The High Commission

The Trinidad and Tobago High Commission based in Ottawa, Canada's Federal Capital has the responsibility in Canada for the conduct of the relations between the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Canada. The High Commission is headed by a High Commissioner who is the official representative of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Canada, and is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and Head of Government.

The High Commission promotes and protects Trinidad and Tobago's national and foreign policy interests, particularly its foreign trade, investment and tourism interests throughout Canada. In this regard, the High Commission is directly responsible to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Port of Spain and through it, to the Government.

The High Commission also provides services on behalf of the Ministry of National Security (Immigration)and the Registrar General's Department of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, through the provision of application forms and the issuance of visas, notarial (birth, marriage death etc.) certificates/services and statutory documents. Substantive immigration matters such as the issuance of Passports and restoration of citizenship are handled at the Consulate General in Toronto. The High Commission also responds to general information enquiries about Trinidad and Tobago, or refers such enquiries to the relevant Ministry or agency in Trinidad and Tobago when more detailed information is required.

The Consulate General, Toronto and the Labour Liaison Office

The Trinidad and Tobago Consulate General in Toronto is responsible for the pursuit and protection of the interests of Trinidad and Tobago nationals, individual and corporate in the province of Ontario and specifically for the provision of consular services and issuance of visas. In that vein, it performs the consular function also performed by the High Commission. The Consulate General is headed by a Consul General.

The Consul (Immigration) at the Consulate General in Toronto has direct responsibility for the delivery of immigration and naturalization services in Canada as these relate to Trinidad and Tobago. These are primarily, the issuance of Trinidad and Tobago Passports, the processing of applications for restoration of Trinidad and Tobago citizenship, the grant of permanent residence and the issuance of visas.

The Labour Liaison Office of the Consulate General administers on behalf of the Ministry of Labour, Small and Micro-Enterprise Development, the logistical and other arrangements related to Trinidad and Tobago's participation in the Canada-Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programme. That Office is headed by the Consul (Labour).

 

The Provincial Honorary Consulates

The Government has in the past established Honorary Consulates in some of Canada's Provinces, to further assist the High Commission and Consulate General in the thrust to promote Trinidad and Tobago as an ideal trade, investment and tourism destination.They also assist with the delivery of basic consular and information services under the supervision of the High Commission.

The Honorary Consulates by definition are headed by Honorary Consuls who are persons who have volunteered their time and resources to assist with the representation of the trade, investment and tourism interests of Trinidad and Tobago within the area of their jurisdiction.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is currently reviewing the appointments of Honorary Consuls in Alberta and Nova Scotia which are currently vacant, as well as the possibility of other appointments in other provinces in Canada.

Consular Assistance

The Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in Ottawa and the Trinidad and Tobago Consulate General in Toronto are able to provide assistance and guidance to Trinidad and Tobago citizens in distress, who have been involved in a serious accident, have been hospitalized, arrested or detained, or have lost a passport). Serious cases of distress are handled in accordance with specific guidelines. Trinidad and Tobago citizens who find themselves in distress are urged to call the High Commission or the Consulate General in Toronto to discuss the specifics of their individual circumstances and agree on a course of action within given parameters. The above-named Offices may be contacted through the following numbers:

How we can help you?

Staff at the High Commission and Consulate General may be of assistance if you get into difficulties while in Canada. Within certain limitations we can:

  • give you guidance when in trouble with the primary aim of giving a proper orientation.
  • help arrange for the issue of an emergency or replacement passport if considered necessary.
  • help you to contact relatives or friends in Trinidad and Tobago to arrange a money transfer, if you get into financial difficulties.
  • provide you with a * list of English speaking lawyers in the case of detention or arrest.
  • provide you with a * list of undertakers in the case of the death of a loved one, and assist you to contact family and friends.

*The provision of the list shall not constitute a recommendation or guarantee of the service provided, and the High Commission or Consulate shall not be liable for any action arising from the provision of such service.

           There are limitations to what we can do however. For instance we cannot:

  • pay your hotel, travel or other bills, bail or medical expenses.
  • help you with arrangements which would normally be handled by local entities, e.g. banks, lawyers, travel agents, undertakers.
  • give you legal advice or get you out of prison.
  • assure you of prison or hospital conditions better than that accorded a citizen or legal resident.
  • give you a loan, other than in a real emergency and only after the deposit of equivalent funds into the Treasury by family or friends in Trinidad and Tobago..
  • trace missing persons or investigate a crime. These are police matters.
  • operate a personal mail service for you.

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