Trade Procedures

Get clear insight to all operations involved in Importing or Exporting by having access to information such as the Fees, Required Documents, Average Time Frame, and more.

Import

Importers, or their agents, can find information on the regulatory requirements for importing into Trinidad and Tobago, including how to register as a trader, how to obtain licences, permits and certificates, how to request for classification advice, how to declare goods to Customs, how to book inspections and how to release goods, and also how to apply for refunds and how to make appeals after the goods have been cleared.

  • Pre-Arrival

    This includes obtaining regulatory permissions – permits, licenses and approvals – to import specified goods. Brokerage services are contracted. At this stage, the preparation of necessary documentation by the shipping agent and the broker begins for the ship’s arrival and cargo clearance process.

  • Arrival

    This process commences upon arrival of the vessel and cargo. Shipping documents are submitted to Customs and preparations are made for Ship clearance, Cargo handling, Cargo storage or warehousing and Arrival Notice.

  • Clearance

    Completion of customs documentation, Lodgment of Customs Entries with supporting documentation at Customs, Customs processing and payment of duties, and Shipment/Container Location in addition to Inspection/Physical examination of cargo at port or on importer’s premises, Regulatory Inspections at port or on importer’s premises and Release of goods.

  • Post Clearance

    The cargo arrival report is submitted and customs entry and supporting documents are submitted electronically, and are also physically lodged with Customs. The customs declaration is processed and the assessment and payment of duties is completed and the examination and release of cargo from Container Examination Station or port or warehouse is also completed.

Export

Exporters, or their agents, can find information on the regulatory requirements for exporting from Trinidad and Tobago, including how to register as a trader, how to obtain licences, permits and certificates, how to declare goods to Customs and how to book inspections.

  • Pre-Export

    This includes obtaining regulatory permissions – permits, licenses and approvals – to export specified goods. Brokerage services are contracted. At this stage, the preparation of necessary documentation by the shipping agent and the broker begins for the ship’s depature.

  • Export

    Completion of customs documentation, Lodgment of Customs Entries with supporting documentation at Customs, Customs processing and payment of duties, and Shipment/Container Location in addition to Inspection/Physical examination of cargo at port or on importer’s premises, Regulatory Inspections at port or on exporter’s premises and Release of goods for export.

Select an objective, product category and product subcategory to find out more about how to undergo importing and exporting in Trinidad and Tobago.

The search results page lists and sequences all trade procedures that apply to a trade transaction.

The result of your product-specific query leads to a search results page that explains from start to finish, the steps and procedures that need to be taken and provides insight into the expected final output.

For a trader wishing to complete a specific trade operation (import or export), in Trinidad and Tobago the full procedure is captured and sectionized into the following categories: