay an administrative fee of $1,500, and for a family of 4 people – $2,000. Each supplemental dependent will increase the fee amount by $200. Renewal will cost $1,400 for one person and $1,900 for a family of 4.
Types of Grenada Visas
The permit issued by the Government of Grenada allows its holder to enter the country, reside, engage in an established activity for a certain period of time. The request shall be justified by a specific purpose. Currently, the following types of visas are valid in the Kingdom:
- Tourist visa. Allows its holder to visit the country for tourist or business purposes, but prohibits to engage in remunerated activities without special permits.
- Transit Visa. Allows a traveler to travel through Grenada on their way to another destination if their nationality does not allow visa-free travel.
- Educational Visa. This type of visa permits one to undergo an academic course of study at an agreed educational institution.
- Digital nomad visa. A special permit allowing foreigners to live and work remotely while earning income from abroad.
- Work visa. Grants the right to work for a local company.
- Business visa. Allows its possessor to conduct commercial activities in the territory of the country in the agreed field. Before traveling to the island, you need to understand whether you need a visa at all and what type of permission will be required. Visa requirements vary from the applicant's current nationality and intended purpose of travel. Currently, the most popular visas to Grenada are the following types.
Student visa
The purpose of the program was to provide foreign citizens with the legal right to reside in Grenada during studies. The right can be exercised by persons enrolled in educational institutions that are recognized by the government.
To obtain a study visa, the applicant must provide an admission letter to the university, proof of sufficient funds for living in the country, receipts for payment for the services of the educational institution, and medical insurance. One of the main conditions is the demonstration of the intention to return to your home country after completing the course.
Tourist Visa
The permit is issued to citizens of countries with which Grenada does not have a visa waiver agreement.
Registration takes place at the embassy or consulate with the personal submission of the application, since representatives of the diplomatic department can schedule an interview. In addition to the standard package of documents, the applicant must provide proof of availability of funds for the intended trip.
Business visa (for business trips)
The business visa is intended for foreigners arriving in Grenada for business events – conferences, meetings, negotiations, study of business opportunities. The permit does not allow you to enter into labor relations with local employers and sell services/products to citizens. There are separate regulations for this.
The grounds for granting a business visa may be an official invitation letter from a Grenadian company. At the same time, the organization sending the employee (or owner) must provide information about the purpose of arrival and the length of the visit.
Work visa (to work legally in the country)
The Government of Grenada issues several types of work permits depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant and the needs of local companies. Currently, there are 2 types of visas:
- Short-term work visa. A standard option for foreigners who have received job offers from Grenadian employers. The main direction is seasonal and volunteer work. The employer must prove that the company has a training program to transmit skills to foreign citizens.
- Long-term work visa. It is issued to specialists with unique qualifications who are in demand and cannot be replaced by local residents. In the labor department, the employer must accurately justify the need for a foreign employee and provide notarized certificates of current qualifications.
Before submitting an application, the candidate must receive an invitation from a Grenadian employer. The government carefully monitors the permits issued and tries to limit the number of foreigners arriving for the purpose of employment. Without valid reasons for hiring a foreign citizen, the application is rejected.
Necessary documents
The final list of documents for obtaining a visa may vary depending on the permit obtained and the citizenship of the applicant. In general, the checklist includes:
- A valid passport.
- Completed application form.
- 2 recent passport size photographs.
- Receipts for payment of visa fees.
- Flight ticket to Grenada.
- Medical insurance policy.
- Police clearance certificate.
- Original statements from financial institutions.
- Proof of housing accommodation availability on the island.
The processing time of the request depends on the workload of diplomatic agencies and can take from several days to several weeks. It is advisable to apply for a visa to Grenada no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before the intended trip.
Recent changes in the visa issuance
Grenada, having established diplomatic relations with the greatness of the country in 2002,, did not make modifications to the regulatory framework of bilateral relations. The visa conditions have not changed in recent years.
According to the memorandum, the minimum investment amount has been increased to $200,000, the transparency of the program has been improved, and there have been established international regulatory standards. According to the Prime Minister of Grenada, the agreement will eliminate the underestimation and financial inconsistencies that were inherent in previous citizenship-by-investment programs.