myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Wednesday, 15 September 2004

Dear All

My wife and I had a wonderful holiday in Tobago and we have fallen for the charms and the people of Island. Over a long period we have become seriously disillusioned with Britain, so much so, that we have decided that we are going to emigrate and try to build a new life in Tobago.

I have been trawling the Internet looking for information on this subject and found you. Could I please ask any of your readers for assistance in finding out some answers to the following questions?

1. What we would need to do to qualify for residency?
2. How do we both get working Visa’s
3. How long would any formalities take?
4. Is there a minimum amount of capital required?
5. Can these be applied for when we arrive in Tobago, or must they arranged prior to arrival?
6. Can we buy property on the Island?
7. Can we buy, or set up a business operating in the tourist market?
8. Are you able to apply to local banks for funding (subject to status)?
9. Can our 14yrs child attend any of the local schools, or would need to send him to a private school, if so can you recommend any?
10. When we became residents would we qualify for healthcare, or do we pay insurance, if so how much would this cost?
11. We have both passed our Driving Test and we have no endorsements on our licence, would we need to take a driving test in Tobago?
12. Any other useful information that you felt could be useful?

Many thanks for any assistance that you may be able to give us.

Yours faithfully


Anthony and Andrea Neale

hi Anthony,


"6. Can we buy property on the Island?"

As far as I know , you can still buy up to an acre of land for residential purposes, as a foreigner , and without having residency.


"7. Can we buy, or set up a business operating in the tourist market? "

As far as I know , you can buy up to five acres of land for business purposes, as a foreigner, and without having residency.


good luck.

Hi Terence

Thanks for your input, much appreciated.

2. you wuld get your visas from the immigration, if they accept your applieng for residency.
you have to apply for a work permit at theimmigration as well, more easy to get is you know where you want to work already, but takes time and patience, easier to get in trinidad

3. foe foreigners married to lacals it takes the minimum time of three years if everything is running smooth. don't know for you....

6. if you have a business here, you can even buy more than 5 acreas (but what for...)

7. the hampden inn in the lowland might be still for sale, with additioneal land elsewhere. buying a business would make it easier to pass all the other procedres.

10. there are private health insurances and they are quite cheap! check sagicor! (have private pension plans as well).

11. within the first three month after your arrival you only have to pass an additional test about the local hand signs etc. and get the local license which you need as soon as you stay longer than 6 month. if you do it after three month you have to pass the whole tests.

hope that could help you a bit. you need a certain ammount of money to immigrate. maybe the embassy near you can help with that and mor details.
wish you luck

steph & ali

Dear Step & Ali

Many thanks for all the information, very helpful . I have found the address of the embassy in London so I am going to try our luck.

Once again thanks, I owe you a pint!

Kind regards

Anthony