Much of the following information is reproduced with the kind permission of
 the law firm Savory & Co,

Geography
A British Overseas Territory, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) comprise an archipelago of eight main islands in two groups, the Turks to the east and the Caicos to the west, and a number of smaller cays (pronounced "keys"). Physically forming the south end of the Bahamas chain, they are located between latitudes 21º and 22º north and longitudes 71º and 72º 30´ west, just under 600 miles south-east of Miami, Florida, and about 100 miles north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The total land area is approximately 166 square miles. TCI's main natural assets are its 230 miles of white sand beaches, and its coral reefs and ocean walls which are often hailed as offering some of the best diving in the world.
The capital of TCI is Cockburn Town in Grand Turk, and it is here among the main Government offices that the Companies Registry and the Financial Services Commission are based. Grand Turk and Salt Cay are the two inhabited islands of the Turks group.
One of the larger and the most thriving of the Caicos group is Providenciales, where steady development is taking place in the form of hotels, condominiums and other tourist-related projects as well as office and commercial complexes. The other inhabited islands in the Caicos group are North Caicos, Middle Caicos and South Caicos, whilst East Caicos and West Caicos remain uninhabited. In addition there is a chain of cays running between Providenciales and North Caicos, some of which are privately owned. These include Pine Cay, which has an exclusive hotel, airstrip and a number of large holiday homes, and Parrot Cay, where a first class hotel and resort has recently opened.

Climate
TCI enjoys year-round sunshine as well as a prevailing easterly breeze provided by the Atlantic tradewinds which keeps temperatures from becoming excessively hot. The most popular time to visit TCI is over the winter months when the sun continues to shine but the nights are cooler. Temperatures in summer (April to September) average 87º F (31º C) and in winter (October to March) 77º F (25º C). Rainfall averages 26 inches per annum in the Turks and 40 inches in the Caicos Islands. The average humidity is a low 60%. Hurricane season is between June and November, but the risk of TCI being hit directly is low. The last major hurricane to pass directly over the islands was in 1960.

History
A well-documented case has been made by academics that Grand Turk is the place where Christopher Columbus first made landfall after crossing the Atlantic in search of the New World. This honour has been traditionally bestowed on Watling's Island in the Bahamas, now San Salvador, the name given by Columbus to the island where he landed and called Guanahani by its indian inhabitants. Study of Columbus's journals and various other sources show that his descriptions of Guanahani much more closely fit Grand Turk than they do San Salvador.
It is known that the Spanish explorer Ponce de León came to the Islands in 1512, when they were inhabited by Arawak indians. The Spanish took away the indians to use as slave labour and left the islands uninhabited. Bermudians came to the islands in the 17th century and established what was to become TCI's principal industry for the next 300 years - the production of salt from brine. The islands came under British rule in 1766.
The salt industry was based in Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos, where large inland ponds, now called salinas, were converted into a system of salt pans where salt water was evaporated and the remaining crystals raked up. Now defunct, TCI's salt industry once supplied much of the demand of the western world. A legacy of the Bermudian settlement is the architecture of the old buildings still remaining in the "salt islands", the Front Street of Grand Turk being particularly attractive.
Large tracts of land in the lower Bahamas and the Caicos Islands were granted by Britain to American Loyalists after the War of Independence by way of recognition of their services to the Crown. These tracts were farmed as cotton and sisal plantations, but after emancipation many of the planters left the land to their erstwhile African slaves. Thus today the prominent families of the islands are those who through the generations have inherited large parcels of land from their predecessors.
The origin of the name "Turks" has two possible explanations. Usually the name is said to come from the Turk's Head Cactus which grows in the island group, a squat cactus with a red fez-shaped flower-head. Another theory is that the name originates from the French and Spanish use of the word to describe the buccaneers who in the 16th and 17th centuries used the islands to hide out. The word "Caicos" comes from the French "caiques" perhaps influenced by the Spanish "cayos"; both mean "cays", and both appear on various ancient charts. On a 1794 English chart, the names "The Corcos" and "Les Caquis" are given.

Population
The total population of TCI is approximately 32,000, of which Grand Turk has about 6,000 and Providenciales about 25,000. The indigenous population is of African origin. The expatriate population consists mainly of Commonwealth nationals, Americans, European and Caribbean nationals. The official language is English.

Time Zone
TCI are five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, and exactly follow the United States in both Eastern Standard Time and Eastern Daylight-Saving Time.

Currency
The unit of currency is the United States dollar (US$). TCI coins are minted for commemorative and numismatic purposes.

