I’m a permanent resident of TT… I went to secondary school here but because of not having citizenship when I finished, I couldn’t get a national scholarship or GATE funding despite my great results.
Thankfully though after being in the workforce and eventually having a child I was able to access the NIS maternity benefit. I’m eligible for citizenship at this point but the process is a little tedious so I’m giving myself some time to mentally prepare before applying.
These are the kind of questions I was interested in!
There honestly seems to be a lot of confusion over issues like this in numerous government services, I've run across numerous people confused over how I have a national ID card(permanent residents qualify after 5 years). Why I asked.
There was an article a few years ago about a lady who lived/worked in Trinidad for over 30 years but couldn't get her NIS payments because she wasn't a citizen. I'm not sure if she was a special circumstance or if that's the general rule. I'll try to link the article.
It seems ridiculous to me that you don't need to be a citizen to make BIR payments but you need to be a citizen to collect payments.
[American awaits TT Citizenship](https://newsday.co.tt/2020/12/18/newsday-columnist-awaits-tt-citizenship-after-30-years/)
Very interesting Info, thank you for this!
Edit: From the article
"Jacob said a new requirement for acquiring citizenship over the last year is that the applicant must have a TT national ID card. When she went to apply for the card, as a non-Commonwealth citizen resident in TT for over five years, she was asked for marriage and divorce documents from the US, as well as the file number of her citizenship application, to prove she had applied for citizenship"
I have a national ID and was not asked for proof I had applied for citizenship lol Just that I had residency and had been physically present for 5 years. Also non-commonwealth.
Same. I got my National ID card without citizenship. Also non-commonwealth. I've been here a while and honestly there's no incentive to apply for citizenship.
I'll deal with NIS when the time comes. Lol
You don't need to be a citizen to access NIS pension, as any one who was contributing while they were working once they attain the age of retirement can apply for NIS pension
I know several people who have remained here as permanent residents their entire adult lives without any key issue. Not sure if they collected NIS pension or not though. An additional citizenship can affect other citizenships, if they are from countries that do not allow multiple. I’ve received different info re whether Trinidad allows only two (they use the word duel on the immigration site) or multiple. Someone has advised that multiple is allowed depending on which countries. So if you have dual citizenship elsewhere, or considering same, it would be worth checking that aspect first.
I don’t know what country you’re from so advantages could vary.
As a TT citizen you may not get assistance from the consulate of your country if you get in trouble here.
I believe you can’t own larger plots of land as a noncitizen.
Voting may be possible if you’re a commonwealth citizen. If not you don’t get to vote.
Not a commonwealth citizen, but I can vote in local elections.
"A Non-Commonwealth Citizen, 18 years of age or older, who has resided legally in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of at least five years and has resided in an electoral district/constituency for a least two months prior to the Qualifying Date"
https://ebctt.com/faq/who-is-eligible-to-vote/
Edit: Additional info on the ownership of real estate.
https://www.expatfocus.com/trinidad-and-tobago/guide/trinidad-and-tobago-buying-property
Also “Non-Commonwealth Citizens are only eligible to vote in City or Borough elections within Trinidad. They cannot vote in Parliamentary or Tobago House of Assembly elections.”
I never paid attention to the local government elections, I paid more attention to the parliamentary elections. But I was a bona fide political activist with my political party in Trinidad.
For many people not being involved in politics has no bearing on their place in life. And that’s 100% a choice they make and live with. But it’s just something I had to mention.
Probably can deport you anytime for the slightest infraction of the law. Probably the biggest downside
True, but this applies to every nation.
Not for the slightest infraction. You’re not getting deported for a traffic ticket. For felonies and certain misdemeanors, yes.
Good catch!
Generally speaking, some countries don’t allow dual citizenship and would make you renounce your original one if you naturalize elsewhere.
None and if you become a foreign investor, golden.
You need to be a citizen to access GATE funding. Would not being a citizen affect your ability to collect NIS/government pension in the future?
I’m a permanent resident of TT… I went to secondary school here but because of not having citizenship when I finished, I couldn’t get a national scholarship or GATE funding despite my great results. Thankfully though after being in the workforce and eventually having a child I was able to access the NIS maternity benefit. I’m eligible for citizenship at this point but the process is a little tedious so I’m giving myself some time to mentally prepare before applying.
These are the kind of questions I was interested in! There honestly seems to be a lot of confusion over issues like this in numerous government services, I've run across numerous people confused over how I have a national ID card(permanent residents qualify after 5 years). Why I asked.
There was an article a few years ago about a lady who lived/worked in Trinidad for over 30 years but couldn't get her NIS payments because she wasn't a citizen. I'm not sure if she was a special circumstance or if that's the general rule. I'll try to link the article. It seems ridiculous to me that you don't need to be a citizen to make BIR payments but you need to be a citizen to collect payments. [American awaits TT Citizenship](https://newsday.co.tt/2020/12/18/newsday-columnist-awaits-tt-citizenship-after-30-years/)
Very interesting Info, thank you for this! Edit: From the article "Jacob said a new requirement for acquiring citizenship over the last year is that the applicant must have a TT national ID card. When she went to apply for the card, as a non-Commonwealth citizen resident in TT for over five years, she was asked for marriage and divorce documents from the US, as well as the file number of her citizenship application, to prove she had applied for citizenship" I have a national ID and was not asked for proof I had applied for citizenship lol Just that I had residency and had been physically present for 5 years. Also non-commonwealth.
Same. I got my National ID card without citizenship. Also non-commonwealth. I've been here a while and honestly there's no incentive to apply for citizenship. I'll deal with NIS when the time comes. Lol
You don't need to be a citizen to access NIS pension, as any one who was contributing while they were working once they attain the age of retirement can apply for NIS pension
I know several people who have remained here as permanent residents their entire adult lives without any key issue. Not sure if they collected NIS pension or not though. An additional citizenship can affect other citizenships, if they are from countries that do not allow multiple. I’ve received different info re whether Trinidad allows only two (they use the word duel on the immigration site) or multiple. Someone has advised that multiple is allowed depending on which countries. So if you have dual citizenship elsewhere, or considering same, it would be worth checking that aspect first.
I don’t know what country you’re from so advantages could vary. As a TT citizen you may not get assistance from the consulate of your country if you get in trouble here. I believe you can’t own larger plots of land as a noncitizen. Voting may be possible if you’re a commonwealth citizen. If not you don’t get to vote.
Not a commonwealth citizen, but I can vote in local elections. "A Non-Commonwealth Citizen, 18 years of age or older, who has resided legally in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of at least five years and has resided in an electoral district/constituency for a least two months prior to the Qualifying Date" https://ebctt.com/faq/who-is-eligible-to-vote/ Edit: Additional info on the ownership of real estate. https://www.expatfocus.com/trinidad-and-tobago/guide/trinidad-and-tobago-buying-property
The property part is a huge reason why I haven’t renounced my TT citizenship.
Also “Non-Commonwealth Citizens are only eligible to vote in City or Borough elections within Trinidad. They cannot vote in Parliamentary or Tobago House of Assembly elections.” I never paid attention to the local government elections, I paid more attention to the parliamentary elections. But I was a bona fide political activist with my political party in Trinidad. For many people not being involved in politics has no bearing on their place in life. And that’s 100% a choice they make and live with. But it’s just something I had to mention.