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ONVOYO

Shipping boxes to and from Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago has no official duty-free limit for parcels, so expect duty and 12.5% VAT on boxes of any real value, worked out on the goods plus shipping. Moving here? Your clothing and personal items, and household effects you've used for at least a year, can come in free if they arrive within two months of you. Returning nationals get up to TT$250,000 of household effects free of duty and VAT. Leave out anything camouflage, and get permits before sending plants, meat, or dairy.

Typical transit
2-5 business days from North America; 4-7 from Europe; 5-8 from Asia
Currency
TTD
Duty-free up to
There is no published duty-free threshold for courier or postal shipments
Receiver ID
Not usually needed

Price a shipment to Trinidad and Tobago

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to Trinidad and Tobago

  • 1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$135.84delivered in 2 to 5 business days
  • 5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$679.19 totalabout $135.84 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by Trinidad and Tobago and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

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Sending to Trinidad and Tobago

Duties and taxes12356910111521

Duty-free threshold
There is no published duty-free threshold for courier or postal shipments. The Customs Act sets no value below which parcels go free, and Customs' own worked examples charge duty and VAT on the full value. Customs may release very low-value parcels without charge at its discretion, but don't count on it. Under the Customs Act, small non-commercial parcels worth up to TT$425 (about US$63) that mix goods from at least three tariff headings pay a flat 30% duty instead of the item rates, except for alcohol, tobacco, and jewelry.
Import tax
VAT at 12.5%, charged on the CIF value plus duty and any Online Purchase Tax. Duty depends on each item's tariff heading: 20% is common for clothing, shoes, toys, and small appliances, while laptops, tablets, cell phones, and digital cameras are free of both duty and VAT. Goods bought online, flown in, and sent to a consumer also pay a 7% Online Purchase Tax (OPT) on the CIF value.
How value is worked out
CIF. Duty and OPT are charged on the customs value: the invoice cost plus insurance (if paid) plus freight. VAT is then charged on the customs value plus duty and OPT. Customs converts foreign values at the rate notified by the Central Bank and publishes it about every two weeks: TT$6.78410 per US dollar from September 14, 2026. Include copies of invoices or receipts. Where there are none, or the declared value isn't accepted, Customs sets the value under the Sixth Schedule of the Customs Act, using the price of identical or similar goods. Declare an honest second-hand value for used items. Courier fuel surcharges and handling fees are not Customs charges.
Who pays
Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?
Any arriving passenger, including someone moving here, can bring clothing, toiletries, and personal items, plus household effects used for at least a year, free of duty and taxes if they arrive within 2 months before or after them. Returning nationals aged 18 or over (citizens, dual citizens, or their spouses) who lived abroad continuously for at least 5 years can import household effects free of duty and VAT up to a CIF value of TT$250,000 (about US$36,850), once per household. The goods must be for personal use, owned for at least a year, and arrive within 2 months before or after your return. Above the cap, the excess pays duty, VAT, and a 10% special tax. Food and building materials are excluded, fridges, freezers, and air conditioners need an import license, and a licensed customs broker must clear the goods.

Worked example

Illustrative: a box of used clothes and shoes worth US$300, sent with US$60 of shipping and no insurance, not bought online and not claimed as moving baggage. The CIF value is US$360 (about TT$2,442.28 at TT$6.78410 per US dollar). Assumes everything is dutiable at 20%, the Customs rate for clothing and shoes.

Duty: 20% x TT$2,442.28 = TT$488.46. OPT: none, since nothing was bought online. VAT: 12.5% x (TT$2,442.28 + TT$488.46) = TT$366.34. Total TT$854.80.

About TT$855 (about US$126), plus any courier fee. The same used clothes shipped as your baggage within 2 months of your arrival could come in free.

How customs clearance works in Trinidad and Tobago12451118

Express couriers bring boxes into a Customs area set aside for express consignments and list every house waybill on Customs worksheets, with personal and commercial shipments on separate sheets. The courier works out the duty, OPT, and VAT, a customs officer checks the values against the invoices and issues a Non Trade Duty Entry, and the courier pays Customs from a prepaid account and bills the receiver.

