<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-09</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001075607</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TC PIPELINES LP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TCLP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001476974</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jacobucci Robert C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 - 1 STREET S.W.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 5H1</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller &amp; Principal Fin Off</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Tara E. Shaw, Attorney for Robert C. Jacobucci</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
