Business Customs
Businesspeople are friendly and value personal contact and courtesy. While most agents and distributors have visited the United States and often handle several U.S. product lines, some cultural differences between the United States and TT exist. U.S. businesspeople may notice differences in pace and style and sustained personal contact with potential business partners is expected. Dress is Western in style and tends to be more formal than in the United States, particularly for initial meetings.
Travel Advisory
Travelers should check State Department Consular Information Sheet for TT.
Visa requirements
Visitors to TT require a valid passport and a return ticket to enter TT, but visas are not required for stays under 90 days for business or tourism. Visas are required for travel for purposes other than business or tourism. For more information, see https://foreign.gov.tt/services/visas/.
Work permits are required for compensated and non-compensated employment, including missionary work.
Questions pertaining to visas should be directed to the Embassy of TT, 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036, telephone (202) 467-6490 (https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/), or the TT Consulates in Miami or New York.
U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following link(s): State Department Visa Website.
Currency
The local currency is the TT dollar, which trades approximately TT$7 to US$1. U.S. dollars are also accepted and, in some cases, preferred, although most retailers require exact change. No other currencies are commonly accepted. Travelers’ checks are not commonly used and can only be exchanged at commercial banks. Foreign cash may be exchanged at commercial banks and government-authorized money changers located at both international airports, although some large stores and hotels may occasionally accept foreign cash. ATMs are widely available and international credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants, and large retail shops.
Telecommunications/Electronics
Telecommunications networks are reliable and all major hotels are equipped with either free or guest-only internet access. There are also Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide. Internet users can access the U.S. and other countries by direct dial. The country code for TT is +1 (as in the United States), and the area code is 868. Costs, though falling, are higher than in the United States.
Mobile phone users can access LTE and 4G networks in TT. U.S. phones work in-country, but roaming rates tend to be high. The two main mobile service providers, Digicel and Bmobile, offer local SIM cards at a nominal fee. The mobile phone standard is GSM, not CDMA. Since electric current is the same as in the U.S. (110 volts, 60 Hz), transformers are unnecessary.
Transportation
TT has well-developed physical infrastructure, including two international airports, and paved roads and highways. As pandemic restrictions ended in 2022, airlines including American, United, Jet Blue, and Caribbean Airlines resumed regular daily flights to and from the United States.
Ground transportation includes an unregulated network of private taxis, car rental firms, and public transportation via buses operating from hubs in Port of Spain, Chaguanas, San Fernando, and Tobago. Always confirm the rate with private taxi drivers begore beginning a trip. Road traffic is extremely heavy during the day so ample time should be allotted between appointments. Driving is on the left side of the road.
There is daily inter-island ferry service between Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Scarborough, Tobago, as well as multiple daily flights.
Language
TT’s official language is English.
Health
TT has several private and public clinics and hospitals. While care at some private facilities is better than at many public health facilities, patients may be expected to prove their ability to pay before assistance is given, even if emergency care is needed. Air ambulance service is available for emergencies. Almost all prescription drugs can be bought locally. Mosquito borne illnesses are present, as is COVID-19, and all necessary precautions should be taken.
There are no vaccines that are mandatory for visiting, and effective July 1, 2022, travelers no longer require a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test to enter TT. Travelers should check updated health guidelines with their airline(s) and TT’s Ministry of Health before travel. The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to consult with their medical insurance companies prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policies apply overseas and whether they will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s automated information line for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747).
Local time, business hours, and holidays
Local Time: TT local time is GMT-4 (equivalent to Eastern Daylight Time in summer and one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time in winter). TT does not observe daylight savings time.
Standard business hours are 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM for government and most other offices.
The majority of retail outlets open until 6 PM, although there are a few which open later.
Banking hours vary: 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM Mondays to Thursdays, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Fridays.
Shopping mall branches: 9:00/10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Visit this link for a list of national holidays
Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings
Temporary entry of personal and household effects is allowed duty and VAT-free. Temporary importation of commercial samples requires provision of authenticated invoices in duplicate, and the Comptroller of Customs and Excise will grant the relevant permissions. Travelers often must post a refundable deposit or bond covering the duty liability of items to be imported with customs prior to the entry of the items.