Formal entry
The express process covers consignments worth less than TT$20,000 (about US$2,950). Larger shipments, and any that don't meet the express rules, go through the formal entry procedure, with a declaration (e-C82) filed by a licensed customs broker. Returning nationals' household effects also need a broker.
How long it takes
Often 1-3 business days after arrival when invoices and values are in order. Longer if an item needs a permit, an inspection, or a value query.
Inspections
Customs can open any box to check the contents and value. Items that need another agency's approval, such as plants, animal products, some medicines, or drones, are held until it is in place, and plant material without a permit is confiscated and destroyed. Barrels are opened in front of you at the port.
If duties go unpaid
Goods not entered and delivered from the Customs area within 10 days of arrival, or a longer period Customs allows, go to a State warehouse and pay rent. If they're still not cleared 3 months later, they can be sold at public auction after a month's notice in the Gazette, and the owner can claim any money left after duties and charges within 2 years. The courier may return unpaid boxes sooner under its own terms.

Moving to Trinidad and Tobago: claiming duty relief139111321

  1. 01

    Check which relief fits

    Any arriving passenger can bring clothing, personal items, and household effects used for at least a year free of duty and taxes. Returning nationals aged 18 or over (citizens, dual citizens, or their spouses) who lived abroad continuously for at least 5 years, and are coming home for good, can claim household effects up to TT$250,000 CIF free of duty and VAT, once per household.

  2. 02

    Count your time abroad

    For returning nationals, visits home during the 5 years can't exceed 3 months in each year. Get your 5-year travel record from the Immigration Department of the Ministry of National Security.

  3. 03

    Gather your documents

    Two passport photos, an affidavit declaring your household effects, your passport and birth certificate, proof of your last address abroad, and evidence of residence, work, and taxes abroad for the 5 years, such as tax records, employment letters, or a lease.

  4. 04

    List your goods

    Make a legible, signed list with quantities and values, and mark anything owned for less than a year as new. Food, building materials, and cars aren't covered, and fridges, freezers, and air conditioners need an import license.

  5. 05

    Hire a licensed customs broker

    Customs requires a licensed broker or clerk to prepare the entry (e-C82) and clear the goods. Above TT$250,000 CIF, the excess pays duty, VAT, and a 10% special tax.

  6. 06

    Ship on time

    Goods must arrive within 2 months before or after you arrive, unless the Comptroller allows longer. If boxes arrive after you, declare them on Form C88 when you land. The returning nationals' car concession ended on July 1, 2026.

Documents to have ready1247101116171819

  • Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or gift, and saying whether anything was bought online
  • Copies of receipts or invoices for newer items (without them, Customs values goods at the price of identical or similar items)
  • Receiver's photo ID (national ID card, driver's permit, or passport), which the courier may ask for, and a working phone number
  • Permits for restricted items: a plant import permit and phytosanitary certificate, an Animal Health import permit, Ministry of Health clearance for antibiotics or controlled drugs, or TATT approval for a drone
  • Moving here with boxes that arrive after you: your passport and the Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration (Form C88) that Customs checks and returns to you when you land
  • Returning nationals: affidavit of household effects, passport, birth certificate, 5-year travel record from the Immigration Department, proof of residence, work, and taxes abroad, two passport photos, the signed list of goods, and the bill of lading or airway bill in your name
  • Barrels: the bill of lading and bill of sight from the shipping agent, plus photo ID, or a signed authorization letter with the owner's ID

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms14511181920

What you can pack, category by category236711171819

What you can pack, by category
CategoryStatusWhat to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothesConditionsUsed and new clothing pay 20% duty plus 12.5% VAT, unless they come as your baggage within 2 months of your arrival. Anything with a camouflage pattern is banned.
Books and papersMore on booksAllowedBooks are fine. Educational books are free of duty and VAT, and brochures are duty free but pay VAT.
ElectronicsMore on electronicsConditionsLaptops, tablets, cell phones, and digital cameras are free of duty and VAT. TVs and game consoles pay 20% duty plus VAT. Drones need TATT approval. Keep batteries installed.
MedicationMore on medicineConditionsMedicines registered in Trinidad and Tobago can be imported for personal use. Antibiotics, narcotics, and controlled drugs need Ministry of Health clearance first.
FoodMore on foodConditionsFresh produce, seeds, and dried peas and beans need a plant import permit and phytosanitary certificate. Meat, dairy, egg products, and pet food need an Animal Health permit. Send only sealed, shelf-stable items and declare them.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmeticsConditionsPersonal-use cosmetics and perfume pay 20% duty plus VAT. No aerosols or nail polish, and perfume may be refused as a flammable liquid.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobaccoNot allowedCouriers generally refuse alcohol and tobacco in personal boxes. Travelers' duty-free allowances don't apply to shipments.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gearConditionsExercise equipment is duty free, and bicycles pay 20% duty plus VAT. Camouflage-pattern gear is banned, and couriers refuse fuel canisters and flares.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gearConditionsToys pay 20% duty plus VAT, while strollers and car seats are duty free. Toy guns that look real are banned. Remove loose batteries.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photosAllowedPersonal papers and family photos are fine. Declare them at a nominal value.
OtherConditionsPlants, animal products, drones, fireworks, and fridges or air conditioners need permits or licenses first. Declare everything clearly.

