03/02/2026
IMMIGRATION MINISTER JAMELL ROBINSON CONFIRMS GOVERNMENT WILL ALLOW SKILLED HAITIANS TO APPLY FOR WORK PERMITS AGAIN
By Daisy Handfield
The government has confirmed that skilled Haitian nationals may once again apply for work permits from February 1, marking the first formal adjustment to the moratorium imposed last year, while the ban on unskilled workers and visas has been extended for a further six months.
Minister of Immigration Jamell Robinson told The SUN that applications would continue to be processed under existing immigration law, and confirmed that the ban on unskilled work permits remains in force, with the sole exception of farmers and farm workers, a measure he said is intended to support food security.
Robinson said skilled work permit applications would continue to be reviewed by the Work Permit Board, but would be subject to closer examination during the moratorium period.
"These applications will go before the Board as they normally do," he said, adding that applicants would be required to provide proof of qualifications and experience. He said the additional scrutiny is intended "to reduce the risk of abuse within the system."
Robinson said employers would not face new compliance or vetting requirements beyond those that already apply to skilled work permit applications. "There are no additional obligations being placed on employers at this time," Robinson said.
Under the existing framework, skilled employment typically includes professional and technical occupations such as healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical technicians; education professionals such as teachers, lecturers and specialised instructors; and engineering professionals including civil, electrical and mechanical engineers and surveyors. It also covers information technology specialists, financial and business professionals, certified skilled trades in construction, technical specialists such as marine engineers and aviation technicians, and ministers of religion.
All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Work Permit Board and require proof that no suitably qualified Turks and Caicos Islander is available for the post. Robinson said that requirement remains unchanged.
The Minister declined to say whether the partial lifting of the moratorium represents a short-term labour adjustment or a longer-term shift in immigration policy toward Haitian nationals. He also did not outline specific indicators that would be used to assess whether the change is effective or when the policy would be formally reviewed, saying that "further details will be provided at a later date."
The six-month moratorium on first-time work permits and visas for Haitian nationals was introduced in July 2025 following a series of violent incidents that the government said raised national security concerns. At the time, Premier Charles Washington Misick said the pause would allow authorities to strengthen vetting procedures, review immigration policy and move toward a more controlled, quota-based work permit system.
The decision to allow skilled Haitian nationals to apply for work permits represents the first modification to that policy since it was imposed. While the government maintains that national security considerations remain paramount, the move signals a limited recalibration of the moratorium as policymakers seek to balance labour needs with tighter immigration controls.
