Article 46 – Legal Topic – Application for Permanent Resident Status on the basis of marriage to a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago

By: Martin George

       Attorney-at-Law

       Martin George and Co.

The Immigration Act Chapter 18:01 states:
“6. (1) Subject to this act and the regulations, persons who come within the following classes may on application in the prescribed form, be granted permission by the Minister if he thinks fit, to become residents, that is to say:
(c) the spouse of a citizen or resident of Trinidad and Tobago.
(2) In determining the suitability of an applicant for the grant of resident status under this section, the Minister shall be satisfied, inter alia, that the applicant-
(a) has entered the country legally;
(b) is not in a prohibited class; and
(c) is of good character as evidenced by a police certificate of good character.”

An application along with supporting documents must be made for said Permanent Resident status. Such list includes, but is not limited to:
i. Birth Certificate of the applicant;
ii. Birth Certificate of children under 18;
iii. Marriage Certificate;
iv. Spouse documents- Wife’s Birth Certificate, Trinidad and Tobago I.D. Card, Passport, Permanent Residence Certificate (where applicable)
v. A Statutory Declaration stating whether there are any previous marriages or divorces from the applicant and spouse and also indicating the spouse’s willingness to support said application;
vi. Police Certificate of character from Trinidad and Tobago;
vii. Certificate of character from any country that the applicant resided in for more than three months;
viii. Passports (old and new) – The Applicant must legally be in the country as evidenced by the relevant stamp endorsed on the passport);
ix. Photocopies of each utilised page of valid foreign Passport and other travel documents;
x. Work Permit;
xi. Job Letter;
xii. Tax Clearance Certificate;
xiii. Naturalization Certificate (if the applicant has dual citizenship)
xiv. Financial Statements
xv. Four identical passport-sized photos of the applicant taken within the last six months (matte finish with white background)

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