March08thWed Required Documentation for Visiting Jamaica

Taking a trip to a beautiful island in paradise is no different than travel to most other countries, in that there is special required documentation for visiting Jamaica. Although requirements are not as strict as they are for other destinations, people still need to have the right documentation in order to travel to this Caribbean island.

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.

Passport
The first and most important document needed to travel to Jamaica is a passport. The passport must be current with the exception that expired passports for Canadian and United States citizens are acceptable but only if the expiration date is no more than 12 months. However, there is a catch to this in that to re-enter the United States, a person must have a non-expired passport. For that reason, a US citizen with an expired passport needs to take the time to get a current one unless moving to the island.

An exception to this rule is that if someone is going to Jamaica by ship, then in lieu of an actual passport, a passport card is accepted. Along with this, identification cards are accepted to enter Jamaica, which includes school identification cards for people 18 years of age and younger. However, the card must possess a photo of the child and date of birth.

Visas
There are three specific types of visas to include tourist, business, and student also needed. Below are the requirements for each as it relates to travel to Jamaica.

Tourist Visa - If someone plans to go to Jamaica as a Canadian or United States citizen and for a period of 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. There are also some countries that allow a citizen to get a visa after arriving at the Jamaican border while others require a visa to be purchased prior to travel.

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 Labor. Along with this, a letter from the employer in Jamaica confirming employment must accompany the application for a business visa. There are some exceptions to include journalists, writers, and artists who can typically get a work permit waiver every 12 months but only for 30 days.

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.