Promote:
Invest in Trinidad and Tobago
A short guide for companies expanding into Trinidad and Tobago: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Trinidad and Tobago at a glance
Population
1.37 million
The World Bank reports a population of 1,367,764 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Trinidad and Tobago population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$25.9 billion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$25,942,749,718.47 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Trinidad and Tobago GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$18,967
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$18,967.27 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Trinidad and Tobago GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
−0.8%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of -0.8 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Trinidad and Tobago real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
0.6%
Consumer prices rose 0.6 percent over the 12 months to July 2026, the Central Bank reports from Central Statistical Office data.
Source: Central Bank, monetary policy announcement, September 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$-1.16 billion
UNCTAD reports foreign direct investment inflows of -US$1,155.964 million in 2025; the negative value means foreign investors' disinvestment exceeded new investment that year.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment inflows, Trinidad and Tobago, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD).
Source: Central Bank, Key Statistics, trade, balance of payments, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
Global Trinidad and Tobago is the national trade and investment promotion agency; it says it merged InvesTT, ExporTT and CreativeTT in 2024.
Source: Global Trinidad and Tobago, agency overview page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
TTBizLink is the single electronic window for trade, business and investment services; the Ministry reports 53 e-applications and over 5,000 company users.
Source: MTTI, TTBizLink single electronic window page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Neither the Foreign Investment Act nor Global Trinidad and Tobago's investor pages list sectors reserved for nationals, as read on October 30, 2026.
Source: Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Foreign Investment Act, Chapter 70:07 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The Special Economic Zones Authority's list of approved zones shows five zones.
Source: TTSEZA, list of approved zones page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Trinidad and Tobago
- Create a Companies Registry account, reserve a name and file incorporation papers on the Companies Registry Online System.Companies RegistryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Global Trinidad and Tobago, how to register a business page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Give the Ministry of Finance the information the Foreign Investment Act requires, and apply for a license where the Act demands one.Ministry of FinanceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Foreign Investment Act, Chapter 70:07 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register for tax: get a BIR number through e-Tax, and ask the Division whether you must file the VAT registration form.Inland Revenue DivisionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Inland Revenue Division, home page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply for incentives, such as fiscal incentives or import duty concessions, through the Ministry's Investment Directorate.Ministry of Trade, Investment and TourismOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: MTTI, Investment Directorate page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 4 more set-up steps
- If you want a special economic zone, apply to the zone authority for an operator, enterprise or single zone enterprise license.Trinidad and Tobago Special Economic Zones AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: TTBizLink, special economic zones page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply online through TTBizLink for a work permit for each non-national who will work more than 30 days.Work Permit UnitOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ttconnect, work permit page and immigration services list (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Check the Foreign Investment Act land limits, which are one acre for a home and five acres for business, and ask about sites.Global Trinidad and TobagoOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Foreign Investment Act, Chapter 70:07 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Pay for shares or land in an internationally traded currency through an authorized foreign exchange dealer, as the Act requires.Central Bank of Trinidad and TobagoOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Foreign Investment Act, Chapter 70:07 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Customs and Excise. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Trade and investment ministry
MTTI
Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism
Runs trade policy, the Trade Licence Unit for export licenses, the TTBizLink window and the Investment Directorate for incentives.
Visit MTTI (opens in a new tab)Source: MTTI, ministry overview page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Company registry
Companies Registry
Registers business names and companies, including external companies, and takes annual returns through the Companies Registry Online System.
Visit Companies Registry (opens in a new tab)Source: ttconnect, Companies Registry page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 4 more organizations
- Get advice
Special economic zone authority
TTSEZA
Trinidad and Tobago Special Economic Zones Authority
Supervises special economic zones and decides applications for operator, zone enterprise and single zone enterprise licenses.
Visit TTSEZA (opens in a new tab)Source: TTBizLink, special economic zones page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Work permit authority
Work Permit Unit
Processes work permits for non-nationals who work in Trinidad and Tobago for more than 30 days.
