Explore: Trinidad & Tobago - Formalities
Clearance
COVID-19: Entry protocols for yachts have been affected by the pandemic. See the Biosecurity section for details.
All arriving yachts must clear into Trinidad at Chaguaramas first before going onto Tobago.
Customs and Immigration in Trinidad are more complex than most Caribbean countries. This is due in part to the fact cruising boats are considered to be commercial vessels just like the 1000 foot oil tanker. Expect more paperwork than in most other Caribbean islands, however the officers are pleasant and helpful.
PRE-ARRIVAL
See the Biosecurity section for documents and declarations that must be submitted prior to your arrival in Trinidad.
Also, if you have a pet on board – dog or cat – you must apply for and receive an import permit by sending an email to [email protected].
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
Advance Notification:
Yachts entering Trinidad & Tobago territorial waters should contact North Post Radio (VHF 16 or SSB 2182kHz) with an ETA. You must also contact the TT Coast Guard on entering territorial waters and on arrival into the anchorage in Chaguaramas.
Fly the Q Flag.
Ports of Entry:
Chaguaramas has an office dedicated to clearance formalities.
Port of Spain is a commercial port, and yachts may only stop there in emergencies.
General Process:
Vessels will be required to remain in anchorage with the Q flag raised until Port Health can do their checks of Vaccination, Test results, crew temperatures.
After Port Health checks all crew can proceed to Customs and Immigration
Immigration is the first stop, followed by Customs.
Customs is open 24/7 and it is important to visit them immediately on arrival even if Immigration is closed. Once a vessel has entered territorial waters, the captain and the crew must check in with 24 hours of arrival.
The Customs dock at Chaguaramas is just in front of the red and white lighthouse-like structure. You can tie up there while clearing Immigration and Customs. However, it can be busy as the pilot and crew boats use it as well.
Overtime:
If you arrive or depart Trinidad & Tobago Waters outside of regular office hours (0800-1200, 1300-1600 Mon-Fri, except public holidays), you will be charged overtime. This refers to the time you sail into the country’s waters, not the time you go ashore to clear in. It is therefore advisable to time your arrival and departure WELL within normal office hours and go ashore immediately to clear. On departure, be sure to state that you will be departing at 3.59pm.
CLEARING OUT
Domestic Clearance:
Yachts are required to check in/out when moving between Trinidad and Tobago.
Yachts sailing from Trinidad to Tobago must get the “Arrival Form” endorsed by the Customs officer in Chaguaramas. This form must be presented to Customs on arrival at Scarborough or Charlotteville. The same procedure is necessary for the reverse voyage. Be sure to make sure your paperwork is all in order before moving between the two islands as penalties for incorrect paperwork can be harsh.
With permission from the Customs officer in Trinidad, you can anchor elsewhere in Tobago, such as Store Bay, and go overland to Scarborough to complete the necessary formalities.
Once in Tobago, Customs will require a ‘float plan’ complete with the dates on which you will be at various destinations.
International Clearance:
Yachts must clear out of one of the two recommended ports. Yachts must clear out with Customs, Immigration and Port Authority and notify them of your next Port of Call.
Immigration gives you four hours to depart Trinidad waters. It is advisable to assure Customs that you are aware of this rule and it is your intention to do so.
If departing for Grenada, it is now possible to file a passage plan with the Coast Guard. See the Caribbean Safety & Security Net for further details.
Lasted Updated: July 2021
Immigration
The Immigration office is located just adjacent to Crew’s Inn, behind the red and white lighthouse like structure in Chaguaramas. Go up the outside stairs to the top floor.
Immigration will charge overtime outside of the normal working hours, which are 0800-1200, 1300-1600 Monday to Friday.
Immigration Procedure:
All crew must have a passport with six months validity beyond their intended stay. (Three months for citizens of USA, EU and the British Commonwealth.)
Visas:
Visas for visits of up to 90 days are not required by citizens of the United States, the Caricom countries (except Haiti), European Union and British Commonwealth with the exception of the following countries:
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Australia, Cameroon, India, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda.
Australian crew on yachts are also not required to have a visa, however, Australian tourists entering by plane or ferry do require visas.
Length of Stay:
Under normal circumstances, all visiting yachts are granted an initial period of six months to remain in Trinidad & Tobago. Visitors entering Trinidad & Tobago by air to join yachts that are in Trinidad & Tobago will also be granted six months.
After the initial six month period, yachts are welcome to seek an extension to increase their initial stay if there is a reasonable reason (hurricane season, work on the boat etc.).
Immigration requires a Medical Certificate for persons who wish to remain in Trinidad & Tobago for periods exceeding one year. Declaration by the applicant must be made in the presence of the Examining Medical Officer.
