What is the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)?
The CARICOM Single
Market and Economy (CSME) is an arrangement among the CARICOM Member States for the creation of a single enlarged
economic space through the removal of restrictions resulting in the free movement of goods, services, persons,
capital and technology and it confers the right of CARICOM Nationals to establish a business in any participating
CARICOM Member State. The implementation of the CSME has been a top priority for Trinidad and Tobago and to date
the Single Market component has been implemented in some twelve (12) CARICOM Member States including Trinidad and
Tobago.
The Single Market comprises five (5) regimes:
- Free movement of skills/labour
- Free movement of goods
- Free movement of services
- Free movement of capital
- The right of establishment
The CSME is an essential element of integration in the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM). It is intended to benefit the people of the region
by providing more and better opportunities for employment, to produce
and sell our goods and services and to attract investment. It is aimed
at creating one large market among the participating CSME Member States.
The main objectives of the CSME are:
- Full use of labour (full employment)
- Full exploitation of the other factors of production (natural resources and capital)
- Competitive production leading to greater variety and quantity of products and services to trade with other countries
It is expected that these objectives will in turn provide improved standards of living and work and sustained economic development.
FREE MOVEMENT OF SKILLS/LABOUR
The Free Movement of Skills/Labour
The free movement of skills/labour includes the right of a CARICOM national under Article 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to seek work and/or engage in gainful employment in any of the participating CSME Member States, without the need to obtain a work permit in the Member State in which he/she wishes to work.
Free Movement of Skills is NOT a Right to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
There
are currently no rights regarding free movement solely for the purposes
of residency or permanent naturalization or citizenship. If a person
wishes to migrate from one CARICOM Member State to live in another
he/she must apply for residency or citizenship in accordance with the
laws of the host country.
Persons who are eligible for free movement of skills/labour must be
engaged in some kind of legitimate economic activity. They must fall
within one of the categories that have been approved for free movement.
What are the participating CSME Member States for the Purpose of Free Movement?
A participating CSME Member State refers to any CARICOM country that has signed on to the CSME arrangements and ratified the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. For the purpose of Free Movement, these include:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago.
What are the categories that have been approved for free movement?
According to Article 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas the following categories of CARICOM nationals have the right to seek employment in any of the participating CSME Member States:
- University Graduates
- Artistes
- Musicians
- Media Workers
- Sportspersons
recognised as such by the Competent Authorities in the receiving
Member States. The Competent Authority for the CSME in Trinidad and
Tobago is the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs.
If a CARICOM national does not fall in any of the above-mentioned
categories, then he/she must apply for a Work Permit from the receiving
Member State. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of National Security
handles applications for Work Permits.
DEFINITIONS
University Graduates - University Graduates, for the
purpose of free movement of skills, are persons who have obtained at
least a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University.
The Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago provides
recognition status of tertiary level institutions and programmes
operating locally and internationally. Please visit their website for
more information on recognition and accreditation –
http://www.actt.org.tt
Artistes - Artistes, for the purpose of free movement
of skills are persons who are active in or qualified to enter a
particular field of art with the specific purpose to earn a living.
Media Workers - Media Workers are persons whose sole
source of income is derived from media and media-related work and are
qualified to enter this field.
Sportspersons - Sportspersons, for the purpose of free
movement of skills, are persons who are active in or qualified to enter a
particular field of sports with the specific purpose of earning a
living as a professional or semi-professional.
HOW DO CARICOM NATIONALS IN THE APPROVED CATEGORIES MOVE TO SEEK WORK?
CARICOM nationals who fall into any of the approved categories and wish
to work in another participating CSME Member State must apply for and be
granted a Certificate of Recognition of Caribbean Community Skills
Qualification (Skills Certificate).
A CARICOM national who has been issued with a Skills Certificate in
Trinidad and Tobago would be allowed an indefinite stay subject to all
immigration requirements. A Trinidad and Tobago national who has been
issued with a Skill Certificate from Trinidad and Tobago would be
required to verify his/her qualifications with the respective Competent
Authority in the Member State in which he/she wishes to work.
It is advisable that sufficient research is conducted prior to
leaving one’s home country. Such research would include but not be
limited to immigration requirements, documents necessary for the Skills
Certificate, which institutions function as the Competent Authority and
national laws that must be upheld.
Processing Timeline
The minimum timeline for the processing of applications for the Certificate of Recognition of Caribbean Community Skills Qualification (Skills Certificate) is six (6) to eight (8) weeks.
Click the following link to download the application form:
Please follow and provide the necessary information where applicable. Updated November 3rd, 2015.
BENEFITS FOR HOLDER OF THE SKILLS CERTIFICATE
The benefits of being issued with a Skills Certificate from the host country include but are not limited to the following:
- There is no restriction on freedom of movement, including the freedom to leave and re-enter his or her host country
- There is a wider pool of opportunities available for employment
- There is freedom to buy or rent property for residential or commercial use (this may not apply to all Member States since some Member States would require a special licence/permit)
- Spouses and immediate dependent family members are allowed to move with the holder of the Skills Certificate
- There is no need to obtain a Work Permit
Replacement of CSME Skill Certificate
The holder of a Skills Certificate issued in Trinidad and Tobago who
wishes to apply for a replacement because there has been a change in
his/her name, marital status or passport number, should submit the
following documents to the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs:
- completed application form
- valid passport
- original and copy of Skills Certificate issued by Trinidad and Tobago
- original and copy of document which identifies change(s) e.g. marriage certificate, passport, deed poll
- two (2) identical passport sized photos
Lost/Stolen Skills Certificates
A CARICOM national (including nationals of Trinidad and Tobago) whose
Skills Certificate was lost or stolen must report the lost/stolen Skills
Certificate to the Police in the country where the certificate was lost
or stolen.
He/she must submit the following documents to the Ministry of Foreign
and CARICOM Affairs to apply for a replacement Certificate:
- The original and copy of the Police Report stating that the Skills Certificate was lost or stolen (the original will be returned to the applicant)
- An affidavit swearing that the Skills Certificate was lost or stolen, approximately where and when it was lost or stolen and that it was not sold or transferred to anyone
- Passport (original and copy)
- Two (2) passport sized photos
- Completed application form
- Copy of previously issued Skills Certificate
ENTRY OF CARICOM NATIONALS INTO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
A CARICOM national who is seeking to enter Trinidad and Tobago would be
granted a definite entry of six (6) months subject to having satisfied
all immigration requirements. During this period, the CARICOM national
is required to apply for a Skills Certificate at the Ministry of Foreign
and CARICOM Affairs. When the Certificate has been issued he/she is
obligated to visit the Immigration Division in order to be granted with
an indefinite entry stamp.
It is advised that persons apply long in advance of the expiration of
the immigration stamp and Police Certificates of Character.
OBLIGATIONS OF SKILLED CARICOM NATIONALS
While skilled CARICOM nationals are afforded several rights, they must
be mindful of their obligations when exercising the right to free
movement. In this regard, their obligations include but are not limited
to:
- Have a valid Skills Certificate issued by a Member State in order to work
- Have a valid CARICOM passport
- Be truthful at all times to the relevant authorities of the Member State
- Obey the laws of the Member State
- Make taxation and national insurance payments in accordance with local laws in the same way as nationals of the Member State they have entered.
Where do I get more information?
For more information or assistance, please
contact:
Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs
Levels 10-14, Tower C, Waterfront Complex
1A Wrightson Road
Port of Spain
Tel: (868) 623-6894
E-mail contact for the CSME Unit for further queries – caricom@foreign.gov.tt