As Trinbagonians, when we think about our access to international travel, more often than not, we equate that access to having a visa.
I think this stems from our collective experience of the the desire to visit the country with the largest Caribbean Diaspora–and by extension, where the majority of our extended family reside–the United States.
Most of us can recall the nerve-wracking process of applying for a U.S. visa and hoping the immigration gods bless us with an approval so we can either visit friends and family or just explore the country on a whole.
Because of the high demand for entry to to the United States, in addition to their own strict criteria for granting visas, applying for one is always a gamble.
When you take into consideration our close ties to the U.S., it’s easy to see how this experience can colour our perception of access to travel on a whole.
But, here’s the thing, if you’re a Trinidad and Tobago passport holder, you can visit over NINETY countries without the need for a visa!
There are so many perks to having this level of access including:
- No Visa Application Hassles: Visa-free access means you can travel without the need to go through lengthy and sometimes complicated visa application processes, which often involve submitting forms, attending interviews, and paying fees
- Spontaneous Travel: You can plan spontaneous trips without waiting for visa approval, making last-minute travel decisions easier and stress-free
- Avoid Visa Fees: Many visa applications come with significant costs. Visa-free travel eliminates these fees, reducing the overall cost of your trip
- Faster Border Entry: Without the need for a visa, you can generally expect faster processing at border control or immigration checkpoints in visa-free countries, meaning shorter lines and less waiting time
- Increased Opportunities for Remote Work: Remote work is growing at a rapid pace, so visa-free travel allows digital nomads and remote workers the flexibility to live and work in different countries for extended periods
- Expanded Options for Long Layovers and Stopovers: You can take advantage of layovers in various countries without needing to apply for a separate transit visa. You can explore new cities and cultures during your stopovers without worrying about legal entry requirements
Still only want to focus on the U.S. for your travel plans? The benefits of expanding your scope of travel are boundless.
Okay, so now that I’ve listed all of the perks of considering travel to visa-free countries, here are some destinations that you don’t need a visa to visit and how long you can stay there:
Europe
- United Kingdom: 6 months
- Ireland: 3 months
- Germany: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- France: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Italy: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Spain: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Netherlands: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Sweden: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Switzerland: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Portugal: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Norway: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Belgium: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
- Greece: 90 days (within a 180-day period)
The Americas
- Barbados: 6 months
- Grenada: 3 months
- Jamaica: 6 months
- Dominican Republic: 30 days
- St. Lucia: 6 weeks
- Bahamas: 3 months
- Brazil: 90 days
- Mexico: 180 days
- Argentina: 90 days
- Colombia: 90 days
- Panama: 180 days
- Costa Rica: 90 days
- Ecuador: 90 days
Asia
- Singapore: 30 days
- Malaysia: 90 days
- Thailand: 30 days
- Philippines: 30 days
- Indonesia: 30 days
- Maldives: 30 days
- South Korea: 90 days
- Hong Kong: 90 days
- Nepal: 90 days
- Sri Lanka: 30 days (with ETA)
Africa
- South Africa: 90 days
- Botswana: 90 days
- Mauritius: 90 days
- Namibia: 90 days
- Seychelles: 3 months
- Kenya: 90 days
- Zambia: 90 days
- Gambia: 90 days
- Ghana: 90 days (visa on arrival)
- Rwanda: 30 days (visa on arrival)
Oceania
- Fiji: 4 months
- Vanuatu: 30 days
- New Zealand: 3 months
- Samoa: 60 days
- Tonga: 31 days
- Kiribati: 30 days
- Tuvalu: 30 days
- Solomon Islands: 3 months
- Palau: 30 days (visa on arrival)
Passport Index has a full list of all the countries you can visit visa-free with your Trinidad and Tobago passport and how long you can stay in each country.
Where will you visit first?
Editor’s Note: When it comes to visa-free travel, it’s important to note that the terms and conditions may change at any time. Visa policies are often influenced by diplomatic relations, immigration laws, and other government regulations. While this information is accurate at the time of writing, we strongly recommend that travelers always check with the relevant embassies or consulates for the latest visa requirements and stay durations before making travel plans. Safe travels!