Note: – The need for a visa and the fees are set by law. So accept the fees with a smile. Arguing does not accomplish anything except make it harder for the next person.
Incoming Crew and Guests:
Only Fully COVID-19 Vaccinated persons will be allowed entry to Trinidad & Tobago and will not be required to quarantine on arrival.
All adults must have verifiable vaccination card showing full vaccination with at least two weeks having past since final vaccine dose. Children under the age of 18 years not required to be vaccinated. All adults must also have a verifiable negative PCR test results no more than 72 hours before arrival.
All children must have verifiable negative PCR test results no more than 72 hours before arrival and must take another test three days after arrival.
Outgoing Crew and Guests:
Crew departing Trinidad & Tobago by air after arriving by yacht must be signed off the vessel and signed on again when returning. The procedure requires a letter prepared by the marina or boatyard, which must be approved by the Immigration officer. This approval allows for proper paperwork at the airport (or other port of exit) and exclusion of the airport tax if executed within 24 hours of departure.
This letter must be in the hands of the crew prior to departure to enable embarkation without a return ticket. This same letter will be used as authorisation for re-entry into Trinidad to rejoin the vessel. When the crew returns to Trinidad & Tobago, the master must present the crew’s passport to the Immigration officer at the Chaguaramas station within 24 hours to sign the crew back on the vessel.
There is a similar procedure for crew transferring to another boat.
Important note: A crew member may not sign on to a vessel that is staying longer than the one on which he arrived.
Last updated: July 2021
Immigration Office (Tobago)
Milford Road, Tobago
Tel: +1 868 639 2681
Immigration Office (Trinidad)
67 Frederick Street, Port of Spain
Tel: +1 868 625 3571
Related Businesses
Immigration Office – Chaguarama
Address: Chaguaramas, Trinidad, Trinidad & Tobago,
Arrival and Departure Procedures - The Immigration office is located at Crews Inn Hotel & Yachting Centre.... Read More
Customs
Arriving By Yacht:
You must report to Customs immediately you arrive, even if Immigration is closed.
If your arrival or departure time is outside of business hours (i.e. 08:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 16:00 Monday to Friday), you will be charged overtime fees.
Temporary Importation of Yachts;
Yachts are admitted duty-free for a reasonable period of time. Boats stored for longer terms must be left in the care of an approved yard. Some formalities must be completed at Customs, including a full inventory of items on board.
If a yacht is to be left unattended, it will be necessary to complete formalities for temporary importation. This is normally carried out through Chaguaramas Customs station.
Other Items:
Firearms
Firearms and ammunition as well as Flares must be declared on arrival and will be taken by Customs and placed in custody at the central police station.
Requests for their return prior to departure must be made to Customs at least 48 hours before clearance (preferably longer). Failure to do so may result in a delay to departure or departure without the firearms. To keep firearms in your possession during the stay, it is necessary to apply to the Commissioner of Police for a licence.
Fruit & Vegetables
Fruits, plants and plant material must be inspected by a plant quarantine officer before being landed. Honey from other islands may not be allowed.
Any alcohol on board should also be declared.
Importing Parts/Spares:
Boat parts and spares for yachts in transit may be imported free of duty by following the recommended procedure by Customs. Only items deemed to be yacht parts can be imported duty-free. The treatment of anything else will depend on the officer in charge at the time.
Only the captain of the vessel is allowed to carry duty-free parts from the airport to Chaguaramas Customs station, where they will be transferred on board.
Parts arriving by courier will be delivered to Chaguaramas Customs station. Parcels arriving via the postal service will come to the Carenage Post Office, which will notify the yacht, after which the parcel will be cleared at the Ajax Street post office in Port of Spain.
It is very important that not only the parcel be marked Yacht in Transit, but ALL the paperwork be also so marked.
There is no longer any overtime charge for the Customs inspection of imported spare parts.
Large items (eg dinghy, engine etc.) can be purchased free of tax by providing a set of your ship’s papers and declaring the purchase is for a yacht in transit. The same is true if you contract for a large job like a set of sails or a new teak deck; you will not have to pay any tax.
Last updated: July 2021
Related Businesses
Customs Office – Chaguaramas
Address: Chaguaramas, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago,
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (however note regular business hours below to avoid overtime fees)
The Customs and Excise office is... Read More
BioSecurity
With the continual change in protocols due to the pandemic, we outline the last-known situation below for yacht arrivals. Skippers should follow the recommended links in “resources” to confirm the latest protocols. Always check with your intended port of arrival before getting underway to be 100% certain of what is required. Please e-mail [email protected] if you find protocols have changed.
