Turks & Caicos
At a Glance
Location
Turks and Caicos is a chain of over forty islands, nine inhabited, and part of the British West Indies. The country lies southeast of The Bahamas island chain, east of Cuba, and north of the Dominican Republic.
Capital & Largest City
The capital is Cockburn Town, located on Grand Turk Island. The island Providenciales, also known as Provo, has a majority of the population and resorts.
Population
Approximately 40,000 for all of Turks and Caicos, with around 25,000 residing on
Providenciales.
Primary Language
English.
Calling Code
+1-649
Time Zone
Turks and Caicos Islands practices Daylight Savings Time (DST) during the summer months and is in the same time zone as the eastern United States.
Climate
Turks and Caicos Islands features a tropical climate with consistent pleasant temperatures year round. December, January, and February are the coolest months, with an average high temperature of 81°F (27°C). July, August, and September are the warmest months, with an average high temperature of 89°F (32°C). Water temperatures average around 80°F (27°C).
Travel Visa
U.S. citizens do not need visas to enter Turks and Caicos Islands as tourists for periods of less than 90 days. All that is required is a valid passport and a return ticket. Click HERE for information regarding entry requirements.
Currency and Banking
The U.S. dollar is the official currency. Most types of credit cards are accepted and banks offer ATMs as well as cash advances on credit cards. There are three primary local banks: FirstCaribbean International Bank (CIBC), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), and Scotia Bank. The financial services industry is regulated by the independent, statutory Financial Services Commission (FSC).
Taxes
There is no income tax, capital gains tax, or property tax in Turks and Caicos. The government income relies primarily on hospitality tax, stamp duty on real property sales (transfer tax), import duties, and work permits.
Economy
The Turks and Caicos Islands economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing (conch and lobster).
Government
For information on the form and structure of government, visit:
https://www.gov.tc/government
Utilities
Electricity is provided by FortisTCI Limited
https://www.fortistci.com/
Water in Providenciales is safe to drink and service is reliable. Water is provided by Provo Water, a centralized desalination plant
https://www.provowater.com/
Cellular, TV, and internet is of high quality and provided by Digicel and Flow
https://www.digicelgroup.com/tc/en
https://discoverflow.co/turks-and-caicos/
