CSME Skills Certificate and Host-Country Verification

The free movement of skills/labour includes the right of a CARICOM national under Article 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to seek work and/or engage in gainful employment in any of the participating CSME Member States, without the need to obtain a work permit in the Member State in which he/she wishes to work.

Persons who are eligible for free movement of skills/labour must be engaged in some kind of legitimate economic activity. They must also fall within one of the categories that have been approved for free movement.

According to Article 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas the following categories of CARICOM nationals have the right to seek employment in any of the participating CSME Member States: 1\. **University Graduates** 2\. **Artistes** 3\. **Musicians** 4\. **Media Workers** 5\. **Sportspersons** 6.**Nurses** 7.**Teachers** 8\. **Artisans** 9\. **Holders of Associate Degrees** 10\. **Domestic Workers** 11\. **Agricultural Workers** 12\. **Private Security Officers**

CARICOM nationals who fall into any of the approved categories and wish to work in another participating CSME Member State must apply for and be granted a Certificate of Recognition of Caribbean Community Skills Qualification (Skills Certificate).

On entry into a CSME participating country, CSME nationals receive an automatic 6 months;

Within this 6 month period, all holders of CSME Skills Certificates must have their Certificate verified by the competent authority of that country. This is usually requested by the employer or by the Immigration Division. A list of the competent authorities can be found in the CSME – Free Movement Travel and Work booklet below;

Once the Skills Certificate is verified as authentic and notification of such has been received from the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs or by the Immigration Division, the holder, his/her spouse, and dependents should visit the Immigration authorities in order to receive the appropriate stamp to reside in the Member State.

Holders of a CSME Skills Certificate NOT issued by Trinidad and Tobago, **must** complete the verification process within six (6) months of entry into Trinidad and Tobago. **There is no cost attached to the verification process**.

4\. Spouses and immediate dependent family members are allowed to move with the holder of the Skills Certificate

_(b)_ the spouse and immediate dependent members of the family of the national to whom paragraph _(a)_ applies for the duration of the permission given the national under the Immigration (Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals) Act.

A CARICOM national who has been issued with a Skills Certificate would be allowed an indefinite stay subject to all immigration requirements.

Free Movement of Skills is NOT a Right to Permanent Residency or Citizenship.

There are currently no rights regarding free movement solely for the purposes of residency or permanent naturalization or citizenship. If a person wishes to migrate from one CARICOM Member State to live in another he/she must apply for residency or citizenship in accordance with the laws of the host country.