Quantity limits1891011121721

Quantity limits for Trinidad and Tobago
ItemLimit
Personal shipmentsNo published duty-free amount. Duty and 12.5% VAT apply to the CIF value, plus 7% OPT on online purchases. Small mixed non-commercial parcels up to TT$425 (about US$63) pay a flat 30% duty instead of item rates.
Moving baggage and household effectsClothing, personal items, and household effects used for at least a year, arriving within 2 months before or after you: free of duty and taxes, for any arriving passenger.
Returning nationalsHousehold effects up to TT$250,000 (about US$36,850) CIF free of duty and VAT, once per household, after at least 5 continuous years abroad.
Goods (travelers only)Goods up to TT$5,000 (about US$737) per traveler, including children, in accompanied baggage, claimable once a year. Doesn't apply to shipments.
Alcohol and tobacco (travelers only)1.5 liters of wine or spirits, plus 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco, per traveler aged 17 or over, once a year. Doesn't apply to shipments.
MedicinesMedicines registered in Trinidad and Tobago can be imported for personal use. Antibiotics, narcotics, and controlled drugs need Ministry of Health clearance first.
Cash (travelers)Declare cash or monetary instruments over US$5,000 or TT$20,000 to Customs when arriving or leaving.

What you can't send to Trinidad and Tobago12479171819

Not allowed

  • Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
  • Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
  • Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
  • Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
  • Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
  • Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
  • Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
  • Anything with a camouflage pattern, including clothing, bags, and caps
  • Toy guns that closely resemble real firearms
  • Goods that infringe trademarks, including counterfeits
  • Base or counterfeit coins of any country
  • Indecent or obscene prints and similar material
  • Medicines the Ministry of Health no longer approves

Allowed with conditions

Drones
Customs releases a drone only with equipment certification or a letter of non-objection from the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT). Get it before you ship.
Antibiotics, narcotics, and controlled drugs
Need Ministry of Health clearance before import. Ask the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division about controlled drugs and the Drug Inspectorate about antibiotics and narcotics. Other medicines registered in Trinidad and Tobago can be imported for personal use.
Plants, seeds, fruit, vegetables, dried peas and beans, cut flowers, soil, and lumber
Need a plant import permit from the Plant Quarantine Service (applied for on TTBizLink) and a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country, including when sent by mail or courier. Items without them are confiscated and destroyed, and a first offense can bring a TT$5,000 fine, up to 2 years in prison, or both.
Meat, poultry, dairy and egg products, and pet food
Need an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture's Animal Health Subdivision, applied for on TTBizLink before the box ships. The Subdivision also issues permits for items such as feathers and leather, so ask if you're unsure.
Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and chillers
Need an import license. Customs lists this even for returning nationals' duty-free household effects, so check before you ship one.
Fireworks
Need permission from the Ministry of National Security, and couriers refuse them.
Shipments worth TT$20,000 (about US$2,950) or more
Fall outside the express courier process, so expect a formal entry (e-C82) filed by a licensed customs broker.

Sending from Trinidad and Tobago

Shipping boxes out of Trinidad and Tobago814181920

Sending your own things out of Trinidad and Tobago by express courier is simple: give the courier an itemized list with values so the boxes can be declared to Customs. The main exceptions are plants and animal products, which may need Ministry of Agriculture certificates, wild plants and animals, which need a Forestry Division permit, and listed heritage property, which needs a license.

