Trinidad and Tobago passport
Trinidad and Tobago passports are issued to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago for international travel; allowing the passport bearer to travel to foreign countries in accordance to stipulated visa requirements. All Trinidad and Tobago passports are issued through the Ministry of National Security, Immigration Division and are valid for a period of ten (10) years for adults, and five (5) years for children under 16. The passport is a CARICOM passport as Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the Caribbean Community.
| Trinidad and Tobago passport | |
|---|---|
 Identification page of passport (2011) | |
| Type | Passport |
| Issued by |  Trinidad and Tobago |
| First issued | January 2007 (Machine-readable passport) |
| Purpose | Identification |
| Eligibility | Trinidad and Tobago citizenship |
| Expiration | 10 years (adults) 5 years (children under 16)[1] |
In 2007, a new machine-readable passport was launched by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to replace the existing passport. The new passport features the Caribbean Community logo along with many changes to the images adorned on it.
According to the March 2019 Visa Restrictions Index, the Trinidad and Tobago passport was ranked 28th (globally) in travel freedom and visa-free access. The Trinidad and Tobago passport also ranks 4th among CARICOM passport holders that enjoy travel freedom and visa-free access.[2]
One can apply for a Trinidad and Tobago passport if you are a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago by either:
- Birth, and you did not relinquish your citizenship prior to July 29, 1988.
- Registration or Naturalisation (through approval of the Minister of National Security).
- Descent (you were born outside Trinidad & Tobago, to a parent who was a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago (by birth) at the time of your birth).
- Adoption (you were adopted by a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago in Trinidad and Tobago).
Contents of Trinidad and Tobago passport
Front page
The front page of the Trinidad and Tobago passport contains the following information: REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
PASSPORT Model number (e.g. 2015)
Passport number
The following printed material: This passport is the property of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Alteration, addition or mutilation of entries is prohibited by law. Any unofficial change will render the passport invalid.
Last page
On the last page of the Trinidad and Tobago passport, the following statement is printed:
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago hereby requests all those whom it may concern to permit the citizen of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago named herein to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the said citizen such lawful assistance and protection as may be necessary.
Visa requirements
Visa requirements for Trinidad and Tobago citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Trinidad and Tobago. Effective 28 May 2015, Trinidad and Tobago citizens gained visa-free access to Schengen Area.[3] As a result, the Trinidad and Tobago passport gives visa free or visa on arrival access to 150 countries and territories.[4]
Oath of Citizenship
Persons who obtained Trinidad and Tobago citizenship through naturalization and are eligible in obtaining a Trinidad and Tobago passport must take the Oath of Allegiance.
The Oath of Citizenship or officially Oath of Allegiance, is a statement recited by individuals wishing to become citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Individuals who wish to become a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago do so through the Ministry of National Security's Citizenship and Immigration Section. The Oath of Allegiance is a mandatory step to becoming a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.[5]
The Oath is preceded by an interview with a Chief Immigration Officer who determines whether an individual qualifies for Trinidad and Tobago citizenship. Following the Oath, an individual receives his or her Certificate of Citizenship confirming Trinidad and Tobago citizenship.[6]
The Oath of Allegiance is different from that of the National Pledge, which is recited by citizens of Trinidad and Tobago as an expression of loyalty to the Republic.[7]
The Oath of Allegiance is a legally binding contract intended to complete the process of obtaining Trinidad and Tobago citizenship. It also outlines the responsibilities of being a Trinidad and Tobago citizen as expressed by the laws of the nation. Its current form is as follows:
I, state your full name, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Trinidad and Tobago and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Trinidad and Tobago and fulfil my duties as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. So help me God.[8]
References
- http://immigration.gov.tt/Services/Passport.aspx
- https://www.henleyglobal.com/files/download/HPI2019/Full_Q2_2019_Ranking.pdf
- http://www.caracas.msz.gov.pl/en/news/visa_exemption_for_traveling_to_poland?channel=www
- "Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index 2019" (PDF).
- http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/1.50.pdf
- http://www.ttconnect.gov.tt/gortt/portal/ttconnect/Cit_foreignresidentDetail/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/gortt/wcm/connect/gortt+web+content/TTConnect/Citizen/Role/AForeignResident/MigratingtoTandT/Application+for+Citizenship
- http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/type,LEGISLATION,,TTO,3ae6b4d028,0.html
- http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/1.50.pdf
- Reason for the updated passports
- Passports not being collected
- Trouble with extending passports
- Delay in new passport appts
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