Permanent residence is the status most long-term foreign residents of Grenada eventually want: it ends the cycle of renewing extensions of stay, signals that you have settled, and is a step towards naturalisation. Unlike citizenship by investment, it is not bought. You apply on the basis of your life in Grenada, your character and your means of support.
The government publishes a short instruction sheet and a one-page form. The checklist looks simple, but two items catch people out: a full medical examination that must be done in Grenada, and police certificates that expire after six months. This page goes through the requirements, the fees, the order to do things in and what permanent residence does and does not give you.
Who applies and when
Typical applicants are retirees who have lived in Grenada for some years, foreign spouses of Grenadians who are not yet ready to register as citizens, long-term work permit holders, and people who have bought a home and spend most of the year on the island. The form asks for your addresses over the past four years, your occupation and place of work, your source of income, your banker and any dependants living with you, and you are asked to explain in a letter why you want permanent status.
The published sheet does not set a fixed minimum period of residence. In practice, applications are much stronger when you can show a settled life in Grenada over several years: a home, a local bank account, community ties and a record of complying with immigration rules. A first-year arrival with no track record is unlikely to be a priority.
If you are aiming for citizenship by naturalisation later, the clock matters. The naturalisation route expects seven years of residence with the final two as a permanent resident, so applying for permanent residence earlier rather than later keeps that path open.
The official checklist
The government's instruction sheet for permanent residence lists these items:
- the completed and signed application form;
- a reference letter from a reputable person in your country of birth or residence, and one in Grenada;
- a bank reference;
- a police certificate of character from your country of origin and from Grenada, each dated within six months of the application;
- four passport-size photographs, 50mm by 50mm, certified by a Justice of the Peace or Notary Public;
- the original and one photocopy of your birth certificate, with an affidavit if your name does not appear on it;
- a letter stating your date of arrival in Grenada, the purpose of your stay, your activities and why you want permanent residence;
- a medical report from a registered practitioner, which must be done at a medical facility in Grenada.
- The form also asks for your height and eye colour, occupation and contact details, and a copy of your passport.
The medical: what is tested
The medical report is the item that takes longest to arrange. The instruction sheet specifies a chest X-ray, a malaria blood smear, serum creatinine, a syphilis test (RPR, VDRL or similar), a stool culture and microscopic examination, an HIV antibody test and a Mantoux test for tuberculosis. Your immunisation status must also be up to date, including measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus and three doses of hepatitis B, and you must produce your immunisation card.
The report must be done at a medical facility in Grenada, so a report from your doctor abroad will not do. Private doctors and laboratories in St George's and the south of the island can arrange the full panel, with the X-ray done at an imaging centre or hospital. Ask the doctor to confirm they are familiar with immigration medicals before booking.
If you lack proof of hepatitis B doses, start the course early: three doses are spread over several months. Bring your vaccination records from home; a missing card can mean repeating vaccines you have already had.
Fees, and the CARICOM difference
Security check. The sheet lists a security check fee of $275, in EC dollars, about US$102.
CARICOM nationals. Citizens of CARICOM member states pay $1,000 for permanent residence, around US$370.
Everyone else. Non-CARICOM applicants pay $5,000, around US$1,852. These are the published figures at the time of writing; government fees are reviewed periodically, so confirm before you pay. Fees are normally paid when the application is lodged, and are not refunded if it is refused.
Other costs. The medical panel and X-ray, police certificates, certified photographs, notary fees and any lawyer you use add to the total. The medical is usually the largest of these.
A note for CARICOM citizens. Depending on your nationality and skills, regional free-movement arrangements or a CARICOM skills certificate may meet your needs without permanent residence. Compare the options before applying.
The order that saves time
Because police certificates and medicals have a shelf life, sequence matters:
- Keep your current immigration status valid. Continue to renew extensions of stay or your work permit while the application is pending; applying does not by itself authorise you to stay.
- Collect the documents that do not expire: birth certificate, references and bank reference.
- Write the personal letter. Be specific about dates, where you live, how you support yourself and what you do in the community.
- Book the medical in Grenada and complete any outstanding vaccinations.
- Order police certificates last: one from your country of origin and one from the Royal Grenada Police Force, so both are well inside six months when you file.
- Have the photographs certified, assemble the file with copies, and lodge it with the fees. Keep the receipt and a full copy.
- Answer follow-up questions promptly. Approval is notified in writing and a certificate is issued, which you will need later for naturalisation.
Why applications stall
Expired police certificates. Both certificates must be dated within six months of the application. If the medical or another document holds you up, a certificate obtained early can lapse and must be ordered again.
A vague personal letter. A one-line letter saying you love Grenada tells officers nothing. State when you arrived, where you have lived, how you support yourself, who depends on you and what you contribute locally.
No evidence of means. The form asks for your source of income and your banker. Pensions, investment income or a business should be documented, and a bank reference from a Grenadian bank carries weight.
Status gaps. Periods when you overstayed or let an extension lapse undermine the application. Regularise your status before applying, not during.
Missing affidavits. If your name differs between your birth certificate and passport, an affidavit explaining the change should be in the file from the start.
What permanent residence does and does not give you
Permanent residence lets you live in Grenada without renewing extensions of stay, and it is a requirement on the naturalisation forms, which ask for a copy of your permanent residence certificate. It also makes daily life simpler: banks, landlords and utility companies are used to the status.
It does not make you a citizen. You keep your foreign passport, you still need an Alien Landholding Licence to buy land, and you should not assume the status removes the need for a work permit. Check the position on employment with the Immigration Department or the Labour Department before taking a job or starting a business.
Long absences can raise questions about whether you are still resident, and tax residence is decided separately, generally by whether you spend 183 days or more in Grenada in a year. Keep a record of travel dates for both purposes.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you have to live in Grenada before applying for permanent residence?
The published checklist does not state a minimum period. In practice, applicants with several years of lawful residence, a home, local bank account and community ties are in a much stronger position than recent arrivals.
How much does permanent residence in Grenada cost?
The instruction sheet lists a EC$275 security check plus EC$1,000 for CARICOM nationals or EC$5,000 for everyone else. The medical, police certificates and notary fees add to that. Confirm current fees before applying.
Can the medical for permanent residence be done abroad?
No. The instruction sheet states that the medical report must be done at a medical facility in Grenada. It includes a chest X-ray, blood and stool tests, an HIV test, a TB skin test and proof of immunisations.
Does permanent residence allow you to work in Grenada?
Do not assume so. Check with the Immigration Department or the Labour Department whether your status allows employment or self-employment without a separate work permit before taking up work.
Do permanent residents need an Alien Landholding Licence to buy property?
Yes. The licence depends on citizenship, not residence. A permanent resident who is not a Grenadian citizen still needs the licence and pays its fee when buying land or a home.
Is permanent residence needed for naturalisation?
Yes. The naturalisation route expects seven years of residence, the last two as a permanent resident, and the forms ask for a copy of your permanent residence certificate.
