Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago Customs Contacts
Website: http://www.customs.gov.tt/
Email: policyunit@customs.gov.tt
Address: Government Campus Plaza, Ajax Street, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain
Phone: 1-(868)-625-3311
Trinidad and Tobago is a twin island country situated off the northern edge of South America mainland, lying 11 kilometres just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and 130 kilometres south of Grenada. The country is bordered by the Caribbean and shares maritime borderes with Barbados, Grenada, Guyana and Venezuela to the south and west. Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP), Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom), World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations.
Tariffs
Imports are subject to the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET).
A 15% VAT is imposed on the CIF value of dutiable goods.
Import Requirements and Documentation
The following documents are required for imports to Trinidad & Tobago:
1. Bill of lading
2. Bill of sight
3. CARICOM Invoice
4. Certificate of origin
5. Commercial invoice
6. Confirmation receipt of payment for customs related fees
7. Customs Import Declaration (Form C 82)
8. Declaration form (Form C 75)
9. Delivery note to exit the port
10. Delivery order
11. Packing list
12. Terminal handling charges
13. Suppliers Invoice
14. Certificate of Health/Sanitary Certificate (if required)
15. Import License (if required)
Upon landing of goods, supporting documents must be submitted to customs authorities and relevant duties paid before goods may be cleared from customs. Customs clearance can consume much time because of bureaucratic inefficiency and occasional inflexible interpretation of regulations. Shipping documents can be sent for clearance upon the date of departure of the goods thus saving days of processing time, especially for goods shipped by sea.
Importation of certain items may require an import license issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. It is advisable to inquire whether a license is required prior to shipment of goods.
Export documents:
1. Bill of lading
2. Certificate of origin
3. Commercial invoice
4. Customs Export Declaration (Form C82)
5. Customs release order
6. Packing list
Sources:
http://www.customs.gov.tt/importing/importing-procedures
http://ctrc.sice.oas.org/trc/Articles/trinidad/ccg6.pdf