Apply For Asylum
From 24 April 2023, if you are applying for asylum for the first time, you can visit the UNHCR Registration Centre, corner Keate and Pembroke Streets, Port of Spain, from Monday to Thursday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to renew your UNHCR card (expired, lost or stolen cards)?
If you need to renew your UNHCR Card, you can visit the UNHCR Registration Centre from Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
What to do if you have a UNHCR certificate (paper document) and remain to be registered?
You can visit the UNHCR Registration Centre, corner Keate and Pembroke Streets, Port of Spain, from Monday to Thursday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm
Is this service free?
All of our services are free of charge.
What are my rights as an asylum-seeker?
You have a right to non-refoulement whereby you cannot be returned or deported to a country in which your life or freedom may be in danger due to your race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
You have a right to access justice and report any crime to the authorities.
You have a right to freedom of movement within the territory that you reside.
As a guide, you can refer to our website which provides some details on this (see link below):
What happens if my refugee status is rejected?
If the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) rejects your application for asylum, you have the right to appeal (to ask the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to reconsider your case). The deadline to appeal will be stated in the written decision given to you.
If your appeal is rejected again or you choose not to appeal, regular Trinidad and Tobago immigration procedures will apply and you may be returned to your home country.
What happens if I become a refugee?
As a refugee, you will have a right to remain legally in Trinidad and Tobago as well as family reunification with your immediate family. Due to a lack of legislation, you will not be able to work legally.
As a guide, you can refer to our website which provides some details on this (see link below):
Can I leave the country while in the process to determine my refugee status?
During the asylum procedure you must stay in Trinidad and Tobago. If you leave at any time, it may be considered abandonment of your asylum claim.
Please note that recognition of your refugee status is valid in Trinidad & Tobago, which means that it may not necessarily be recognised in another country should you choose to voluntarily depart.
If you choose to leave Trinidad, it is your responsibility to research the other country’s asylum policies and procedures. Please notify Living Water Community and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of your intention to abandon your claim if you choose to leave Trinidad and Tobago.
