Overview of Visas for Jamaica

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Passport Requirements:

All travelers require a passport, with the exception of:

1. ‘Kinderausweis’ passengers, a German identification document was given to children less than 16 years old.

2. Travelers with documents issued to Canadian citizens proving their nationality if they come for tourism. Canadian nationality evidence includes the following:

a. A Canadian Citizenship Certificate with a photo of the bearer; or

b. An original birth certificate bearing an embossed seal or a certified copy of an embossed seal birth certificate bearing an official ID, such as a driver’s license.

3. Issued to foreign residents of the United States of America by travelers with a Permanent Resident Card or Resident Alien Card (Form no. I-551).

4. Provided to Merchant Seamen by Travelers with a Seaman Book.

5. Travelers released by the United Nations with a ‘Laissez-Passer’ they are traveling on business.

6. Travelers with a Travel Document from the Organization of American States.

7. Travelers with temporary travel documents issued to individuals without citizenship or nationality.

8. Travelers provided to refugees pursuant to the United Nations Conventions with travel documents known as ‘Titre de Voyage.’

Document Validity:

Passports and alternative documents, or all of them, must be valid for the period of the intended visit.

a. Without restriction, expired passports given to people of Jamaica are recognized.

b. It accepts expired passports issued to residents of Canada for no more than one year.

c. Expired passports for no more than one year issued to residents of the United States of America are accepted.

d. Expired passports issued to international residents of Canada for a period of no more than one year are approved if they are accompanied by a Canadian Permanent Resident Card.

e. With travel documents valid upon arrival, residents of Jamaica can enter.

Additional information:

The expired passports given to Jamaican people must be in good shape, and the photo must still be close to that of the holder.

Minors:

1. Children under 18 years of age, irrespective of nationality, must be accompanied by an authorized letter of approval if they are traveling with an adult other than a parent or legal guardian. This does not, however, refer to:

– Children traveling alone, traveling with one or both parents or legal guardians, or children are traveling in a school community who are citizens of Jamaica.

2. If children under the age of 18 are traveling with a school group, the school group leader must have a letter of invitation from the organization to meet the group in Jamaica, indicating the length of the meet. This, however, does not apply to Jamaican citizens.

Visa Issuance:

1. Until arrival: Travelers are kindly requested to contact Jamaica’s nearest department.

2. On arrival: A visa for a tourist visit may be obtained if required against a fee of USD 20. However, this service available only to citizens of Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Andorra, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Azerbaijan, Monaco, Republic of Montenegro, Poland, Bosnia Herzegovina, Romania, Russia, Republic of Serbia, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Hungary, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, and to travelers carrying Chinese Taipei passports.

3. On arrival: A visa for a tourist visit may be obtained if required against a fee of USD 20. However, this service available only to refugees and individuals without nationality or citizenship living from one of the following nations: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Andorra, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Azerbaijan, Monaco, Republic of Montenegro, Poland, Bosnia Herzegovina, Romania, Russia, Republic of Serbia, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Hungary, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Chinese Taipei, and Uzbekistan.

Visa Exemptions:

A visa must be carried by all travelers except for the following:

1. Jamaica’s Citizens.

2. Travelers with British passports regardless of endorsement in passport concerning citizenship except for travelers with passports endorsed ‘British Overseas Territories Citizen’ issued to residents of the Cayman Islands.

3. Citizens of Antigua & Barbuda, Solomon Islands, Zambia, Bahamas, St. Kitts-Nevis, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Botswana, Canada, Dominica, Gambia, Tanzania, Guyana, Kiribati, Malawi, Australia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Malta, Belize, Mauritius, Brunei, Namibia, Cyprus, Nauru, Fiji, New Zealand, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Grenada, Seychelles, Tuvalu, Kenya, Vanuatu, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Singapore, South Africa, St. Lucia, Swaziland, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

4. Travelers who only come for tourism if they are:

4.1. Staying with citizens of the United States of America for no more than six months.

4.2. Staying for no more than six months and holding proof of residence for foreign residents of Canada or the United States of America.

4.3. For citizens of Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Luxembourg, Finland, Mexico, Greece, the Netherlands, Iceland, Norway, Israel, San Marino, Switzerland, and Turkey, stay no more than 90 days.

5. Travelers coming for business only and staying for no more than 30 days on condition that they are:

5.1. Citizens of Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Luxembourg, Finland, Mexico, Greece, the Netherlands, Iceland, Norway, Israel, San Marino, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States of America;

5.2. Foreign residents who have proof of residence in Canada or the United States of America.

6. Travelers who come for business or tourism and stay for no more than 30 days, as long as they are:

6.1. People of Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Suriname, Spain, Greece, Japan, Portugal, and Uruguay.

