GrenadaWork residence permit

Work permit in Grenada

The work permit programme requires employers and organisations to obtain official permission when hiring a foreign national or a residence-permit holder. The permit is issued by the Ministry of Labour and is valid only with the specific employer. The employer is responsible for complying with all employment, minimum wage and national insurance contribution laws. The permit is subject to renewal after a set period. The programme protects labour rights and ensures compliance with national employment legislation.

Source: Ministry of Labour of Grenada — Work Permits

Who can hire a foreign worker

An application for a permit may be filed by an employer or organisation hiring a foreign national to work in Grenada.

Employer based in Grenada

Files the application with the Ministry of Labour
Pays all the fees
Is responsible for complying with employment law

For a worker from CARICOM

A criminal-record certificate is required
Reduced fee rate
Standard documentary requirements

For a worker from other countries

A criminal-record certificate is required
Higher fee rate
Full set of documents

When the programme will not suit you

If the foreign national is looking for work on their own account

Sponsorship by a Grenadian employer is required — self-employed activity without a permit is prohibited

If the employer wants to hire an employee of another company

Each employer can only obtain permits for its own employees

If the permit has expired and no renewal application has been filed

A renewal application must be filed three months before the expiry date

What it costs

Application feeCovers processing of the application	100 USD
Work permit (CARICOM countries)For nationals of CARICOM member states (Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, Dominica and others)	1 000 USD
Work permit (Commonwealth countries, North America, UK, EU)For nationals of the Commonwealth, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and EU states	3 000 USD
Work permit (other countries)For nationals of all other countries	5 000 USD
Replacement of the permitIf the permit is lost, damaged or updated	+100 USD
Penalty for filing the renewal application lateIf the application is filed after the set deadline	+100 USD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Replacement of the permit” adds 100 USD; “Penalty for filing the renewal application late” adds 100 USD; the “Work permit (Commonwealth countries, North America, UK, EU)” branch replaces the “Work permit (CARICOM countries)” line — 3 100 USD; the “Work permit (other countries)” branch replaces the “Work permit (CARICOM countries)” line — 5 100 USD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	1,100–1 300 USD

Paid separately

Notarisation of documents — Paid separately to the notary when documents are certified
Official translation of documents — Paid separately if the documents are not in English

Documents to gather

The following documents are required to apply for a work permit:

Completed application form in duplicate bearing the company stamp
Copy of the passport page with biographical details
Copy of the passport page with details of entry into and extension of stay in Grenada
Two passport photographs measuring 4×6 centimetres with the surname and first name in block capitals
Letter from the employer addressed to the Permanent Secretary
Original criminal-record certificate from the country of residence for the past six months
Notarised copies of qualification certificates and diplomas
Two professional references from previous employers
Proof of sufficient financial means
Copy of the company registration document
Tax compliance certificate
Certificate of registration with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS)
All documents drawn up in a language other than English must be translated and certified by an official translator

How the process runs

Obtaining a work permit involves the following stages:

1
Preparing the documents
1-2 weeks
The employer collects all the necessary documents from the candidate for the post: passport, criminal-record certificate, diplomas and qualification certificates, references from previous employers, proof of financial standing.
2
Completing the application form
1-2 days
The employer completes the work permit application form in duplicate and stamps each copy with the company stamp as required by the Ministry of Labour.
3
Filing the application with the Ministry of Labour
1 day
The employer submits the set of documents together with the completed forms to the Ministry of Labour. Documents must be filed either in person at the office at Ministerial Complex, 3rd Floor, Tanteen, St. George's, or by post.
4
Checking the documents and eligibility
2-4 weeks
Ministry of Labour staff check that the documents are complete and correct, that the legal requirements are met, that financial means are sufficient and that the employer's status is in order.
5
Paying the fees
1 day
Once the documents are approved, the employer pays the prescribed fees through the pay.gov.gd portal or at the Ministry's office. The amount depends on the candidate's nationality.
6
Issue of the work permit
1-2 days
Once payment is confirmed, the Ministry of Labour issues the work permit to the employer. The employer receives the permit and gives it to the worker.
7
Returning the permit when employment ends
on termination
When the foreign national's employment ends, the employer must return the permit to the Ministry of Labour within the prescribed period and notify the Minister of the change in employment status.

Timelines and rights

Work

Gives the right to work for a specific employer

Renewal and the grace period

An application to renew a work permit must be filed three months before the current permit expires. If the application is filed after that deadline, the employer pays a penalty of one hundred US dollars. Renewal requires the completed form in duplicate, the original previous work permit, a letter from the employer, a copy of the biographical page of the passport and the page with entry details, a tax compliance certificate and a certificate of registration with the National Insurance Scheme.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Work permit	Citizenship by descent	Citizenship by marriage
Visa term	The renewal application is filed three months before the current permit expires	Citizenship is granted for life	Citizenship is granted for life
Money	Application fee USD 100	Fee of XCD 250 plus XCD 5.10 for translation	Fee of XCD 1000 plus XCD 5.10 for translation
Work	Gives the right to work for a specific employer	A Grenadian citizen works without a work permit — it is only needed by foreign employees	A Grenadian citizen works without a work permit — it is only needed by foreign employees

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Permanent residence is applied for separately — at the Prime Minister's Office. The fee is XCD 275 plus XCD 5.10 for translation; from the United States USD 104.20 is paid. Criminal-record certificates from the country of origin and from Grenada, a reference letter and a medical report are requested.

Route to citizenship

A foreign national who is not a citizen of a Commonwealth country applies for naturalisation at the Prime Minister's Office. The fee is XCD 7500 plus XCD 5.10 for translation; from the United States — USD 2791.90.

Frequently asked questions about Work permit

Who has to file the work permit application?

The employer or organisation hiring a foreign national to work in Grenada must file the application. The foreign worker cannot apply on their own — this is the employer's right and duty. The employer is also responsible for meeting all the requirements of employment and immigration law.

What happens to the work permit when the worker leaves?

When the employment relationship ends, the employer must return the work permit to the Ministry of Labour. The permit is valid only in respect of the specific employer named in the document and cannot be transferred to another employer. The employer must also notify the Minister of any change in the information given in the application within fourteen days.

What criminal-record certificate is required as a minimum?

An original criminal-record certificate issued by the country where the foreign national has lived for the previous six months is required. The certificate must be obtained from the competent authorities of that country and must confirm the absence of convictions or offences.

What happens if the renewal application is filed late?

If the application to renew the work permit is filed after the set deadline has passed (three months before the permit expires), the employer must pay a penalty of one hundred US dollars. This is a penalty for late filing and is charged in addition to the main permit fees.

In which languages must the documents be submitted?

All supporting documents submitted with the application must be in English. If the documents are in another language, they must be translated into English by an official translator and accompanied by a certified copy of the translation.

Other ways to move to Grenada

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Grenada.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.