Overview
Parliament passed the Remote Employment Act on 21 May 2021 (Act No. 3 of 2021). It lets the Chief Immigration Officer, with the Minister's approval, grant a remote-work permit to a non-national who works digitally for employers or clients outside Grenada. The permit is valid for up to one year and can be renewed for further periods of up to one year.
Permit holders and their dependants may not take other employment in Grenada, run a business there or sell services to Grenadian businesses or residents; dependants may not be enrolled in public schools, and everyone must hold health insurance for the whole permit period.
Editor's note — We could not find a dedicated online portal for this permit: the Act says applications go to the Chief Immigration Officer on the form in its Schedule I. Confirm the current procedure and payment method with the Immigration Department before you travel.
Who is eligible
- Non-national working digitally for employers or clients outside Grenada.
- Actual annual income of at least EC$100,000 generated outside Grenada, expected to continue during the permit.
- Passport valid for the whole permit period, and a visa where one is required.
- Health insurance valid for the permit period, for you and every dependant.
- Police certificate.
Income & financial requirements
Earned outside Grenada; about US$37,000.
EC$4,050 (Schedule II of the Act).
Applicant plus up to three dependants; US$200 each extra.
US$1,900 with up to three dependants.
The Act requires “proof of an actual annual income of not less than EC$100,000.00 generated outside of Grenada, and proof that the actual income is intended to continue” for the permit period. At the exchange rate used in the Act's own fee schedule (EC$2.70 to US$1), that is about US$37,000.
Costs & fees
- US$1,500 application fee for an individual, or US$2,000 for the applicant and up to three dependants, plus US$200 for each additional dependant.
- Renewal: US$1,400 for an individual or US$1,900 with up to three dependants.
- Health insurance for everyone on the permit, for the whole period.
Taxes
Section 9 of the Act states that “no income tax is payable in respect of any income generated by the non-national, or his or her dependant, outside of Grenada” under the Act. Permit holders are also entitled to the conditional customs-duty exemptions listed in the Act's Schedule III. Home-country tax obligations continue.
How to apply
Prepare the documents
Passport, visa if required, proof of foreign income, health insurance and a police certificate.
Apply to the Chief Immigration Officer
On the application form in Schedule I of the Act, with the prescribed fee.
Approval
The permit is granted with the Minister's approval, for up to one year.
Renew before expiry
With updated income and insurance evidence and the renewal fee.
Duration & renewal
Up to one year, renewable for further periods of up to one year each under section 6 of the Act.
Bringing family
One application can cover your spouse and children under 18 (and other dependants defined in the Act): US$2,000 for the applicant and up to three dependants, plus US$200 for each extra dependant. Dependants may not work, run a business or attend public school.
Pros & cons
Advantages
- Lower income bar than Barbados, Dominica or Montserrat
- Statutory income-tax exemption on foreign income
- Renewable year by year
- Conditional duty exemptions
Considerations
- No dedicated online portal found
- Processing time not published
- Dependants barred from public schools
- Fees of US$1,400 or more every year