International Parcel Delivery | Blog

Shipping Trinidad and Tobago from Canada

Written by Timothy Byrnes | June 25, 2019

The two islands of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) is a leading economy in the Caribbean community (CARICOM) with close ties to Canada. Economic growth has recovered thanks to various energy projects and increasing commodity prices. Canadian companies are taking advantage of TT's generally open investment policy.heavy demand for imported goods.

Jet Worldwide helps Canadian and American shippers and online merchants ship to the Caribbean.

Disclaimer: The information in Jet Worldwide online content, including this post, is for general information only.

BestShipping Options to Trinidad and Tobago

This shipping guid covers the main Canadian shipping options for shipping to Trinidad and Tobago from Canada including Canada Post, FedEx, UPS, Purolator and - of course - Jet Worldwide. This blog also explains the basic parcel clearance process in Port of Spain (the major gateway for international parcels) and a reviews the process for shipping barrels from Canada.

What import fees apply for shipments to Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad import fees can include duty, online purchase tax (OPP) and sales tax 

Read about Import Fees to Trinidad and Tobago

What is the shipping cost sending to Trinidad and Tobago

The cost of shipping to Trinidad and Tobago depends on the package size, weight, shipping service, carrier and discount level.

What is the cheapest way to send to Trinidad and Tobago

The cheapest option for individuals shipping small package and personal items is via Canada Post Surface options. Sending barrels via ocean carriers is the least expensive way to send larger shipments. Surface / ocean options can take several months for delivery.

The options for shipping goods between Canada and Trinidad include:

  1. Air freight: This is the fastest option with economy air options
  2. Ocean: Best for large commercial orders and individuals sending barrels (note: we do not offer barrel shipping options).
  3. Local post options are generally best for individuals shipping small packages and personal items to Canada
  4. FedEX , DHL, UPS air options are well known with information readily available via their websites. 

When choosing a shipping method, you will need to consider factors such as the size and weight of your freight, the time frame in which you need it to arrive, and your budget. It may be helpful to compare quotes from different carriers to find the best option for your needs.

Shipping Trinidad and Tobago via Canada Post

Canada Post is the preferred option for individuals shipping small packages to Trinidad and Tobago. Packages sent via Canada Post are imported to Trinidad and Tobago and delivered by TT Post (the state owned provider of postal services in Trinidad and Tobago).

While the delivery time and service can be uncertain, Canada Post International Small Packet Surface Service to Trinidad and Tobago offers the lowest cost for shipping packages under 2 kg .

Canada Post Delivery Services to Trinidad and Tobago Include:

  • Small Packet delivery to Trinidad and Tobago: Surface and Air
  • Parcel Surface Trinidad and Tobago
  • Canada Post Xpresspost

Shipping Trinidad and Tobago from Canada via FedEx and UPS

FedEx and UPS are the largest carriers in North America and, along with DHL, offer reliable shipping to Trinidad from Canada.

Get a shipping quote to Trinidad from Canada.

FedEx and UPS Canadian Shipping options to Trinidad include:

  • International air express from Canada
  • International air economy to Trinidad

Shipping parcels to Trinidad and Tobago via Jet Worldwide

Jet Worldwide has been providing international delivery from Canada for over 40 years!

Jet Worldwide provides Canadian Caribbean and global logistics. Our support refers to the various processes and partners regarding international Canadian movement of goods. This includes comparison rates ,transport, receiving facilities, and supply chain management.

Delivery to Trinidad and Tobago via Purolator Courier

Purolator Courier, a subsidiary of Canada Post, offers international parcel delivery from Canada to Trinidad and Tobago via partners, such as UPS.

Can I ship and i-phone from Canada to Trinidad and Tobago?

You can buy an i-phone with a physical SIM Card and ship it Trinidad and Tobago. There are regulations regarding shipping items with batteries that need to be respected. Contact our team for details.

Shipping Air versus Ocean Canada to Trinidad and Tobago

The best shipping option to Canada depends on several factors.  In general, the lowest cost for small personal packages is via Canada Post surface. Individuals can benefit from low cost barrels (Jet only manages commercial ocean shipments).

