Venezuelan refugees in Trinidad and Tobago are waiting for their new work permit stickers, which have been delayed for four months. This has resulted in job losses and challenges in accessing banking, healthcare, and schooling for their children. The Ministry of National Security announced an extension of permits and plans to release further information about the sticker distribution soon.
Since 2019, Venezuelan refugees in Trinidad and Tobago have held work and residency permits; however, they have recently faced delays of four months in receiving their new 2025 permit stickers. A November 8, 2024 press release from the Ministry of National Security announced an extension of these work permits until December 31, 2025. The Ministry plans to publish a list of approved permit numbers on its website and social media, guiding individuals on when to collect their stickers and update registration cards.
The delay in sticker distribution has affected many Venezuelans, resulting in job losses due to outdated work cards. Carmen Farias, a Venezuelan resident for eight years, reported being fired from her job at a restaurant because her work permit was not current. “There is a press release from November 8. It explains there is a one-year extension, but the bosses don’t want to have legal issues and prefer to fire their Venezuelan workers,” she stated. She eventually found another job that accepted her work ID which still shows validity until December 31, 2024.
The absence of updated stickers prevents many Venezuelans from legally leaving Trinidad and Tobago. They are unable to open bank accounts or navigate other bureaucratic requirements, as Immigration requests an updated work card for entry visas. Social activist Yulmary Belle emphasized that the lengthy wait has left many Venezuelans unable to address medical or business needs or travel home without risking re-entry complications, including the inability to obtain provisional driver’s licenses.
Additionally, the lack of a valid work permit poses complications for Venezuelans registering their children in local schools, with the Ministry of Education requesting updated stickers dated December 31, 2025. On March 14, former Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds assured that “the new stickers are in our hands. Immigration officers will begin distributing them soon.” Following this statement, Hinds was reassigned, and Marvin Gonzales was appointed as the new Minister of National Security.
In the coming days, the Ministry of National Security will issue a press release detailing the process for obtaining the long-awaited stickers.
The delays in issuing work permit stickers for Venezuelan refugees in Trinidad and Tobago have adversely affected their employment, mobility, and access to legal services. Despite assurances from officials that distribution will begin soon, many individuals are still in limbo, facing employment insecurity and complications in essential areas such as healthcare and education for their children. The upcoming press release from the Ministry of National Security is expected to clarify the processes for resolution, offering a glimmer of hope to the affected community.
Original Source: newsday.co.tt