Documents

  • Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item
  • Sender's photo ID (national ID card, driver's permit, or passport)
  • Phytosanitary certificate from the Plant Quarantine Service for plants or plant products, where the destination requires one
  • Export permit from the Animal Health Subdivision for animal products, where the destination requires one
  • Forestry Division export permit for wild plants or animals, including CITES species
  • A license from the Minister, on the National Trust's recommendation, for any listed heritage property

Can't leave the country

  • Listed heritage property can't be exported without a license. Trying to can lead to a fine and forfeiture of the item.
  • Wild plants and animals, including CITES species, need an export permit from the Forestry Division's Wildlife Section
  • Plants and plant products need a phytosanitary certificate when the destination requires one
  • Animal products may need an export permit from the Animal Health Subdivision, depending on the destination's rules
  • Couriers won't carry cash. Travelers must declare cash or monetary instruments over US$5,000 or TT$20,000 when they leave.

Before pickup

  • Sealed, store-bought pepper sauce and seasonings travel best. Check the destination's food rules first.
  • Keep receipts for art, crafts, and jewelry you bought, to show they're modern pieces.
  • Avoid shipping during Carnival week, when many businesses close.
  • Check the destination's rules. The receiving country decides duties and what it allows in.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the house number and street, then the district or town, then the island (Trinidad or Tobago). Add the six-digit postal code if you know it. Include a phone number, and a landmark in rural areas.

Maria Example15 Hibiscus DriveMaravalPort of SpainTrinidadTrinidad and TobagoTel: +1 868 555 0175

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Port of Spain, San Fernando, Chaguanas, Arima, Couva, Point Fortin, Scarborough.

Remote areas: Tobago and rural parts of Trinidad, such as the north and east coasts and the far southwest peninsula, can take 1-3 extra days.

Deliveries around Port of Spain and along the east-west corridor are usually quickest. Tobago shipments may route through Trinidad first. Give a phone number the driver can reach.

When things slow down

Carnival Monday and Tuesday, just before Ash Wednesday, shut much of the country, and the weeks before are busy. Expect slowdowns around Christmas and Boxing Day, Easter, Emancipation Day (August 1), Independence Day (August 31), Divali, and Eid ul-Fitr. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November and can occasionally disrupt flights.

Advice for your situation

Students

Students heading abroad can ship clothes and books out easily. Coming home, the returning national relief needs 5 continuous years abroad, but your clothing, personal items, and household effects used for at least a year can still come in free if they arrive within 2 months before or after you. Newer household items pay duty and VAT.

Returning home

After at least 5 continuous years abroad, you can bring household effects worth up to TT$250,000 CIF free of duty and VAT, once per household. Time the boxes to arrive within 2 months of your return and line up a licensed customs broker first. The duty-free car concession ended on July 1, 2026.

Expats and relocations

There's no special concession for foreigners, but as an arriving passenger you can bring clothing, personal items, and household effects you've used for at least a year free of duty and taxes if they arrive within 2 months before or after you. If boxes arrive after you, declare them on Form C88 when you land. Anything newer or outside that window pays duty and VAT.

Tips for a smooth delivery

  • Mark used belongings as used personal effects, not purchases. The 7% online purchase tax only applies to goods bought online.
  • Put copies of receipts or invoices in the box. Without them, Customs sets the value from the price of identical or similar goods.
  • Leave out anything with a camouflage pattern and toy guns that look real. Both are banned.
  • Moving here? Time your boxes to arrive within two months of you. If they arrive after you, declare them on Form C88 when you land.
  • Get permits before shipping plants, seeds, produce, meat, or dairy. Plant material without one is destroyed at the border.
  • Think the charges are wrong? Email Customs Air Services with your invoices and the courier's bill. Reviews take up to 8 weeks.

Shipping to and from Trinidad and Tobago: questions

Is there a duty-free limit for packages to Trinidad and Tobago?

No official one. Customs publishes no de minimis for courier or postal parcels, so duty and 12.5% VAT can apply to any box of value. Very low-value parcels may be released without charge at Customs' discretion, but that isn't a published rule.

How much will the receiver pay on a box of used things?

Duty at each item's rate, often 20%, on the CIF value (goods plus shipping and insurance), then 12.5% VAT on the CIF value plus duty. Laptops, tablets, cell phones, and digital cameras are free of duty and VAT. Goods bought online also pay 7% OPT.

Does the 7% online purchase tax apply to my personal belongings?

No. OPT applies to goods bought online, flown in, and sent to a consumer. Used belongings you already own aren't online purchases, so describe them as used personal effects on the packing list.

