Guidance

Trinidad and Tobago: Knowledge Base profile

Published 2 September 2025

About: Trinidad and Tobago

This document contains useful information about Trinidad and Tobago which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 19 August 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Trinidad and Tobago: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Trinidad and Tobago.

Names in Trinidad and Tobago consist of:

• personal names
• a family name

Change of name

Name changes are legal in Trinidad and Tobago.

Change of forename or surname for those under the age of 18 is done with agreement from the High Court.

Trinidad and Tobago: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dual nationality is recognised in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago: legitimacy and parental responsibility

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy and parental responsibility in Trinidad and Tobago.

Legitimacy

Trinidad and Tobago does not recognise a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births. This means a child is born legitimate whether the parents are married or not.

Parental responsibility

The mother holds sole parental responsibility if she is not married to the father. The father will have parental responsibility if:

• he is married to the mother
• he is named on the birth certificate
• a court order has confirmed his paternity

Trinidad and Tobago: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Trinidad and Tobago.

Adoption is legal in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Trinidad and Tobago.

Surrogacy is not recognised in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Trinidad and Tobago.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Trinidad and Tobago.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not legally recognised in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago recognise:

• civil marriage
• Christian marriage
• Hindu marriage
• Islamic marriage
• Orisa marriage

Trinidad and Tobago: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Trinidad and Tobago.

Birth certificates

All births in Trinidad and Tobago must be registered at the Registrar General Office within 3 months of the date of birth. Late registrations are allowed.

A birth certificate is issued by the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs following the registration of birth.

A central register is held containing records of all births. Copies of records can be obtained.

Where a mistake has been identified on a birth certificate a new certificate will be issued, and the central records will be updated. If the error was made by the applicant during registration, the original certificate will still be valid, and marginal notes will be added to highlight the error.

There are several types of birth certificate, including versions that are:

• computerised
• handwritten

Hospital notification records exist, and these documents show both parent’s names.

Marriage certificates

The Registrar General’s Department holds records of all marriages in Trinidad and Tobago. Marriages must be registered within 1 year of the ceremony taking place. Late registration is possible.

Marriages must be conducted, and certificates issued by licensed:

• Marriage Officers for religious marriages, including:
  • Christian marriage
  • Hindu marriage
  • Islamic marriage
  • Orisa marriage
• Marriage Offices, Wardens or the Registrar General for civil marriages

Death certificates

Deaths in Trinidad and Tobago must be centrally registered within 1 year of the death. A death certificate will be issued following the registration. Late registrations are allowed.

Identity documents

There is a voluntary identity document scheme available to citizens and foreign national residents of Trinidad and Tobago. All identity documents are issued at a national level by the government.