Visas

Visitors are required to be in possession of a national passport or other acceptable travel document establishing nationality and identity, and bearing a photograph. The passport or other travel document must be valid for the period of intended stay in the island. Visitors are also required to show evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay and be in possession of a return or round trip ticket to another country to which they are admissible.

Nationals of certain countries require, in addition to travel documents, an entry visa. This is normally issued, on application, by a Jamaican Consular office.

The decision in respect of admission and length of stay in the country rests with the Immigration Officer at the port of entry in Jamaica. This applies whether or not a visa is a prerequisite for entry.

General Conditions for Admission

A person desirous of visiting Jamaica:

Should be in possession of a valid visa unless exempted from this requirement under any of the prescribed regulations.
Must be in a position to support himself/herself and accompanying dependents for the duration of stay;
Should not be of unsound mind;
Should not be the subject of a certificate submitted to the Immigration Officer by a health officer indicating that for medical reasons, permission to land is not desirable;
Should not have been sentenced in a foreign country for any extraditable crime within the meaning of the Extradition Acts 1870 and 1906;
Should not be the subject of a deportation order in force under the Aliens Law, Chapter 9;
Should not be the subject of a landing prohibition order from the Minister of National Security;

Entry Requirements for North American Tourists

United States – Citizens and Permanent Residents

Citizens of the United States, require a valid passport for entry into Jamaica, as this travel document is a requirement of the US for re-entry into that country.

Permanent Residents of the United States visiting Jamaica as tourists for periods not exceeding six (6) months, and who possess return or roundtrip tickets showing that their journey began in the USA, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands do not require passports for entry to Jamaica but will require a valid passport to re-enter the USA under the Western Hemispheric Travel Initiative.

Canada – Citizens and Permanent Residents

All citizens require a return ticket to Canada and one of the following:

valid passport or a passport with an expiry date not exceeding one year;
certificate (card) of Canadian citizenship bearing a photograph of the person;
birth certificate, and identification, of over 16 years of age establishing nationality and identity to the satisfaction of the Immigration Officer.
birth Certificate, if under 16 years of age

Permanent Residents require a return ticket to Canada, a valid passport and a Permanent Residents Card.

Cruise Passengers

Cruise Passengers of any nationality who intend to remain in the island during the stay of the vessel by which they arrived and to depart on the same vessel, are not required to hold passports.

Business Travellers

Foreign and Commonwealth nationals entering the country to conduct short-term business, such as consultations, meetings, inspections, repairs, technical advice, are admissible as visitors, in accordance with the entry requirements applicable to visitors from their respective countries.

Each visit should not exceed thirty (30) days and the cumulative number of days within a calendar year should not exceed one hundred and eighty (180) days.

Persons travelling to Jamaica on business must be in possession of the following documents:

valid passport
return or round trip ticket;
a visa, if applicable

Work Permit

Foreign and Commonwealth nationals who wish to engage in employment activities in the island, whatever the nature of the employment, are required to obtain a work permit or work permit exemption before entering the country.

Persons coming to Jamaica for employment purposes must be in possession of the following documents:

valid passport;
return or round trip ticket;
work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security;
a visa, if applicable.

Information on the procedures for obtaining a Work Permit may be obtained from the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security at: www.jis.gov.jm

Students

Students are required to be in possession of the following documents:

valid passport;
visa, when required
return ticket valid for one (1) year;
letter of acceptance from the school or institution which the student will be attending; and
adequate funds to cover expenses for one (1) year in the first instance.

Visas to take up Residency

Applicants who have been granted temporary or permanent residence in Jamaica are required to show evidence of such approval prior to the issuance of a single entry visa.

Visa/Passport Requirements for Foreign Seamen

Seamen embarking from or landing in Jamaica are required to be in possession of valid passports or other acceptable travel documents establishing national status and identity. A Seaman’s Discharge Book is acceptable, except in the case of a stateless seaman, who should have a travel document from the country issuing the discharge book.

Seamen who are members of the crew of a ship visiting Jamaica do not require visas to land while the ship remains at port, but they must depart with the ship.

Seamen travelling to Jamaica to join a ship in Jamaica, or passing through Jamaica to join a ship abroad, require transit visas unless they are nationals of countries which do not require visas to enter Jamaica.

Seamen travelling as passengers and those signed on ship’s articles as supernumeraries at nominal rates of pay will be treated as ordinary passengers if and when granted leave to land. They will require visas unless they are nationals of countries which do not require visas.

Applications from foreign nationals to enter Jamaica to work on dredgers should be referred to the Ministry of National Security. Such persons will be required to obtain work permits issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Country	Particulars	Fee US $
AFGHANISTAN	Referral Necessary	30
ALBANIA	Visa also obtainable at port of entry	20
ALGERIA		10
ANDORRA	Visa also obtainable at port of entry	20
ANGOLA		30
ANTIGUA/BARBUDA	Commonwealth (No Visa)	0
ARGENTINA	No Visa up to 30 days for Tourism	30
ARMENIA	Visa also obtainable at port of entry	20
AUSTRALIA	Commonwealth (No Visa)	0
AUSTRIA	No Visa up to 90 days for Tourism	38
AZERBAIJAN	Visa also obtainable at port of entry	20
BAHAMAS	Commonwealth (No Visa)	0
BAHRAIN		20
BANGLADESH	Commonwealth (No Visa)	0
BARBADOS	Commonwealth (No Visa)	0
BELARUS	Visa also obtainable at port of entry	20
BELGIUM	No Visa up to 90 days for Tourism	38
BELIZE	Commonwealth (No Visa)	0
BENIN		20
BHUTAN		20

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*N.B. In order to obtain a visa, Nigerian Nationals will need to provide the Consulate with a letter of invitation from individuals they are visiting or organization they will be working with in Jamaica.

Passport holders of the following territories will be treated according to the jurisdiction under which they fall:

Territory	Jurisdiction
ARUBA	NETHERLANDS
BERMUDA	UNITED KINGDOM
BONAIRE	NETHERLANDS
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS	UNITED KINGDOM
CURACAO	NETHERLANDS
FRENCH GUIANA	FRANCE
FRENCH POLYNESIA	FRANCE
GIBRALTAR	UNITED KINGDOM
GUADELOUPE	FRANCE
MACAU	CHINA
MARTINIQUE	FRANCE
MONTSERRAT	UNITED KINGDOM
ST MAARTEN	NETHERLANDS
ST. MARTIN	FRANCE
TURKS & CAICOS ISLAND	UNITED KINGDOM
US VIRGIN ISLANDS	UNITED STATES

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The Honorary Consulate of Jamaica

Jamaican Consulate Seattle