Can I ship my belongings duty free when I move to Trinidad and Tobago?

Often, yes. Any arriving passenger can bring clothing, personal items, and household effects used for at least a year free of duty and taxes if they arrive within 2 months before or after them. Returning nationals after 5 continuous years abroad get household effects up to TT$250,000 CIF free of duty and VAT, cleared by a licensed customs broker. The returning nationals' car concession ended on July 1, 2026.

Are barrels treated differently from boxes?

Barrels come by sea, and you clear them yourself at the port's Barrel Shed 10 with the bill of lading, the bill of sight, and photo ID. You open the barrel, declare what's inside, and pay any duty and VAT at the Customs cashier. There's no published flat barrel rate: Customs values the contents from your receipts or the price of similar goods.

Can I send food or medicine to Trinidad and Tobago?

Fresh produce, seeds, and plants need a plant import permit and phytosanitary certificate, and meat, dairy, egg products, and pet food need an Animal Health permit. Medicines registered in Trinidad and Tobago can be imported for personal use, but antibiotics, narcotics, and controlled drugs need Ministry of Health clearance first.

How do I ship boxes from Trinidad and Tobago to another country?

Book an express courier and give it an itemized list with a value for each item, plus your photo ID. Plants and animal products may need Ministry of Agriculture export certificates, depending on the destination. The receiver pays any import charges at the other end.

What can't I send out of Trinidad and Tobago?

Listed heritage property can't leave without a license, and wild plants and animals need a Forestry Division export permit. Couriers also refuse cash, aerosols, flammables, loose batteries, and weapons.

Official help in Trinidad and Tobago

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in Trinidad and Tobago makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

  1. 1.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Information for Nationals returning to live in Trinidad and Tobago after living abroad (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  2. 2.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Knowledge Base: Importing (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  3. 3.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Description of applicable duties and accepted means of payment (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  4. 4.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Notice to Importers No. 17 of 2025: Rescission of Notice - Registration and Operation of "Authorised Couriers" (attaching Notice to Importers No. 17 of 2020) (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  5. 5.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Notice to Importers No. 20 of 2021: Processing of Queries Regarding "Courier/Express Consignments" Cleared by Cargo Reporters and Paid for by the Importer (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  6. 6.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Notice to Importers No. 04 of 2025: The Value Added Tax (Amendment to Schedule 2) Order 2024, the Customs (Remittance of Customs Duty) Order, 2024, the Miscellaneous Taxes (Remittance of Online Purchase Tax) Order, 2024 (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  7. 7.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Notice to Importers No. 09 of 2025: Importation of Unauthorized Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)/Drones (attaching Notice No. 12 of 2021) (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  8. 8.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Declaration of Currency or Monetary Instruments (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  9. 9.

    Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago

    Current and Historical Rates of Exchange (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  10. 10.

    Ministry of Finance (Customs and Excise Division press release)

    Media Release: Calculation of Customs Duties and Taxes Payable on Online Purchases (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  11. 11.

    Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs (laws.gov.tt)

    Customs Act, Chapter 78:01 (updated to 31st December 2016) (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 27, 2026

  12. 12.

    Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs (laws.gov.tt)

    Finance Act, 2019 (Act No. 23 of 2019) (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 27, 2026

  13. 13.

    Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

    The Finance Act, 2025 (Act No. 14 of 2025) (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 27, 2026

  14. 14.

    Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs

    National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago Act, Chapter 40:53 (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 27, 2026

  15. 15.

    Inland Revenue Division, Ministry of Finance

    Value Added Tax (VAT) (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 27, 2026

  16. 16.

    Inland Revenue Division, Ministry of Finance

    Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) Number (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 27, 2026

  17. 17.

    Ministry of Health, Trinidad and Tobago

    Regulated Medicines and Substances Portal (opens in a new tab)

    Health regulator · checked September 27, 2026

  18. 18.

    Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Plant Quarantine Service)

    What You Need to Know about a Plant Import Permit (opens in a new tab)

    Biosecurity · checked September 27, 2026

  19. 19.

    Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

    Animal Health Subdivision Services (opens in a new tab)

    Biosecurity · checked September 27, 2026

  20. 20.

    Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Forestry Division)

    Permit to Export Wild Flora and Fauna (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 27, 2026

  21. 21.

    TTBizLink, Trinidad and Tobago Trade and Business Portal (Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago)

    Returning National (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 27, 2026

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