Members of the public are free to visit the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago to:

• conduct research
• view our periodic exhibitions or
• tour the institution.

There is no fee to visit or use our records. Reservations for large groups of more than six persons, are recommended, and bookings should be made by contacting us at 625-2689.

The National Archives’ Public Search Room is fully accessible to differently-abled persons.

Opening hours

The National Archives’ Public Search Room is open to the public:

Monday to Thursday - 8:15 am and 4:00pm.

Friday - 8:15am to 3:45pm.

It is closed on weekends and on public holidays.

Getting here

The National Archives is located at the corner of New and St. Vincent Streets, in the upper part of the capital of Port of Spain. See here for directions.

Parking

Parking is available to all users of the National Archives in our car park area. The security guard will direct you where you can park and give you a visitor’s pass to enter the premises.

Security procedures

Each user visiting the National Archives is required to clear security. Bags, folders and pens as well as food and drink are not allowed in the Public Search Room. Lockers are provided for the safekeeping of all personal belongings. Pencils, paper for taking notes, laptops, and cell phones on silent mode, are allowed. Talking loudly or on cell phones is not allowed. If calls are to be taken, users must leave the Search Room. Smoking is prohibited in all National Archives facilities. No offensive or disruptive behaviour will be allowed. You may be subject to a search on arrival or departure from the National Archives.

You are encouraged to bring along a sweater when conducting your research as the temperature of the Search Room must be maintained at optimum conditions for the preservation of records.

Registration for research

Upon arrival in the Public Search Room, each user is required to register at the Reference Desk by completing and signing a Research Application Form. You will be required to provide contact information, state your area of research and type of records being requested. If you require guidance on the kind of records to be consulted for your research, the Reference Desk staff will conduct a short interview with you to determine your specific research needs.

To ensure the protection of records against loss, damage and mishandling, users are required to adhere to Search Room Regulations which are outlined on the research application form. Once your form is completed, your request will be forwarded to the Vault Attendant, who will retrieve the record, on a first-come, first-serve basis. No more than three items are allowed for use at a time.

You are required to fill out a form for each visit, one per day.

Please visit our page Using our Collection for more information on accessing, ordering, handling, copying, and certifying records.

Registration for tours

Tours to the National Archives are accommodated by appointment. They provide an opportunity to learn more about the National Archives and the work done here. Visitors will get a behind-the-scenes look at our storage vaults where the nation’s historic records are kept, view some of the oldest records, view our current exhibition, learn how we restore old documents in our Conservation Lab and how we preserve documents in our Digitization Lab. All are invited especially schoolchildren.

You may make an appointment to tour the National Archives by contacting us by email enquiries@natt.gov.tt or by telephone, 625-2689. Please provide details about your group, ages, proposed date and time, and number, as well as contact information. We do not accommodate groups of more than 20 at any one time.

Visitor’s Lounge

There is a very small lounge area for users wishing to take a refreshment break. There is no cafeteria available on the premises but you can visit the coffee shop or other nearby fast food outlets. Restroom facilities and a water cooler are provided.