The CRA application itself has no government fee. Applicants should prepare their own identity documents carefully, keep their login credentials private, and use the CRA Identity PIN only in the manner required by the Registry. BizReg charges for professional support, not for the Government account itself.
What a CRA is and why CROS uses it
The Companies Registry Account, or CRA, is the verified account used to transact in the Companies Registry Online System (CROS). The Registry verifies the applicant's identity and then issues login credentials and a unique CRA Identity PIN.
The Registry explains that the PIN helps identify who is transacting in CROS and represents the electronic signature of an individual authorised to sign documents electronically. That makes it sensitive. Treat it as an identity credential, not as a casual reference number.
The Government does not charge for the CRA application
The Registrar General's public CROS advisory states that there is no fee to register for CROS and that the CRA application has no cost attached. It also warns the public to exercise care when giving private entities access to personal information.
BizReg's TTD $350 CRA Registration Support is a professional assistance fee per applicant. It pays for preparation support, document checking, headshot guidance and assistance with the process. It is not a Government CRA fee.
Documents and information the Registry expects
The Registry's current CRA guidance requires personal details, contact information and address information. Applicants upload identity evidence that includes a birth certificate, two forms of photo identification such as a passport, national ID card or driver's permit, and a headshot showing one submitted ID beside the face.
If the applicant's current name differs from the birth certificate or other core records, the Registry can require supporting evidence such as a marriage certificate, deed poll or other name-change documentation. Where a birth certificate requires translation, the Registry's guidance says the certificate and translation should be uploaded as one attachment.
How to get the CRA headshot right
The purpose of the headshot is identity verification. It should clearly show the applicant's face and one of the submitted IDs beside the face. Avoid glare over the photograph or text, heavy filters, cropped facial features, extreme shadows and an ID that is too small to identify.
BizReg's CRA Registration Support page includes male and female headshot examples and prices support per person/seat.
Names are a common source of avoidable mismatches
Use the legal name supported by the applicant's identity record. If a person uses a married name, deed-poll name, middle name variation or other changed name, prepare the documentary bridge before submitting.
A mismatch between the birth certificate, IDs and entered details may trigger verification questions. Do not “correct” official documents by editing images. Provide legitimate supporting evidence for the name history.
Security: what you should not hand to a service provider
The Registrar General specifically advises the public not to share CROS login credentials such as username and password. BizReg's process should therefore collect the information and documents needed to support the application without asking the client to surrender their password or one-time authentication code.
The client should retain control of account credentials. Where an approval is required in CROS, the applicant should complete the approval in their own account and provide only the information the Registry process legitimately calls for.
What happens after the CRA is approved
Once the account is authenticated, the CRA can be used for name reservations, business registration, company incorporation, approvals and post-incorporation work according to the user's role.
For company formation, every person engaged in forming the company—including directors and incorporators—needs a CRA. If three people require new CRA accounts, BizReg's support is therefore purchased as three seats.
Troubleshooting before you contact the help desk
- Confirm every uploaded file opens and is readable.
- Check that the legal name entered matches the identity documents or is supported by a name-change document.
- Confirm the headshot uses one of the submitted photo IDs.
- Check email carefully, including spam folders, for a Registry query or verification request.
- Respond to the exact query rather than resubmitting unrelated documents.
- If the problem is technical or account-specific, contact the CROS Help Desk using the official Registry contact details.
The Registry publishes croshelpdesk@gov.tt for CRA assistance. BizReg can help prepare and interpret the administrative requirements, but it cannot override Registry verification.
When CRA support is worth paying for
A confident applicant with clean identity records can complete the no-fee Government application directly. Professional support becomes useful when there are multiple applicants, name differences, document-format problems, time pressure, repeated queries or a company formation that depends on several CRA approvals being coordinated.
If you want that assistance, use CRA Registration Support — TTD $350 per applicant. If the CRA is part of a new company, combine it with Limited Company Registration Support.
Questions people ask
Is there a government fee to create a CRA?
No. The Registrar General's public advisory states that CROS/CRA registration has no government fee.
How many IDs are needed for a CRA?
Current Registry guidance calls for two forms of photo identification, together with the birth certificate and the required headshot.
Should I give BizReg my CROS password?
No. The Registrar General advises users not to share CROS login credentials. BizReg support should not require surrendering the client's password.
Does every director need a CRA to form a company?
The Registry states that every person engaged in forming the company, including directors and incorporators, must have a CRA.
References
Requirements can change. Check these references for current details.