Economy
The mainstays of TCI's economy are tourism, the offshore industry and the fishing industry. There is no form of income taxation in TCI, and the chief sources of Government revenue are customs duty and stamp duty, the bulk of the latter coming from real estate transactions. Virtually everything is imported and on most items import duty is collected at 33% ad valorem. Stamp duty on land purchases is at the rate of 6.5% on transactions up to US$75,000 and 9.75% on transactions over US$75,000. Revenues also derive from other indirect taxes such as accommodation tax payable on hotel rooms, work permit fees, and of course the fees generated by the offshore industry.
A National Insurance Scheme is in place, which involves contributions from employers and employees of 4.6% and 3.4% respectively (calculated on a maximum of US$2,600 per month).

Political Environment
TCI enjoys a stable political environment and has the one of the lowest crime rates in the Caribbean. Whilst the British Government is represented through a Governor, Chief Secretary, Attorney-General and a number of other expatriate officers, TCI is to a large degree self-governing through a form of ministerial government elected at general elections held every four years. The two main political parties are the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) and the opposition People's Democratic Movement (PDM). The legislature of TCI consists of Her Majesty the Queen and a Legislative Council comprising thirteen elected members, three members appointed by the Governor, the Chief Secretary and the Attorney-General. A Premier and five Ministers are appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Council. The executive arm of Government is Executive Council, which has nine members, being the Governor, the six Ministers, and the two ex officio members (the Chief Secretary and the Attorney-General).

Legal System
The TCI legal system is based on the English model, but unlike England has a written Constitution which includes provisions for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. Most of the law derives from Ordinances passed in Legislative Council and to a much lesser extent from legislation specially extended to TCI by Britain. To the extent statutory law does not apply or requires interpretation, the common law of England applies.
The court system comprises the Magistrate's Court, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal (all of which sit in TCI), and the Privy Council in England as the final appellate body. The Supreme Court is vested with the same jurisdiction and powers as the High Court of England.

Communications
Telecommunications are provided under a franchise agreement by the UK-based Cable & Wireless group, though Ireland's Digicel has become a significant force in the mobile market since the relaxing of the communications monopoly. All modern telecommunications services are provided on the fully digital national network, including telefax and modem lines, dedicated lines, state-of-the-art telephone systems, worldwide direct-dialing, call recording, call waiting, and call forwarding.

Broadcasting
Television is commonly provided via a cable system offering a wide range of mostly US-based channels.  The local provider, WIV Cable, offers a range of packages to suite most tastes. There are six channels of FM radio, including two local stations and three re-broadcast via satellite from the USA. Satellite television is becoming increasingly popular in the island.

Weights and Measures
TCI uses the same measures as in the USA: avoirdupois weights, feet and inches, US gallons.

Electrical System
TCI uses the same electrical system as the USA: 110 volts, 60 hertz. Sockets and plugs are as in the USA.

Water
Most residences use rainwater catchment as their source of water, although mains supply (at US$0.04 per gallon) is now available along the main routes. If it becomes necessary to purchase desalinated water, the cost is approximately US$160 per load of 2,600 US gallons.

Clothing and Personal Effects
The standard of attire is that which would normally be worn in an office environment. In the case of men, long trousers, shirt and tie are obligatory. Members of staff should have at least one suit (men) or formal outfit (women) for formal occasions, casually elegant clothes for social occasions, and of course ample beachwear. The selection of merchandise in TCI is limited. It is sensible to pack goods such as clothing, music, reading materials, sports equipment (snorkel, mask and fins are essential) and toiletries before leaving for TCI, or buy them in Miami.

Driving
The traffic system is as in the UK, with driving on the left side of the road. However virtually all vehicles are imported from the USA, and therefore have the steering wheel on the left side. There are no traffic lights. The top allowable speed is 40 mph. Foreign driving licences are legitimate for a period of 30 days, and are accepted as the basis of issue of a TCI licence.

Transport
There is no scheduled public transport in TCI, and ownership of a motor vehicle is essential. Cars may be imported from Miami or purchased locally. For a car in reasonable condition, the cost in TCI is approximately US$7,000.
Customs duty on cars varies according to engine capacity: 25% up to 2,000 cc, 35% up to 4,000 cc, and 45% over 4,000 cc. Duty is levied on the assessed value of the vehicle and the shipping cost. The use of motorcycles is generally not recommended.

Cost of living
Because of the necessity to import practically all goods, the cost of living in TCI is comparatively high. A single person might expect to pay approximately US$240 per week for groceries and other supplies. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment starts at about US$1000, and at about US$1,800 for a self-contained house. Landlords may require the equivalent of three months' rent in advance, though this can sometimes be negotiated to two. Gasoline is approximately US$5.10 per US gallon. Electricity is charged at US$0.24 per kilowatt-hour (approximately US$100 per month for a single person), with an initial connection charge of US$350. For telecommunications, international rates to, say the UK, are US$0.60 per minute, and US$0.50 at weekends. The cost of connection to the cable television system is between US$50 and US$120 per month depending on package.