Visit Work Permit Unit (opens in a new tab)Source: ttconnect, work permit page and immigration services list (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Finance ministry
Ministry of Finance
Receives the information foreign investors must supply under the Foreign Investment Act, and publishes the license application page.
State industrial park developer
eTeck
Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited
Develops and manages light industrial parks and economic zones for businesses outside the oil and gas sector.
Visit eTeck (opens in a new tab)Source: eTeck, home page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Customs and Excise
Customs and Excise Division
Collects duties, applies trade policy and runs the ASYCUDA customs system that connects to TTBizLink.
Visit Customs and Excise (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Finance, Customs and Excise Division page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Single electronic window
TTBizLink
Takes online applications for trade, business and investment licenses, permits and certificates, and publishes trade procedures and incentives.
Visit TTBizLink (opens in a new tab)Source: MTTI, TTBizLink single electronic window page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
Inland Revenue
Inland Revenue Division
Publishes the VAT registration form and runs the e-Tax service for tax filing and VAT status checks.
Visit Inland Revenue (opens in a new tab)Source: Inland Revenue Division, home page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
T&T Chamber
Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Issues non-preferential certificates of origin and represents business members.
Visit T&T Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: T&T Chamber, certificate of origin page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Manufacturers association
TTMA
Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association
Represents manufacturers and offers business development resources, including guidance on grants and incentives and trade negotiations.
Visit TTMA (opens in a new tab)Source: TTMA, home page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Services industry coalition
TTCSI
Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries
Brings services associations together, with advocacy and export development programs for service providers.
Visit TTCSI (opens in a new tab)Source: TTCSI, home page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
The Central Bank says foreign currency stayed tight in January to April 2026, with a net sales gap of US$491.1 million and US$400.0 million sold to dealers.
What to do: Agree the invoice currency and settlement date in each contract, and ask your bank about conversion timing.
Source: Central Bank, Monetary Policy Report, May 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026-05
Natural gas supply
Natural gas output fell 8.6 percent in October and November 2025, and the Central Bank reports lower urea, methanol and ammonia output.
What to do: Confirm your supplier's gas supply and delivery schedule before you commit to volumes.
Source: Central Bank, Monetary Policy Report, May 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026-05
Forced labor import ban
Act No. 16 of 2026, assented June 25, 2026, adds to the Customs Act's prohibited imports all goods produced from forced labor that the trade minister designates.
What to do: Ask the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism which goods are designated before you import inputs.
Sources: Gazette, Act 16 of 2026, Finance Act, June 2026 (opens in a new tab); Parliament, list of Acts, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 25, 2026
Agency names
InvesTT, ExporTT and CreativeTT are now part of Global Trinidad and Tobago, and some pages and contact details still use the former names.
What to do: Use Global Trinidad and Tobago's current pages, and confirm contact details before you write to a former agency address.
Sources: Global Trinidad and Tobago, agency overview page (opens in a new tab); MTTI, other organizations and state agencies page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 3 more
Special economic zones
The Special Economic Zones Act replaced the Free Zones Act, was fully proclaimed on July 5, 2024, and the authority now lists five approved zones.
What to do: Ask the zone authority which license suits your project before you choose a site.
Sources: TTBizLink, special economic zones page (opens in a new tab); TTSEZA, list of approved zones page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Foreign investor licenses
The Foreign Investment Act requires a license for 30 percent or more of a public company, and for land above one acre for a home or five acres for business.
What to do: Check your land and share holdings against the Act limits, and ask the Ministry of Finance before you sign.
Source: Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Foreign Investment Act, Chapter 70:07 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Economic contraction
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of -0.8 percent in 2025, and the IMF estimate is -0.5 percent.
What to do: Check current output data before you size demand for your project.
Sources: World Bank WDI, Trinidad and Tobago real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab); IMF DataMapper, October 2026 WEO, real GDP growth (opens in a new tab) · as of October 8, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Trinidad and Tobago with other countriesSet Trinidad and Tobago beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
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- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Trinidad and Tobago is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.