Taking a trip to a beautiful island in paradise is no different than traveling to most other countries, in that there is special required documentation for visiting Jamaica.

Everyone traveling to Jamaica must present a valid and approved travel document as evidence of their identity and nationality.

The most common and preferred travel document is a passport, but other types of travel documents may also be accepted.

Keep in mind that the exact documentation required will depend in part on the country of citizenship but in addition, emphasis is placed on the reason for going to Jamaica and the intended length of the stay.

For this reason, anyone interested in going to this island will need to talk to a travel agent to determine specific documentation needed, including the fact that staying on as a volunteer, working in Jamaica, or enjoying an extended stay may need further permissions.

Travel documents required for all other travelers are

a valid passport or another acceptable travel document

a valid visa or authority to enter Jamaica (including work permit, student permit, temporary permit)

a return ticket to the country of origin or a ticket for onward travel to another country

a completed and signed Immigration Landing Card

Anyone who arrives without a valid travel document, visa, or authority to enter Jamaica, may be refused entry to Jamaica or delayed until their identity and claims to enter Jamaica have been confirmed.

Cruise ship passengers

Cruise passengers of any nationality who intend to remain on the island only during the stay of the vessel, meaning the same cruise ship by which they arrived and departed on the same vessel are not required to hold passports.

Other acceptable travel documents

A small number of travelers may have other types of travel documents which are also acceptable for travel to Jamaica.

The travel documents must be issued by a recognized authority, must have a photograph of the bearer, and provide the holder with a re-entry authority to the country of issue, or an entry authority to another country.

Holders of these documents generally require a visa.

 

 
Visas


There are three specific types of visas including tourist, business, and student.

Below are the requirements for each as it relates to travel to Jamaica.

Tourist visa

If a Canadian or United States citizen plans to go to Jamaica for less than six months, a visa is not required.

Now, every country has a somewhat different rule so this is something that needs to be researched.

For instance, certain countries have what are known as reciprocal agreements, which means a citizen of that country can go to Jamaica but only for a set length of time.

Some countries allow a citizen to get a visa after arriving at the Jamaican border while others require a visa to be arranged before travel.

Citizens with a passport issued by the following countries will be issued a visa on arrival

Albania / Armenia / Azerbaijan / Belarus / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Czech & Slovak / Estonia / Georgia / Hungary / Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan / Latvia / Lithuania / Macedonia / Moldova / Poland / Romania / Serbia & Montenegro / Slovenia / Taiwan / Tajikistan / Turkmenistan / Ukraine / Uzbekistan / Yugoslavia


Some countries are allowed to travel to Jamaica without Visas for vacation purposes. These are only valid for a period of thirty (30) to ninety (90) days

Thirty (30) days

Brazil / China / Costa Rica / Colombia / Czech Republic / Denmark / Ecuador / France / Greece / Hong Kong / Hungary / Japan / Martinique / Monaco / Panama / Poland / Portugal / Russian Federation / Slovak Republic / Spain / South Korea / Ukraine / Uruguay / Venezuela

Ninety (90) days

Austria / Belgium / Chile / Denmark / Finland / Germany / Iceland / Ireland / Israel / Italy / South Korea / Liechtenstein / Luxembourg / Mexico / Kingdom of the Netherlands / Norway / San Marino / Sweden / Switzerland / Turkey / United States of America

The following nationals require a visa before arrival

Afghanistan / Algeria / Angola / Bahrain / Benin / Bhutan / Bolivia / Burkina Faso / Burundi / Cambodia / Cameroon / Central African Republic / Chad / China / Colombia - waiver in effect / Comoros / Congo / Cote D’ivoire / Cuba / Dem. peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) / Djibouti / Dominican Republic / Egypt / El Salvador / Equatorial Guinea / Eritrea / Ethiopia / Gabon / Guatemala / Guinea / Haiti / Honduras / Indonesia / Islamic Republic of Iran / Iraq / Jordan / Kuwait / Lao Peoples Dem. Rep / Lebanon / Liberia / Libyan Aram Jamahiriya / Madagascar / Mali / Marshall Islands / Mauritania / Micronesia / Mongolia / Morocco / Myanmar / El Salvador / Nepal / Nicaragua / Niger / Nigeria / Oman / Pakistan / El Salvador / Palau / Paraguay / Peru / Philippines / Qatar / Samoa / Sao Tome & Principle / Saudi Arabia / Senegal / Somalia / Sri Lanka / Sudan / Syrian Aran Republic / Thailand / Togo / Tunisia / United Arab Emirates / Vietnam / Yemen 

Visit the PICA (Passport Immigration Citizens Agency) website on how to apply for a visitor’s visa and to find out how to apply for an ‘extension of stay’ while you are in Jamaica

You can also apply for an extension of stay while you are in Jamaica

Visit the PICA website for more details.

Business personnel and students

All foreign nationals wishing to travel to Jamaica to work, to attend school, on business or to seek medical attention must first apply for an entry visa through the Embassy of Jamaica or Consulates.

Business visa

Anyone going to Jamaica with the intention of working must secure a work permit from both the Jamaican consulate and the Ministry of Labour.

Along with this, a letter from the employer in Jamaica confirming employment must accompany the application for a business visa.

There are some exceptions including journalists, writers, and artists who can typically get a work permit waiver every 12 months but only for 30 days.

If working in Jamaica is your dream, click here for more details.


Student visa

If the purpose of going to Jamaica is to attend school, a valid passport is required but in addition to this, a return airline ticket and proof of having sufficient funds.

In some cases, the name of the individual who the student will be staying with while on the island is also needed.

If accepted into a school, a one-year visa can be obtained but if education is still being processed, only a two-month visa is provided.

However, after providing proof in the form of an acceptance letter from the school, the document will change to a 12-month visa. 

If you would like to study in Jamaica, click here for more details.

For more detailed information on travel requirements and visas, visit the PICA (Passport, Immigration & Citizenship) website

OR contact PICA’S HEAD OFFICE directly
Telephone: 754 PICA or 754 7422
Fax: 906-4372
Email: info@pica.gov.jm
Location: 25C Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10 (click here for more locations)

Opening hours vary depending on the department.

For the main office, hours are Monday to Thursday 8.30 am - 3.30 pm, and Fridays 8.30 am to 2.30 pm.

Visit PICA (Passport, Immigration & Citizenship) website for additional hours.


Offices at Norman Manley International Airport
Kingston
Tel: (876) 952-5645 or 754 7422

Offices at Sangster International Airport
Montego Bay
Tel: (876) 952 5645 or 754 7422