COVID-19: **OPEN**
Yachting Protocols:
December 2021
- Borders for Trinidad & Tobago re-opened on 17th July 2021.
- Foreigners / non-nationals wishing to enter must be fully vaccinated (with at least a period of 2 weeks since your final vaccination).
- A PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival into Trinidad will be required, along with proof of Vaccination.
- A Float Plan and Health Declaration must be filled out (forms on the YSATT website), scanned and sent to TT Coastguard and copied to YSATT.
- All travellers to Trinidad and Tobago must also apply for a Travel Pass prior to arrival in Trinidad.
- All yachts must clear into Trinidad at Chaguaramas first before going to Tobago.
- Upon arrival pick up a mooring, fly the Q flag and all crew must remain on board. Contact the Marina you intend to stay in or Jesse James (see contacts below), to make arrangemets for the Port Health Officer to come to the vessel and do health clearance.
- The Port Health Officer will issue a Government Health Clearance Certificate which must be presented to Immigration and Customs before the vessel and crew can be cleared into Trinidad. Do not go ashore without this certificate or you will be breaching the new protocols.
- If a yacht arrives after the 72 hour time frame for the PCR test, arrangments will have to be made for a doctor to come to the boat to do another PCR. Only when a negative result is obtained will Health Clearance proceed.
Contacts:
- T&T Coastguard at [email protected] and (1868) 6341476.
- Jesse James (YSATT) at [email protected] and (1868)-683-5202.
Our thanks to Jesse James of YSATT for keeping Noonsite informed throughout the Pandemic.
Resources:
- See YSATT Procedures for Yachts Arriving into Trinidad and Jesse James website [www.membersonlymaxitaxi.com] – often more up to date than YSATT.
- TT Ministry of Health – Travel Restrictions and information on the Coronavirus
- TT Ministry of National Security
- Facebook – Trinidad Cruisers Page
Reports:
- Trinidad and Tobago: Yacht Services Sector Still Awaiting Relief from COVID Restrictions (January 11, 2021)
- Caribbean Bound 2020/21 – Yachting Protocols
- Retreat from Paradise (December 28, 2020)
History:
- Mid-March 2020 travel restrictions were imposed and borders closed to anyone who was not a citizen or permanent resident.
- Returning yachts had to submit a health declaration prior to arrival and get approval from the T&T Coastgard to enter.
- At Midnight on Sunday March 22nd, 2020, the Government closed borders completely (both airports and seaports), to both non-nationals and nationals.
- Provision for visa extension was given to foreign cruisers that remained in the country.
- End of March a stay-at-home order (and stay-on-board order for yachts) was introduced. No recreational sailing was permitted.
- At the start of May 2020 a 6 phase plan was announced to gradually lift restrictions, with the borders re-opening at the end of phase 6.
- YSATT worked hard to try and find an exemption to the closed borders to allow yachts to seek shelter in Trinidad for hurricane season 2020, but all attempts failed as the Government were giving priority to returning citizens.
- July 2020: The message from Trinidad was that if yachts feared they were in danger of life and limb, they could seek shelter in Trinidad, but had to be prepared to explain their decision to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) on arrival (i.e. skippers trying to use protection from severe weather as a pretext to enter Trinidad should not try).
- Borders remained closed for a further 12 months. Finally it was announced they would re-open on 17 July, 2021.
Related Businesses
Ministry of Health Trinidad and Tobago
Address: #63 Park Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago,
Health
Medical care is available but conditions may be antiquated and the waits maybe long. The main facilities are Port of Spain’s General Hospital and Tobago’s Scarborough General Hospital. Many locals opt instead for private hospitals such as the St Clair Medical Centre in Port of Spain. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccinations.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
COVID-19
Make sure you are fully vaccinated before traveling to Trinidad and Tobago.
Yellow Fever
Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required for all travellers over one year old arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission, including Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela;
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for travellers one year old or older going to Trinidad and Tobago and a Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for travellers of all ages to Trinidad and Tobago.
Typhoid
Recommended for most travellers, particularly if travelling to rural areas or smaller cities and towns.
See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for detailed information for Trinidad & Tobago.
Mosquito-borne Diseases:
Dengue fever is present in Trinidad and Tobago and outbreaks come and go. There have also been outbreaks of Chikungunya and Zika in recent years; these and Dengue are transmitted by mosquitoes, so it’s important to avoid getting bitten.
Because of the risks to pregnancy, travelers should consult the CDC Travelers’ Health website for the most current recommendations for Zika.
Prevention
- Use repellent containing 20%-30% DEET or 20% Picardin on exposed skin. Re-apply according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Wear neutral (beige,light grey) long-sleeved clothing.
