Christianwelsh, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Work
Working in another CARICOM country starts with the CARICOM Skills Certificate, or with business registration if you are setting up for yourself. Here is what each route involves and where we can help.
Free movement of skills covers work. Visiting and studying are separate processes with their own requirements.
Start with the Skills Certificate
For most people taking a job in another member state, this is the document that makes it possible. Our guide sets out who can apply, the documents each country asks for, the exact office to apply to, the fees where they are published, and what happens after you submit.
Read the Skills Certificate guideYou don’t have to do this yourself
I can handle the Skills Certificate and the paperwork around your move for you. I work out what your country and your destination actually ask for, get the paperwork in order, and keep it moving, so you are not the one chasing offices and re-reading forms to figure out what happens next.
Who this is for
- CARICOM nationals with a job offer in another member state
- People looking for work in the region before they have an offer
- Skilled workers checking whether they fall into one of the approved categories
- Self-employed people and business owners setting up in another member state
- Anyone who has been told to 'get a Skills Certificate' and is not sure what that means
What we help with
- Working out which approved category fits your qualification
- Explaining what your country's office asks for, and in what order
- Checking your documents against the published requirements before you submit
- Registering a business and preparing what a business bank account needs
- Opening a personal or business bank account once you arrive
- Flights, accommodation and transfers for the application trip and the move itself
What we do not control
- Whether a Skills Certificate is issued. That is the designated government office's decision.
- Whether an employer hires you, and on what terms.
- Whether immigration admits you and grants an indefinite stay.
- Whether a bank opens an account or approves a loan.
- Processing times, fees and requirements, all set by the authorities and subject to change.
Regular employment
Got a job lined up on another island, or hunting for one? Fill this in to find out what you need to turn the offer into an actual move.
Looking for work in another CARICOM country?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll be in touch about openings that match, no need to have an offer lined up first.
Or browse openings yourself: Search CARICOM job boards →
Self-employed & business owners
Setting up your own business instead of taking a job? A different right, and a different set of paperwork, applies.
Business Setup
Register your business under CARICOM's Right of Establishment, from name search to a ready-to-use business bank account.
See what is involved →Business Banking
What banks in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Grenada actually ask for to open a business account, verified from their own pages.
See what is involved →What it costs
$100
A Move Planning Consultation covering your move, whether that is the Skills Certificate, a job search, flights or somewhere to stay, is $100. Tell us where you are starting from and we will tell you what applies.
Common questions about working in CARICOM
Do I need a CARICOM Skills Certificate to work in another member state?
Usually yes, if you are moving as an employee. It is what lets an eligible skilled CARICOM national work in another participating member state without a work permit. Nationals of Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines can live and work among those four countries without one, following the full free movement that began on 1 October 2025.
Can you guarantee I will get a certificate or a job?
No. The certificate is issued or refused by a government office, and hiring is the employer's decision. We help you understand the process, prepare properly and handle the practical arrangements. Nobody outside those bodies can promise you an outcome.
Do I need a job offer before applying for a Skills Certificate?
Generally no. The certificate recognises your qualification rather than a particular job, and you can apply in your home country or your destination country. Confirm the position with the office you are applying to, since practice differs.
What if I am self-employed rather than taking a job?
A different route applies. CARICOM's Right of Establishment covers setting up a business in another member state, and the paperwork is business registration rather than a Skills Certificate. Our business setup pages cover it.
Can my family come with me?
A Skills Certificate holder's spouse and dependants generally gain the same rights to live and work in the receiving country. The receiving country still applies its own rules, so confirm before you make plans around it.
Explore the work pathway
Tell us your qualification, where you are now and where you want to work. We will go through what that country asks for and what your next step is.
Skills Certificates are issued by government offices, and hiring decisions belong to employers. We help you prepare for both and arrange the travel around them.