For heavier shipments, economy air freight is a common option. Less than container load (LCL) is best with shipping palletized freight and large commercial orders.

Useful information: Things to know about Ocean Shipping To and From Canada.

Parcel Customs Clearance for Goods sent from Canada

Trinidad and Tobago customs assessed duty and taxes on the CIF value (Cost of the goods being imported plus the cost for transportation and insurance). Trinidad and Tobago uses the Harmonized System HS codes to assess the rate of duty.

When shipping to TT, the requirements include:

  • The supplier’s invoice.
  • A copy of the Airway Bill (for items transported by air) or Bill of Lading (for items transported by sea).
  • Import licence, for those items that are on the negative list/ restricted items.
  • A declaration on the C75 or C76 form if imported goods are for an ongoing demand-supply relationship between the importer and the supplier. The declaration must be signed by the importer.

Value added tax (VAT) in Trinidad and Tobago is applied for shipments from Canada. The VAT in Trinidad and Tobago is 12.5% and duty rates can be seem relatively high (often around 20%).

Online Purchase Tax

Goods purchased online from Trinidad and Tobago are subject to an "online purchase tax" of 7%. See our blog on TT's Online Purchase Tax.

Barrels via Ocean Freight to Trinidad and Tobago:

Although Jet does not provide this service, we provide this information to help assist the many requests we get from the Trinidadian Canadian community seeking low cost delivery to Trinidad and Tobago.

Jet Worldwide does not offer ocean barrel shipping to Trinidad and offer this information to assist with the many inquiries we get regarding this service.

Shipping via ocean (barrels are a common container for such shipments to Trinidad) offer the lowest cost and are the best option when you can wait a month or two (we often hear stories of delivery to Trinidad taking more than three months!) to retrieve your items. Shipping barrels from Canada is a simple process but the clearance process can be rather cumbersome (see below). When sending via ocean freight, sending in Barrels provide more security than simply sending boxes.

Contact Jet For sending commercial shipments via sea freight to Trinidad and Tobago.

It is important to understand the import fees at destination as the it can have a significant effect on the the total cost. There are several qualified carriers who offer this low cost shipping option to Trinidad and Tobago.

Clearance Process for shipments arriving to Trinidad's sea ports:

The process for clearing the shipment includes the shipping agent (who are responsible for informing you that the barrel has arrived and to provide the Bill of Lading and Bill of Sight), the Port authorities and Customs and Excise.

Port of Point Lisas is a common port used to send barrels to Trinidad. Port of Point Lisas is the second major port in Trinidad and is down the west coast around 30 km south of Port of Spain.

The steps for clearance include:

* The Bill of Lading gives ownership of the barrel to the "importer of record." Often the importer gives authorization to a third party to allow clearance on their behalf (there is a fee for this service)

* The recipient of the barrel has to take the Bill of Lading to the Port’s Barrel Shed 10, where the Port Authority accesses the the fees due. The Port staff will then submit to Customs the Delivery Note, Location Slip and the Port Receipt showing that all Port fees have been paid and the Bill of Sight.

* The Bill of Sight is basically a document with the owner information, package information, the name of the vessel, and a declaration by the owner verifying the contents.

* The Port staff will then bring the barrel to the Customs examination area.

* Trinidadian Customs assessment of duties and taxes will be recorded on the Bill of Sight based on original receipts or applied value.

Note: Jet Worldwide delivery service do not provide barrel ocean delivery service to Trinidad and Tobago. We are happy to provide information of providers (but do not endorse them in any way).

Getting quote for shipping between and Canada and Trinidad and Tobago

We are happy to help with your shipping betweenCanada and Trinidad. Provide information regarding the type of goods that will be shipped, and how you wish they be sent? Additionally, it would be helpful to know the volume of goods and items being shipped. What restrictions or regulations are you aware of that should be taken into account?

Jetworldwide.com/contact