So after I missed the carnival in Brazil and looked up carnivals around the world, I realized that the greatest show on earth was in Trinidad and decided to make sure I got myself to Trinidad in one piece to experience this first hand.
Well to be honest, I was scrolling Instagram one day and my flatmate from university posted the most delicious photo of her in a contraption- which I later learnt was a “mas costume”- looking so badass and I messaged her to ask what it was about and she was all like “OMG YOU SHOULD COME to carnival etc etc”.
But I am Nigerian, and I know what I really mean when I tell people to come and join me when I want to eat. So, you know I was like, yeah sure.
Fast forward to maybe two months later, someone else I went to secondary school with posted a photo of her a similar contraption- less cute but still cute- and I hit her up like, Is this thing a vibe like this?
Beloved, it IS a vibe like that.
 |
| That's my absolutely stunning flat mate from Uni, and my defacto host in Trinidad |
Seeing as my flat mate in Uni was Trinidadian, while the person from secondary school had moved to America and is married and lives there so she probably has an American Passport, none of them were going to be able to help me with that Nigerian passport visa stress.
But I have gone through it, so no one else has to go through
it.
And I swear, just like the brazilian visa process, this one was pretty seamless and I was given an E-visa.
all things being equal the steps below should get you the same, except the Caribbean embassies change the process post covid19 to include a health clearance.**
 |
| This is the welcome banner at Picaro. |
Anyway, here is all you need to know AND do to get yourself
a visa if you are interested in visiting Trinidad & Tobago. ( and you should be)
First you need a passport. With more than 6 months validity on it.
Second you need to collate ALL the requested documentation which include:
Letter of introduction from your employer on their letter head
Bank statements ( 3 months)
Past payslips (3 months)
Flight bookings ( temporary, I suggest you find an agent to do it or ask someone in your office logistics team to sort it out for you)
Hotel bookings ( also temporary, I used expedia with the options for free cancellations AND pay at the venue)
Copies of your data page, Colored passport photographs white back ground and two copies of filled out forms
Third, you fill out two copies the visa form which can be found here: here.
And finally, your visa fee which is ₦4,000. They only take cash.
I know I was very surprised at the cost.
And the fact that I couldn’t use my card to pay, but hey it was ₦4k so.
Other important details to note the consulate is located in Abuja and the applications are done in person ONLY, so if you live in Lagos you’d have to fly to Abuja and drop of the application in person.
Also, the consulate only receives visa applications on Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm. Obviously excluding public holidays.
Now there is a visa requirement sheet on the site which mentions a ₦560,000 security bond deposit payable physically via diamond bank .
Please note that as a tourist it does not apply to you.
(And God knows I am tired of repeating this to everyone who asks me)
I actually called the consulate to confirm this before I started the process and I did not have to pay any thing else asides the ₦4000 visa fee.
Another important bit to add is that while most countries (Trinidad inclusive) asks that you apply 3 months to your arrival date- I applied 6 months ahead and explained to the consular officer that anything later than my application date and I’d have a harder time getting flight tickets AND accommodation in Trinidad.
My visa arrived in three days and this is what it looked like;
And this is what I looked like 6 months and a little over a million Nigerian Naira later:
 |
| Me in my Mas Costume, with two Nigerian flags |
I know I say this after every trip I make, including the ones I never get around to writing about but this trip and attending carnival might just be one of the best trips I have ever taken. Coupled with the current pandemic these memories are even more precious to me, and honestly they probably helped me to survive cancelling my Cape Verde holiday.
** Some countries such as Austria currently request health clearance certificates not older than 4 days on the day on arrival. More details on that here
