Participation is open to National Federations of CARIFTA Member Countries. Participants must not have reached their 12th, 16th or 20th birthday on January 1st 2020.​

Federation winners of these categories in the respecctive championships of 2019 are entitled to represent their Federations as Official Participants for the 2020 CAC Youth and the 2020 CARIFTA Championships providing that their ages qualify them to participate in the tournament.

All participants must register through their National Federation or, for countries with no National Federation, players may register through their National Olympic Committee or directly to the organisers.

The winners of these tournaments are awarded trophies for their achievement, and also are awarded the right to participate as Official Players of the next CARIFTA Chess Championships as defending champions.