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“Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago who are 60 years and older are exempt from paying the airport usage fees, usually called Departure Tax. But a recent instruction to the airlines by the legal department of the Immigration Office has modified this privilege and I think wrongly so.
“The airlines have been told that citizens who hold dual citizenship are no longer entitled to the exemption if they leave the country on the other passport…”
The following Letter to the Editor on modifications to Departure Tax exemptions for Trinidad and Tobago senior citizens was submitted to Wired868 by Michael Clarke:
Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago who are 60 years and older are exempt from paying the airport usage fees, usually called Departure Tax. But a recent instruction to the airlines by the legal department of the Immigration Office has modified this privilege and I think wrongly so.
The airlines have been told that citizens who hold dual citizenship are no longer entitled to the exemption if they leave the country on the other passport.
At one time, one could leave using the Trinidad passport but land in the foreign country using the other passport. Now, the advance notice of passengers that the airlines have to give requires the passenger to use the passport to be used to land when leaving.
Initially, this was not a problem. Passengers who qualified showed both passports at departure to claim the exemption. As from November 2017, the airlines were instructed that the exemption must not be granted in such cases.
Since, the citizen cannot claim protection of the other state while in Trinidad sand Tobago, it means that he/she is still a citizen while in T&T’s airspace and entitled—I think—to all the rights and privileges. It seems that that instruction is improper.
On the return leg, the citizen has to show that he/she is a citizen on arrival in Piarco or Scarborough. The instruction seems illogical and motivated purely by the desire to get revenue and should be cancelled.
Tangent to this matter is the Caribbean Airlines (CAL) practice on collecting the tax. If the ticket is bought in an office, the exemption is granted immediately. If it is bought online, CAL requires the passenger to pay and apply for a refund at its office.
At one time, the refund application was made on checking in but no longer. The claim for refund must be made within three months of departure or before departure, but no way on the site is the passenger told of this time limit. Fate help the senior citizen who stays away more than three months!
In contrast, one can get a CAL fare as a senior citizen online, even while having to pay the ‘Departure Tax’. Seems the program has not been designed to accommodate the senior citizen.
It is good to note that LIAT has the online facility to claim both the exemption before purchase and also the refund after it is paid.
I hope the relevant officials will address these issues.
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I hope that someone will challenge the opinion of the Immigration Legal Officer with respect to the denial of departure tax exemption to persons with dual citizenship. Dual citizenship is not illegal and is allowed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. So when is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago not considered a citizen? That is a jokey ruling by the Immigration Lawyer. Respectfully, remember that many Lawyers didn’t come first in class. How can a person who is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago be not considered a citizen when departing Trinidad and Tobago, but that same person is considered a citizen on return to Trinidad and Tobago. Funny eh! Time to take the matter to court. I am willing to contribute to the legal challenge.
I agree with de letter writer. Once dey say citizen, then it should apply to anyone with a valid T&T passport. Otherwise, they should explicitly rewrite/amend de rule. I find dey nitpicking unnecessarily.
In some CARICOM countries, you can just show your passport when paying your departure tax. And it doesn’t have to be the one you are traveling on.
Which countries?
Off de top of meh head, I could remember doing it in Antigua and de next one escaping meh. After a while some ah dem airports does look de same. Although Antigua have ah brand spanking new one.
What is the amount they now need to pay?
He utilised the two passports to take advantage of the exemption here.Why not give up the other citizenship and be eligible for the exemption?
Lance Noel but can you say why having a second passport should stop him from enjoying those benefits?
In my humble opinion such exemptions should only be for citizens who hold Trinidad and Tobago citizenship only.
Okay.
Personally I feel there must be a valid reason to deny persons. Not just that we find they have too many passports or they have it nice enough because of a second passport.
Of course you are entitled to an opinion. But I hope the state doesn’t make decisions like that.
Laws,policies etc.,all start in somebody’s mind don’t they…lol.
The exemption is for citizens of T&T when leaving the country,that means you produce a TT passport to qualify. If you are utilising the passport of another country to travel,does that identify you as a citizen of T&T?
Lance that’s one argument. But the person can show the TT passport. They just prefer not to book the flight with it.
I do see your point. But is it that it is too problematic for immigration to deal with the issue of traveling using two passports for the sake of administering this exemption?
I’d love to know.
What’s the benefit to them for not booking the flight with the TT passport?Is a TT national with one passport entitled to same my friend?
Lance the problem is when they land in the US. It apparently is much simpler for them to use an American passport when traveling there.
Thank you bro.That’s the reason I commented that they want to have their cake and eat it too.
So,me with my one passport will get the exemption here but see trouble with immigration and customs in the US,while my friend with the dual will pay the tax here and saunter through the immigration in JFK.Isnt that fair?
Lance Noel I am only a reader of your comment.. question..if you were afforded the privilege of having DUAL CITIZENSHIP, would you use them both to your convenience or refuse one based on your perception…
“Wanting to have his cake and eat it”., mind you…one is by birth, the other by naturalization.
Mervyn Skeete ,of course I would take advantage of what is afforded me.One is by birth ,the other is by choice.One is entitled to the exemption,the other isn’t.Simple,my friend.
Lance Noel if you were a frequent flier, your line of thought will definitely be different. Do you know of the problems one encounters to acquire a US visa…and the cost?..trust me my friend..take the DUAL and run with it and pay the departure tax which to me does not make any sense, taking into consideration the word “DUAL”
Frequent flier,my friend?
This is a simple case of someone wanting to enjoy the best of two worlds.
Lance, opinions differ my friend….peace out.
Mervyn Skeete,if all of us had the same opinion,the world will be a boring place.Stay well my friend.
no he/she just leaves on the TT passport,
He explained why he could not do that.
i know persons who leave on tt passport enter dual country with other passport and have no issues ,clarification from states required
This person wants to have his cake and eat it too.