Trinidadian & Tobagonian Expats in Colombia — Complete Guide 2026 | CoVisas Colombia

Trinidad and Tobago at a Glance

Why Trinidadians and Tobagonians Are Choosing Colombia

Colombia has rapidly ascended as one of the most compelling relocation destinations in the Americas for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. The twin-island republic, while prosperous by Caribbean standards thanks to its energy sector, faces its own challenges — from rising living costs in Port of Spain to limited economic diversification as hydrocarbon revenues fluctuate. Colombia offers T&T nationals a striking alternative: a country of 50 million people with a diversified economy, world-class cities at various altitudes, and a cost of living that is dramatically more affordable. Cities like Medellín, often cited among the world's most improved urban success stories, draw T&T professionals and retirees alike with quality infrastructure, a vibrant restaurant and cultural scene, and a growing community of English-speaking expats. Cartagena and Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast echo the maritime culture that Trinidadians and Tobagonians know well.

The shared love of music, food, and community is a powerful bridge between T&T and Colombia. Trinidadians are known for their cosmopolitan, inclusive outlook — a cultural trait that maps naturally onto Colombia's similarly diverse, multicultural society. For professionals in energy, engineering, finance, or technology, Colombia's expanding economy presents genuine career opportunities, while remote workers and digital nomads can leverage their USD or GBP incomes against the favorable COP exchange rate. Many T&T nationals also make the move for family reasons — marrying Colombian nationals or joining established expat networks. Whatever the motivation, the logistical pathway is well-defined, and CoVisas Colombia specializes in making it straightforward for every T&T national who takes the leap.

Colombian Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago

Visa-Free Entry for T&T Nationals

Trinidad and Tobago is included in Colombia's Lista A of nationalities that may enter without a visa for short stays. T&T passport holders may visit Colombia for tourism, family visits, or short business meetings without any prior consular appointment.

Under Resolución 5488 de 2022, nationals of Trinidad and Tobago may stay in Colombia for up to 90 days per calendar year without a visa. This period may be extended once for an additional 90 days (total 180 days per year) at the discretion of Migración Colombia. If you plan to stay longer, work, study, or establish residency, you will need to apply for a Colombian visa before your permitted stay expires.

Long-Stay Visas: Migrant (M) Category

Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago who wish to reside in Colombia long-term must apply for a Colombian Migrant (M) visa. The visa subcategory that applies depends on your purpose of stay. All M-visa applications are submitted online through the official Colombian government visa portal. The most relevant subcategories for T&T expats are listed below.

SMMLV 2026: COP 1,423,500 per month (Colombia's legal monthly minimum wage, used as a reference for income requirements). For the M-7 rentier visa, your verifiable passive income must equal at least 3× SMMLV (approximately COP 4,270,500/month or roughly USD 1,050/month at current rates).

Health System in Trinidad and Tobago — What You Leave Behind

Trinidad and Tobago's public health system is organized through four Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), which operate the country's public hospitals. The North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) manages the flagship Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope, along with Port of Spain General Hospital and San Fernando General Hospital in the south. Public healthcare in T&T is technically free at the point of use, but chronic capacity constraints, long wait times, and gaps in specialist availability have pushed much of the middle class toward the private sector. The National Insurance System (NIS), funded through mandatory payroll contributions, covers occupational injury, maternity leave, retirement, and survivor benefits — but critically, it does NOT provide comprehensive health insurance coverage. Private insurers such as NEM Insurance, Guardian Life of the Caribbean, and Sagicor fill this gap, and employer-sponsored private health plans are the norm for formal-sector employees. Many T&T nationals also seek specialist care abroad, particularly in the United States.

A vital reality for T&T nationals moving to Colombia is that none of these benefits — NIS contributions, RHA hospital access, or any private employer plan — will be valid in Colombia. Once you relocate, your NIS contributions are preserved for future T&T claims but provide no health protection abroad. Colombian immigration law independently requires all legal residents to either contribute to the Colombian EPS (public health system) or, for visa holders, to maintain a private health insurance policy that meets the minimum standards set by Migración Colombia. Obtaining appropriate health coverage is therefore not optional — it is a legal requirement embedded directly in the visa process, and the policy must be active from the date of your visa application.

What Your Colombian Health Insurance Must Cover

Tax Obligations: Trinidad and Tobago and Colombia

Trinidad and Tobago operates a worldwide income tax system for tax residents, administered by the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR TT). The income tax structure applies a flat rate of 25% on annual income up to TTD 1,000,000 and a higher rate of 30% on income above that threshold. There is no capital gains tax in T&T and no inheritance tax, making it a relatively straightforward tax environment by international standards. However, businesses must also account for the Business Levy — a minimum tax of 0.6% on gross income applicable where the Business Levy exceeds the income tax liability. T&T's significant hydrocarbon revenues have historically shaped a generous social compact, but oil and gas price volatility has periodically prompted fiscal reforms that expats should monitor.

On the Colombian side, foreign nationals who spend more than 183 days in Colombia within any 365-day period become Colombian tax residents and are then subject to Colombian income tax on their worldwide income. The DIAN (Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales) enforces this rule rigorously. It is essential for T&T nationals to understand that Trinidad and Tobago and Colombia have no Double Taxation Agreement (CDI) and no tax treaty of any kind. This absence means there is no automatic mechanism to offset taxes paid in T&T against Colombian tax obligations, and vice versa. Nationals who maintain economic ties in both countries — receiving T&T pension income, rental income, or investment income while residing in Colombia — face real double-taxation risk. Consulting a cross-border tax specialist before relocating is strongly advised.

Legalizing Your T&T Documents for Colombia

Colombian immigration authorities require foreign documents submitted with visa applications to be properly legalized and translated. Trinidad and Tobago joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2000, making the process significantly more streamlined than for non-member countries. The following three-step process applies to T&T documents:

• Notarize the original document — Have the document notarized by a qualified notary public in Trinidad and Tobago. Government-issued documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and police character certificates typically carry official seals and may not require separate notarization, but private documents (e.g., bank letters, employer references, academic transcripts) generally do need notarization first.
• Obtain an Apostille — Submit the notarized document to the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago for an Apostille stamp. As a Hague Convention member since 2000, T&T's Apostille is recognized directly by Colombia without further consular legalization. Processing typically takes 2–6 weeks depending on the document type and current workload; plan accordingly. For the police Certificate of Character, initial processing at the TTPS Criminal Records Office in Port of Spain takes 2–6 weeks before the Apostille step.
• Certified Translation into Spanish (EN → ES) — Because all T&T official documents are in English, every apostilled document must be translated into Spanish by a certified or sworn translator recognized in Colombia. The Colombian Embassy in Port of Spain can advise on approved translators, or you may engage a certified translator in Colombia after your arrival. The certified Spanish translation must accompany the apostilled original when submitting your visa application to Migración Colombia.