Digital arrival, departure system now mandatory

2026-03-18 - 02:14

Senior Reporter jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt The country’s long-awaited online arrival and departure Immigration and Customs form system officially became mandatory yesterday, marking the end of the paper-based form. The platform is being managed through the regional security body, Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). The switch from paper-based forms to a digital platform brings an end to years of requests by citizens for the country to come on par with some of its regional neighbours. At a media conference last week, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander said that while there is not going to be a transition period, there will be paper forms available in the event the platforms encounter issues. The online platform will be in six languages for now and went online last Saturday, but it became mandatory from yesterday. Those who are not tech-savvy will be assisted at the country’s ports. Under the system, users must create an account on the Government’s portal, upload a photo of their passport biodata page and complete the form within 72 hours before arrival or departure. Once submitted, travellers will receive a digital receipt with a unique code and QR code to present to immigration officials. The cost of the system remains unknown, as Alexander said during the media conference that the cost will be announced in due time. Calls and messages to both Alexander and Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence Dominic Smith, asking about the first day of operation of the platform, went unanswered up to press time. In an unrelated post, Caribbean Airlines is advising travellers headed to the United States to arrive at their respective departure airport early to allow sufficient time for check-in, security screening and other airport processing. This comes as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing issues impact US airports. “Due to ongoing operational demands at US airports, customers may experience longer than usual processing times. We recommend arriving at least four hours prior to departure to ensure a smooth travel experience. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and we look forward to serving you,” a media release stated. The release advised that check-in for international flights is four hours before, while check-in and bag drop for all passengers closes one hour prior to departure.