6.2. People of Chile with standard passports.

6.3. Travelers with passports issued by Hong Kong (Chinese Special Administrative Region);

6.4. Citizens of Brazil with normal passports or with consular service or special passports.

7. Citizens of Venezuela staying for no more than 14 days so long as they are traveling for tourism only.

8. Citizens of India staying for no more than 14 days.

9. Citizens of Brazil with official or diplomatic passports coming for tourism or business for no more than 90 days; or traveling on duty. Visa Exemption applies to the whole period of duty.

10. Travelers with official or diplomatic passports provided they are citizens of the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, and El Salvador.

11. Travelers staying for no more than 90 days provided they are:

11.1. Travelers with diplomatic, official, or service passports for citizens of Peru and Russia.

12. Travelers with a ‘Laissez Passer’ issued by the United Nations for travelers on business.

13. Travelers with a valid re-entry permit issued by Jamaica.

14. Travelers with an Official Travel Document issued by the Organization of American States so long as they are traveling on business.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):

TWOV is allowed to allow travelers to continue their trip to a third country within three days if they have verified tickets. There are no lodging benefits available at the airport.

a. Citizens of Afghanistan, the People’s Republic of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mongolia, and Vietnam are only permitted to TWOV without leaving the airport if they begin their journey on the same flight.

b. Citizens of Colombia are permitted to transit for no more than 8 hours provided they have already checked-in and have a boarding pass for an onward connecting flight provided they do not leave the transit area. A transit visa is required in all other cases. Immigration authorities may only permit TWOV under special conditions, provided that the carrier provides such authorities with prior notice.

Additional information:

1. For citizens of the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, and El Salvador with official or diplomatic passports, the duration of the visit is decided by the immigration authorities upon entry.

2. For citizens of Brazil with official or diplomatic passports traveling on duty, the visa exemption applies to the whole period of duty.

3. All travelers must have enough money to cover expenses during their stay.

4. All travelers must have an onward or return ticket to their country of permanent residence and other documents required for their next trip.

CUSTOMS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Import regulations:

1. Travelers aged 18 years or older are permitted to import:

– 1/2 pound tobacco products, 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars, respectively;

– Alcoholic beverages 1 Liter and Wine 1 Liter.

– Personal products with a value of up to USD 500.

2. About 170 milliliters of perfume.

3. Prohibited products include all goatskin objects that still hold fur, such as drums, handbags, and rugs, even if shaved, cured, and washed properly.

Export regulations:

Travelers are allowed to free export of tobacco products and alcoholic drinks.

Pets:

All pets must be accompanied by an import permit issued by Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Ministry of Agriculture, Veterinary Division.

Tel: +1-876-977-2489/2492.

E-mail: vsd@moa.gov.jm

All pets must be checked by a veterinarian upon arrival.

a. Cats and dogs, including guide dogs, can travel as checked luggage or as cargo provided they are:

– Born in Great Britain and bred there; and

– on the road, not in transit; and

– accompanied by a health certificate.

Prohibited pets include cats and dogs other than the above.

b. Birds cannot be imported from any country.

Air Jamaica will no longer transport domestic pets on traveler planes. They will be shipped on the freighter plane. Only guide dogs may be transported in the cabin when in the company of a traveler depending on them.

Baggage Clearance regulations:

A traveler’s luggage should be cleared at the airport of final destination in Jamaica provided the luggage is labeled as required, and the airport of final destination is an international airport.

Exemption:

a. Luggage of transit travelers whose destination is outside Jamaica provided the luggage is labeled to that destination, and the next flight will take off within 24 hours.

Airport tax:

When leaving the airport, all travelers are not allowed to pay any airport fees.

Currency Import regulations:

Residents are permitted to import local currency (Jamaican Dollar-JMD) without limitations (including individuals with a ‘Work Permit’ residing on the Island). Foreign currencies may be imported up to the equivalent of the amount declared upon departure.

Non-residents may import foreign currencies up to the amounts imported and declared, but local currency imports are prohibited.

Currency Export regulations:

Residents are permitted to export local currency (Jamaican Dollar-JMD) without limitations (including individuals with a ‘Work Permit’ residing on the Island). Up to the equivalent of USD 10,000, exports of foreign currencies are permitted. Up to the sum declared, traveler’s cheques and drafts are permitted.

Non-residents may export foreign currencies up to the amounts imported and declared, but local currency exports are prohibited.

Wild Fauna and Flora:

Jamaica is one of the members of the CITES Treaty (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).