- Pre-soak or spray outer layer of clothing and gear with permethrin.
- Ensure hatches and window screens work properly and use mosquito nets where possible.
Other Diseases:
Trinidad and Tobago is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats.
Emergency Numbers:
See Emergencies
Documents
A pleasure craft/ yacht arriving at a Port of Entry in Trinidad and Tobago from a foreign port must show:
- General Declaration Arrival Form 10
- Crew List Form 11
- Zarpe or departure clearance from the previous port of call
- Certificate of Registration of vessel
- If the owner of the vessel is not aboard, an authorization letter from the owner for use of the vessel.
Crew arriving on a pleasure craft/yacht at a port of entry in Trinidad & Tobago from a foreign port must:
- Show sufficient means of support for their period of stay in Trinidad and Tobago
- Provide a proper local address if staying at an abode in Trinidad & Tobago, other than aboard a vessel
- Be in possession of a valid outward ticket to the home country or country of residence and show sufficient funds for the upkeep of stay in Trinidad & Tobago if leaving the arrival yacht
- Appear before an Immigration Officer on arrival or departure
- Any change of crew on or off a vessel must be reported to the Immigration Authority for approval prior to such change is effected.
An actual cruising permit is not required; however, on arrival, the captain must notify the authorities of the vessel’s intended itinerary to cruise around the islands and permission must be obtained before sailing. Permission must be obtained from customs for any movement of the yacht, from one port or place to another, and to cruise the coast of either Trinidad or Tobago.
Fees
Immigration
- Visa and visa waiver fee is $TT400/person.
- Visa extensions cost between $TT100 and $TT150.
Customs
After completion of immigration formalities on arrival, the customs officer will collect $TT50 for the first 30 days of navigation dues. The balance of these dues will be collected when the boat clears out.
Harbour Fees
Harbour fees are TT$50 for every 30 days in Trinidad up to a maximum TT$500 in any one year.
Overtime Charges
Overtime for yachts arriving and departing is charged outside of working hours on weekdays and all day Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Customs charge overtime as follows:
- Examination of imported goods: TT$ 91.20.
- Arrival boarding: TT$ 136.79.
- Departure clearance: TT$117.26.
- Immigration overtime is TT$100.
Departure Tax
- Departure tax per person: TT$100.
Last updated: March 2018.
Restrictions
The tanker ports at Point Fortin and Pointe-à-Pierre, and the cargo port of Point Lisas are prohibited to yachts.
Trinidad requires cooking gas tanks to be tested every five years. If your tank does not meet this requirement you will be required to have it done.
It is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing.
Local Customs
Clearance Agents
Related Businesses
Jesse James
Address: Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago,
Local agent Jesse James is able to assist with collecting and emailing permits as well as following up with the Government offices and coordinating contact... Read More
Pets
Trinidad does not have rabies, except in the bat population.
There have been some changes with pet arrivals and quarantine laws since 2016. The good news is, there is NO more quarantine, however consequently the requirements for arriving pets have been made more stringent.
In transit, permits are no longer available. An import permit is required and must be acquired BEFORE your arrival and paid for BEFORE your arrival, which means you will need local assistance.
Before Arrival
1. Apply for a permit in advance of your arrival by emailing [email protected]
2. When the permit is ready, the fee will need to be paid in person at the Government Plaza downtown and the permit collected from the Ministry of Agriculture office, also downtown on Abercrombie St. You will need local assistance with this. See contact details for Jesse James at the bottom of the page.
3. Once the fee is paid and the permit is collected, you will be given a list of conditions that must be met before permission will be granted for the pet’s arrival.
4. Once all conditions are met, email the pet documentation to the government veterinarian. Their email address will be on the permit application.
5. The government veterinarian will review the documentation and grant permission for your pet’s arrival.
6. The vet must be given 48hrs notice of arrival and must come and meet the yacht on arrival.
Upon Arrival
When checking in, in you must declare to customs that you have a pet on board and are awaiting the vet’s arrival. It will be noted on the check-in form. You can go ahead and check in with immigration and customs, but the pet must remain on board at all times before the vet sees it. Upon inspecting the pet and finding the animal and all documents satisfactory, the vet will issue a landing permit.
The landing permit will allow travel throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the pet permission to go ashore and also to fly out of the country if necessary. If the animal leaves Trinidad and Tobago by yacht or plane and wishes to re-enter, you will need to reapply for the import permit.
Last updated: July 2021
Related Businesses
Jesse James
Address: Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago,
Local agent Jesse James is able to assist with collecting and emailing permits as well as following up with the Government offices and coordinating contact... Read More
