Visa Information

Canadian Citizens/Residents | Foreign Nationals | Commonwealth Citizens | Business/Commercial | Educational | Employment | Referral Cases | Visa Application Form

We welcome visitors to our shores. However, we ask that you take note of the following conditions to be satisfied for admission to Jamaica.

The applicant:

must be in a position to support him/herself and dependents;

if desirous of entering the service of an employer in the island, must 
produce a permit in writing for engagement, issued to the employer by the Ministry of Labour;

should not be a person of unsound mind or mentally defective;

should not be the subject of a certificate given to the Immigration Officer 
by a health officer that for medical reasons, it is undesirable for him/her 
to be permitted to land;

should not have been sentenced in a foreign country for any extradition 
crime within the meaning of the Extraditions Acts 1870 and 1906;

should not be the subject of a deportation order in force under the Aliens Law, Chapter 9 or under the Aliens Admission Deportation Regulation Law (now repealed);

should not have been prohibited from landing by the Minister of National Security and Justice;

must be in possession of a visa unless exempted from this requirement 
under any of the prescribed regulations;

must have applied for and obtained permission from the Government of Jamaica if entry is desired for other than tourist purposes;

must fulfill such other requirements as may be prescribed.                   Top


North American tourist and cruise passengers - Entry requirements

Valid passports are recommended for travel but where not readily available, US citizens and resident Aliens in the US, and Canadian citizens may enter Jamaica as bona fide tourists, providing they fulfill the following requirements :

US Citizens

a valid passport; or

a naturalization certificate; or

a certificate of citizenship; or

a driver's license bearing a photograph of the holder of such a license; 
ALONG WITH an official birth certificate if the holder of such certificate 
is not over 16 years of age, or if over that age, a birth certificate, together with such other documents as will establish nationality and identity to the satisfaction of the Immigration Officer.


NB The birth certificate must have an embossed seal. Photocopies of documents are not acceptable.

Canadian Citizens

a valid passport; or

a certificate of Canadian citizenship bearing a photograph of the person claiming such citizenship; ALONG WITH an official birth certificate, if the holder of such certificate is not over 16 years of age, or if he is over that age, a birth certificate together with such other documents as will establish nationality and 
identity to the satisfaction of the Immigration Officer.

Canadian Residents

a valid passport or a passport which has expired for a period which 
does not exceed one year, together with: 

a Canadian Permanent Resident Card. 

a Canadian Immigration Identification record form. 


Cruise Passengers                                                                              Top

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 visa.

Other Foreign Nationals 

All applicants within this category requiring tourist visas must apply through the High Commission, or Consulate and produce the following: 

National's Passport (valid for (six [6] months minimum)

Completed visa application Form "J" (to be submitted in duplicate)

Two(2) recent passport photograph (frontal view)

Valid re-entry visa to Canada or Canadian Permanent Residence Card; OR proof of having satisfied entry requirements for onward destination (visas, tickets) if not returning to Canada 

Required visa fee (cash or money order only) 

Itinerary 


(N.B.: Taiwanese Nationals are required to complete a form of Affidavit of Identity, to which the approved visa will be affixed and submit an extra passport photograph in addition to the above mentioned. The affidavit form is supplied by the High Commission/Consulate. 
Taiwanese Nationals are not allowed to enter Jamaica on their passports. The visa is issued on the Affidavit of Identity and is required for entry into Jamaica. Taiwanese nationals are however advised to travel with their passports and other documents which may be needed for their onward destinations). 

Commonwealth Citizens 

With the exception of Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and Sri Lanka, holders of passports issued by countries of the British Commonwealth do not require entry visas for Jamaica. The following, however, must be produced:

National Passport (valid for six [6] months minimum) 

Valid re-entry visa for Canada or Canadian Permanent Resident Card ; OR 
proof of having satisfied the entry requirements for onward destination (visas, tickets, et cetera)

Proof of financial support for duration of visit 

Acceptable documentation regarding visits for business/commercial, educational, or employment purposes. e.g., correspondence on company letterhead from business contact in Jamaica; letter of acceptance from educational institute where visitor plans to study; letter confirming job offer. 

Itinerary 

Applicants who are required to have entry visas for Jamaica for business/commercial, educational, or employment purposes must submit the following, in addition to the items listed at Section 1, and any other 
documentation that may be requested at the discretion of the Consular Officer:

Business/Commercial                                                                         Top

A valid Passport

Correspondence from business/commercial contact in Jamaica (on company letterhead) confirming the nature of the visit.

Correspondence from local company (on letterhead) stating the nature of the visit 

Proof of reasonable financial support for duration of visit 

Itinerary 



Educational                                                                                         Top

Correspondence from educational institute confirming acceptance and length of time for studying in addition to clearance or permission from the Ministry of National Security & Justice to pursue studies in Jamaica. Clearance is usually sought on behalf of the prospective student by a representative of the 
educational institute where he/she wishes to study. Such clearance is usually communicated in writing to the Consular office nearest the applicant's place of residence. Clearance is required before a visa can be issued.

Medical certificate (which may be a letter signed by family physician) attesting freedom from all communicable diseases 

Proof of how applicant intends to support himself/herself for duration of studies (Affidavit of financial support) 

Round trip airline ticket valid for at least one year

Employment

Work permit or letter from the Ministry of Labor/Ministry of National Security & Justice attesting that a work permit has been approved in principle 

Diplomatic and Official passport holders require the following: 

National passport (valid for a minimum of six (6) months ) with valid re-entry visa to Canada or for intended destination on departing Jamaica

Note Verbale from Diplomatic or Consular Mission to which applicant is attached, stating in detail, purpose and length of visit (Visas are issued gratis) 


Referral Cases

Applications submitted by holders of passports of certain countries may, in certain instances, be referred to the Ministry of National Security & Justice for approval. 

NB: Please note that referral cases may take up to six (6) weeks to be processed.

NB:  All prospective applicants are asked to note the possession of an airline ticket does not automatically guarantee the issue of a visa.

Applicants not falling in any of the above categories may be required visas and are requested to consult with the Consulate General on visa requirements, fees etc.