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Work Permit info for client
Under the Immigration Act, Chapter 18:01, if a person is not a
citizennor a resident of Trinidad and Tobago that person may not
work inTrinidad and Tobago except for a single period not exceeding
thirty (30)days in any one period of twelve (12) consecutive
months.
If that person has already come to Trinidad and Tobago to work
for anyperiod of time within the last twelve (12) months or if you
intend to come toTrinidad and Tobago to work for a period in excess
of thirty (30) days, youcannot work in Trinidad and Tobago without
a work permit issued by theMinister of National Security. Further,
no person may employ you (beingneither a citizen nor a resident)
unless you have a work permit.
Even if you are conducting training or inspection in Trinidadand
Tobago you are deemed to be working.
When you do not need a work permitYou do not need a work permit
if you are coming to Trinidad and Tobagoon business, e.g. for
meetings. In such a case you will likely be allowed amaximum
business entry of ten (10) to fourteen (14) working days.
As a non-citizen or non-national, if a person is found to be
working in
Trinidad and Tobago without a work permit, you are liable to be
deportedimmediately. That persons employer, in whose name the work
permitshould have been issued, will be liable to fine and
imprisonment onsummary conviction and to meet that
personsdeportation costs.
A work permit will be granted to a non-citizen or non-resident
only if acitizen or resident of Trinidad and Tobago cannot be found
to do the job.The persons employer must therefore show that, as the
intended employee,that person the relevant experience or skill or
you are an expert in the job
you intend to take up in Trinidad and Tobago and must provide
evidence ofthe placement of advertisements for citizens and
residents for the jobsought to be filled.
Your work permit application should be submitted well in advance
of thedate of your intended arrival in Trinidad and Tobago with
supportingdocumentation.
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As the holder of a work permit, you and your spouse (if he/she
is travellingto Trinidad and Tobago with you for the duration of
your work permit)must have your passport endorsed by the
immigration authorities with amultiple entry visa, so that problems
are not encountered upon each entryinto Trinidad and Tobago. A
security bond is also usually required to meetany deportation costs
which may arise. If you are the holder of a workpermit issued for
more than one (1) year, you and your spouse must submitto the
immigration authorities a completed medical report in the
requiredform, when having your passports endorsed for multiple
entry visas.
If your employer does not propose to have a citizen or resident
of Trinidadand Tobago trained to replace you at the expiration of
your work permit, asatisfactory explanation must be provided to the
immigration authorities as
to why such training is not to be undertaken.
The procedure
Work Permits applications must be submitted at least four (4)
weeks, priorto the date on which the proposed employee is required
to assume duties.
In the case of a self-employed personor person whose employer is
notcarrying on business in Trinidad and Tobago the application for
a work
permit should be made on his or her behalf by counsel or
solicitorpractitioner in Trinidad and Tobago
The following documents must be submitted when applying for
awork permit:-
(a)
Covering letter (original and 7 copies) from the
prospectiveEmployer. (This must set out the reason for the request
for a WorkPermit and why a national cannot be hired).
(b)
Original and seven (7) copies) of application forms completed
andsigned by both the proposed employee and the prospectiveemployer
at sections 23 and 33 respectively.
(c)
Original and seven (7) copies of form WPA 1a outlining details
ofNon-Nationals employed in Professional, Managerial and
SeniorTechnical positions (to be used in cases where the
Application for
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a Work Permit or Extension of a Work Permit form
cannotaccommodate the number of entries to be submitted).
(d)
Original and seven (7) copies of form WPA 1b outlining details
ofTrinidad and Tobago Nationals employed in Professional,Managerial
and Senior Technical positions (to be used in cases
where the Application for a Work Permit or Extension of a
WorkPermit form cannot accommodate the number of entries to
besubmitted).
(e)
A character reference from a previous employer. Original and
7copies each.
(f)
Copy of a bio-data page of applicants passport(g)
A Police Certificate of character from the persons country of
originor place of domicile during the period of five years previous
to thedate of application. An original of this certificate and 7
copies must
be provided with applications for Work Permits for more than
3months.
(h) Curriculum Vitae and proof of qualifications, (Reference is
madeto item (ii) at the bottom of page 3 of the application form).
Seven(7) copies of these documents are required with the
application.
(i) Three (3) passport photographs of the prospective employee
whichmust be attached at the top right hand corner of the first
three (3)
Application Forms.(j)
Proof of Advertisement for the job for which the work
permitapplication is being proposed to fill which cannot be smaller
than
3 x 5 (Section 32 and item (ii) at the bottom of page 3 refer).
Theadvertisement should run for at least one week in the
dailynewspapers. Applicants are also required to submit a copyof
theapplication to: Chief Manpower Officer, Ministry of Labour
&Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Level 11,
RiversidePlaza, Besson Street, Port of Spain.
(k)
An evaluation report on all applications received and
interviewsconducted must also be submitted.
(l) Application forms must be completed in its entirety.
Incomplete
applications will not be accepted.(m)
The official receipt as payment of the application fee of
TT$600.00to the Ministry of National Security, 31-33 Abercromby
Street, Portof Spain.
(n)
All applications must be provided in the following order:
Coveringletter,
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Application form and supporting documents atthe back. Eight (8)
batches(Original and 7 copies).
4. In the case of an application for an Extension of a Work
Permit, thefollowing are required:(a) Applications must be
submitted at least one (1) month before the expirydate of the
current work permit.(b) When a Work Permit expire an application
for extension must be madeno later than six (6) months after the
expiration date. The followingdocuments should be
submitted:-Covering letter stating why the extension is
required.-Receipt of the application fee of $600.00.-Tax clearance
Certificate C.
-A copy of the last work permit.-A copy of advertisement which
cannot be smaller than 3 x 5.The advertisement should include
Applicants are also required to submit acopy of the application to:
Chief Manpower Officer, Ministry of Labour &Small and Micro
EnterpriseDevelopment, Level 11, Riverside Plaza, Besson Street,
Port of Spain.(c)Original and seven (7) copies of a covering letter
from the requestingCompany/prospective employer stating why the
extension is required andalso naming the national who is
understudying that position. (reference ismade to section 31 of
page 3 of the application form).
(d)The original receipt of the application fee of TT$600.00
fromtheMinistry of National Security, 31-33 Abercromby Street, Port
of Spain.(e)A copy of the last work permit (7 copies)(f)Tax
Clearance Certificate C from Inland Revenue. Original and seven
(7)copies
When a Work Permit is approved, the fee payable is TT$450.00
permonth, i.e. $5,400.00 per annum.This fee is payable to the
Cashier, Ministry of National Security, 31-33
Abercromby Street, Port of Spain. The receipt of payment must be
procuredin order to collect the Work Permit.
