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Turks & Caicos
At a Glance

Turks & Caicos
At a Glance

21.95° N -71.97° S

Location

Turks and Caicos, part of the British West Indies is made up of over forty islands. The country lies southeast of The Bahamas island chain, east of Cuba, and north of the Dominican Republic.

Capital & Largest City

Located on Grand Turk Island, the capital is Cockburn Town. Of the nine inhabited islands in Turks and Caicos, the island Providenciales, also known as Provo, has a majority of the population and resorts.

Population

Estimated at 40,000 for all of Turks and Caicos, with around 25,000 residing on Providenciales.

Primary Language

English

Calling Code

+1-649

Time Zone

During the summer months, Turks and Caicos Islands practices Daylight Savings Time (DST) and is in the same time zone as the eastern United States.

Climate

Thanks to trade winds, Turks and Caicos enjoys a tropical climate with 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

For periods of less than 90 days, U.S. citizens do not need visas to enter Turks and Caicos Islands as tourists. All that is required is a valid passport and a return ticket.

Currency and Banking

The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Turks and Caicos. There are three primary local banks: FirstCaribbean International Bank (CIBC), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), and Scotia Bank. Most types of credit cards are accepted and banks offer ATMs as well as cash advances on credit cards. 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, with conch and lobster being the most popular.

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 is provided by Provo Water, a centralized desalination plant. Water in Providenciales is safe to drink and service is reliable.
https://www.provowater.com/

Cellular, TV, and internet is of high quality and provided by Digicel and Flow
https://www.digicelgroup.com/tc/en/home.html
https://discoverflow.co/turks-and-caicos/