Banking
Retail banking services are provided by First Caribbean International Bank (an Associated Company of Barclays Bank PLC and CIBC), TCI Bank and Bank of Nova Scotia.
The opening of a new account at one of the retail banks requires evidence of the identity of each signatory, which will usually be in the form of a copy of the relevant pages of his or her passport, as well as a suitable reference from another bank.
There is no restriction on the movement of funds into or out of TCI, and the fact that TCI's currency is the US dollar further facilitates money transfers. Foreign cheques and bank drafts may be deposited at banks in TCI, although clearance takes from three to six weeks.

Recreation
All forms of water-sports are available (but note that spearguns and Hawaiian slings are prohibited). There are several tennis courts and an 18-hole championship golf course on Providenciales. Membership of the Provo Golf Club costs US$3,600 per annum (plus US$440 cart fees), green fees are US$130 per round (including cart). Touch rugby is played twice a week and both men's and ladies soccer is played on weekdays and at weekends. There are several restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Generally there is a good social atmosphere among the resident professional community.

Travel
Travel to and from TCI is principally by air. There are international airports on Providenciales and Grand Turk, and domestic airports on each of the other inhabited islands. The principal gateway to TCI is Miami, with American Airlines providing regular 90-minute jet service to Providenciales. Delta Air Lines flies to Providenciales from Atlanta once a day, US Air flies to Providenciales once a day from Charlotte, and British Airways flies to Providenciales through Nassau, Bahamas, on Sundays only. Domestic airlines offer scheduled services to the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico. Several air charter companies also provide both international and domestic services. Regular air and sea freight services operate out of south Florida.

Immigration
Immigration is governed by the Immigration Ordinance, which recognises "Belonger" status and "Permanent Resident" status, both of which involve freedom from restriction on period of residence and the requirement for a work permit. Persons having "Belonger" status include those who are born in TCI having a parent who is a Belonger, or born outside TCI having a parent and a grandparent who are Belongers, and those who receive such status by grant from the Governor or through marriage to a Belonger. The status of Permanent Resident may be granted to persons of substance who have lived in TCI for several years or who make a significant investment in a project approved by Government as being of benefit to the islands.
All other persons wishing to reside in TCI must hold some form of work permit or residence permit. Upon entering TCI, visitors receive a 30-day permit, which can be extended for up to 60 days. Application for a work or residence permit is made to an Immigration Board. Work permits are issued for a period of one year, and may be renewed twice before an application for a new permit is required. A work permit will not be granted if it is considered that a Belonger is available to do the work. As a matter of general policy, a person who has worked under a work permit for one employer will not be permitted to work for a different employer. This means that when his employment ends, the employee must to be ready to leave TCI within a week or so.
Customs duty exemption for persons first entering TCI. Persons first entering TCI for the purpose of taking up residence are entitled to an exemption from duty on their unaccompanied goods (except vehicles and boats) provided they have been owned for at least twelve months. Accompanied goods (baggage brought on the same flight as the passenger) are exempted from the requirement for previous ownership. If you plan to stop over in Miami (where prices are generally very good), you may wish to consider purchasing items of value (particularly electrical appliances) there and bringing them as accompanied baggage (paying excess if necessary).

Freight
AL Services Limited
    G & G Shipping
    750 NE 7th Avenue
    Dania, FL 33004
    USA   Tel: (954) 920 9292
              Fax: (954) 922 8316
    TCI     Tel: (649) 941 3267
              Fax: (649) 941 3269
    Email: al-services@tciway.tc

Cairsea Services Limited
    Turks Island Shipping Line (TISL)
    1580 SE 26th Street
    Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
    Phone: (954) 767 9990
    Fax: (954) 767 9991

    Email: info@cairsea.com

    Turks Air
    6111 NW 72nd Avenue
    Miami, Florida  33166
    Phone: (305) 593 8847
    Fax: (305) 871 1622

Tropical Shipping
    Cargo Express Service Limited
    South Dock Road
    Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
    Phone: (649) 941 5006
    Fax: (649) 941 5062
    Email: csimmons@tropical.com

Other Sources of Information
See, amongst others on the 'Links' page, Where When How's free 'Factsheet', or, for more comprehensive and up-to-date information, purchase and download the their 24 page Turks and Caicos 'Island Living Report
CLICK HERE for Print Version