Immigration Support for Hiring Expats in Trinidad and Tobago via EOR/PEO
When your business needs to move specialist talent into Trinidad and Tobago, the biggest obstacles are usually legal process, timeline, and operational control, not access to candidates. Local law requires every foreign national to hold a valid work permit and a compliant employment contract. Setting up your own entity is rarely justified for a single project or small team, especially with the administrative overhead and time to register.
The Employer of Record (EOR) route gives you a direct path. Your chosen expats are sponsored for immigration by a local legal employer, then payrolled and managed in full compliance with Trinidad and Tobago’s employment laws. You stay in charge of daily work, performance, and compensation. Acumen International handles the permits, onboarding, and payroll administration behind the scenes, insulating you from local complexity and exposure.
This approach suits companies needing to deploy trusted people for project delivery, technical implementation, or business launch without delay or permanent establishment risk. You avoid setup delays, get a clear compliance line, and can step back just as quickly if the business case changes.
How Our Employer of Record Solution Works
- Acumen acts as the local legal employer for your expat team, ensuring payroll and HR compliance with Trinidad and Tobago’s labour laws.
- We coordinate the entire immigration process. This includes application preparation, submission, and liaising with local authorities.
- After the work permit is approved, we employ your expats locally. You retain full operational control over their work and day-to-day management.
Who Uses This Talent Engagement Model
- Employers relocating selected expats for projects, specialist assignments, or leadership roles.
- Companies hiring highly skilled foreign talent when local expertise is not available.
- Employers who want to avoid the time and cost of setting up a local entity for a small team or pilot market entry.
Benefits of the Employer of Record EOR in Trinidad and Tobago
- Lower risk of visa rejection and immigration errors, as one provider manages both sponsorship and employment.
- Seamless support for employee and family relocation, with additional services available such as medical insurance, housing, or dependent onboarding.
- Full local payroll, statutory benefits, and employment administration — all handled for you, so you stay focused on business objectives.
Important note: Acumen does not offer standalone immigration services to individuals seeking employment. We support only business-driven assignments, where the employer is directly involved.
Immigration and Work Permit Timeline
- Work permit application and entry: Usually 1–2 weeks to obtain initial permission to enter Trinidad and Tobago.
- Completion of process: Full endorsement and final permit can take an additional 2–7 months, depending on role and documentation.
Key Steps in the Process
- Work Permit Application
- Visitor Visa Application (if required by nationality)
- Entry to Trinidad and Tobago
- Work Permit Endorsement
- Onboarding and local payroll setup
Required Documentation (2025)
- Three passport photos, compliant format
- Up-to-date CV or resume
- Police clearance certificates (with fingerprints, from all countries of residence in the last five years, no older than six months)
- Copy of passport information page
- Digital photo (for online application)
- Valid passport (minimum six months validity, at least two blank visa pages)
- Return or onward travel booking
- Completed visa application forms and fee receipt
- Proof of temporary accommodation (hotel or rental)
- Evidence of legal immigration status in current country of residence (if applicable)
- Medical certificate (for permits over one year)
- Security bond (for permits over one year, arranged with a local bank based on nationality)
If you need to employ expatriate staff in Trinidad and Tobago without opening a local company, Acumen International will manage the entire process, from immigration paperwork to local payroll.
Contact our team to discuss your requirements and receive step-by-step guidance tailored to your assignment, timeline, and risk profile.