The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British overseas territory, with an internal self-government structure and a politically elected Prime Minister. The Queen appoints a governor as her representative based on the islands. Crime levels in the
Turks and Caicos
Islands are higher than average, so visitors should take extra caution when travelling there. For more information, read the country information page.The entry stamp requires two pages and is valid for three months upon login. The Consular Agency in Providenciales is permanently closed, so all consular services for the Turks and Caicos Islands are provided through the US Embassy in Nassau (see contact information above). The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCIS) is a British overseas territory consisting of eight main islands. It has relationships with countries around the world, but a tourist visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days.
A valid passport is required to enter and exit. For the most up-to-date visa information, visit the Turks and Caicos Islands Department of Immigration website. The passport center is located in Nassau, Bahamas, and for more information on emergency passports, visit the US State Department website. For dual nationality, prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations, visit our websites.
See the State Department and FBI pages for information on safety plans. Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime, but some crimes are also prosecutable in the United States. For more information on this, see our website on help for US citizens abroad. There are two hospitals in Providenciales and Grand Turk managed by InterHealth Canada that can address medical needs that are not life-threatening.
However, serious medical problems may require medical evacuation by air to neighboring countries or to the United States. The repatriation of remains of US citizens who die in the Turks and Caicos Islands can take weeks to return to the US because there is not always a pathologist available to perform autopsies. Non-resident foreign pathologists usually travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands by appointment to provide this public service.We do not pay medical bills; Medicare or Medicaid do not apply abroad. We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.
For more information on road safety, see our page on it. For additional information related to international child abduction prevention, see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (ICAPRA) report.The latest CDC guidance on international travel for vaccinated people can be found here. Sign up for up-to-date information on safety and security and help us contact you in case of an emergency abroad. Make two copies of all your travel documents in case of emergency and leave one with a trusted friend or family member.The closest foreign landmass to the Turks and Caicos Islands is the Bahamian island of Little Inagua, about 30 miles (48 km) away from West Caicos.
In 2002, the British Overseas Territories Act restored full British citizenship to all citizens of British Overseas Territories, including the Turks and Caicos Islands.The Turks and Caicos Islands Community College offers free higher education to students who have successfully completed their secondary education. The islands have a tropical savanna (AW) climate with relatively constant temperatures throughout the year.When the Bahamas gained independence in 1973, the Turks and Caicos Islands received their own governor (the last administrator was reappointed). An international driving permit is valid for up to one month; after that period a local Turks and Caicos Islands license from the Department of Highway Safety is required.Most care is provided by private and public association hospitals managed by Interhealth Canada; there is one hospital in Providenciales and one on Grand Turk Island.The Turks and Caicos Islands participate in the Caribbean Development Bank, are partners in CARICOM, are members of the Universal Postal Union and maintain a sub-office of Interpol. West Indies Video (WIV) has been the only cable television provider in the Turks and Caicos Islands for more than two decades; WIV4 (a subsidiary of WIV) has been the only broadcasting station on the islands for more than 15 years; broadcasts can also be received from the Bahamas.Luxury resorts are aimed at wealthy visitors while a new large cruise port and recreation center have been built for those visiting Grand Turk.
