Jamaica visa and entry requirements

PICA's visa table gives the rule nationality by nationality. Among the passports it lists as needing no visa are the United States (for 6 months), Canada, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries such as Australia and India; some are allowed 90 days, such as Germany, Brazil and South Korea, and others 30, such as France, Spain and Japan. Holders of Haitian ordinary passports need a visa, and for some nationalities, such as Armenia and Georgia, the visa may be obtained at the port of entry. PICA lists a completed and signed Immigration/Customs C5 form, either online or a physical form, among the documents required on arrival.

Every fact on this page verified on or after: Sep 26, 2026· How this site works

Check requirements for your passport

Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.

Compare every country: Where a visa you already hold gets you in somewhere else

Visas & entry authorisations

Port of Entry Visa

Fee
100 USD
Processing
—

PICA fee schedule. A person at the port of entry who should have obtained an entry visa prior to arrival pays US$350.00 instead.

Extension of stay

Fee
10,000 JMD
Processing
up to 3 business days

PICA's processing fee for an extension of stay, from its Immigration Processing Fee schedule. The schedule lists JM$50,000.00 for persons who wish to extend their stay beyond the visa exemption period. PICA says Commonwealth citizens are allowed a maximum of 12 months' stay as visitors and non-Commonwealth citizens a maximum of 6 months.

Entry requirements

Passport validity

Jamaica's Embassy in Washington says the travel document should have at least six months' validity. The UK Foreign Office says your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay and have 2 blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

At least 2 blank pages required. Compare every country

Verified Oct 6, 2026 · Source: embwashington.mfaft.gov.jm (opens in a new tab) · gov.uk (opens in a new tab) says Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay and have 2 blank pages.. We follow the source above: it ranks higher (law, then the authority running the procedure, then the destination's ministry, then international compilations, then other governments' advice).Compare every country: How long your passport must be valid, country by country

Vaccinations

Conditional
  • Yellow fever (International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (yellow card)) — The UK Foreign Office says you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

Travel insurance

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states whether travel insurance is required to enter Jamaica. The UK Foreign Office advises checking before you travel that you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.

Verified Oct 4, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Onward or return ticket

Required

Jamaica's Embassy in Washington says visitors must be in possession of a return or round-trip ticket to another country to which they are admissible.

Proof of funds

Required

Jamaica's Embassy in Washington says visitors are required to show evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay. No official source we could read states an amount.

Arrival cards & declarations

Required
  • Immigration/Customs (C5) form — PICA says all arriving travellers must present a completed and signed Immigration/Customs C5 form, either online or a physical form. The UK Foreign Office says to complete it online where possible before you arrive. (online before arrival where possible; a paper form is also accepted) enterjamaica.gov.jm (opens in a new tab)

Staying past your permitted stay

An alien found in Jamaica after the period limited by the conditions of leave to land is deemed, for the purposes of the Aliens Act, to be an alien refused leave to land. The Government of Canada says overstaying a visa or entry stamp is a criminal offence and can lead to prison time, heavy fines and deportation. The UK government says that if you overstay without authority, you could be fined or arrested.

Other compulsory government charges

  • Tourism enhancement fee — travel by air — 20 USD per person per trip.

    Each traveller pays a tourism enhancement fee of US$20 or the Jamaican-dollar equivalent for travel by air, and US$2 or the Jamaican-dollar equivalent for travel by sea. The fee is collected from the traveller. Air travellers to a place outside Jamaica in transit for 24 hours or less are exempt.

    Exemptions: Travellers going by air to a place outside Jamaica who are in transit in Jamaica for 24 hours or less

  • Tourism enhancement fee — travel by sea — 2 USD per person per trip.

    Each traveller pays a tourism enhancement fee of US$2 or the Jamaican-dollar equivalent for travel by sea.

    Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: laws.moj.gov.jm (opens in a new tab) · Tourism Enhancement Act

Customs & currency

The UK Foreign Office says cash or travellers cheques worth 10,000 US dollars or more must be declared on your C5 form, and that you will also have to complete the Financial Investigation Division Cross Border Form. The C5 form at enterjamaica.gov.jm asks whether you are carrying currency or monetary instruments over US$10,000 or equivalent.

  • The Government of Canada says entering Jamaica with a firearm or even a single round of ammunition is considered a serious crime.
  • The UK FCDO says smoking marijuana (ganja) is illegal in Jamaica: possession of up to 2 ounces brings a fine of 500 Jamaican dollars, and severe penalties apply to all other drug offences, including attempting to export narcotics. The Government of Canada says departing visitors are thoroughly screened for drug possession.
  • The UK FCDO says it is illegal to bring meat and dairy products into Jamaica, and the C5 form at enterjamaica.gov.jm asks travellers to declare fruits, plants, vegetables, meat, animal products and other foods.
  • The Government of Canada says it is illegal to wear, buy or sell army or police camouflage clothing.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Yellow fever certificate

The UK Foreign Office says you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

The 42 countries WHO lists as a yellow fever risk

Requirements normally count any country you have been in shortly before arrival, not only where you boarded.

  • Angola
  • Argentina — Misiones and Corrientes Provinces
  • Benin
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Colombia
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Ecuador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Ethiopia
  • French Guiana
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Togo
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Uganda
  • Venezuela
Compiled Aug 26, 2026 · Source: cdn.who.int (opens in a new tab) · International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36

International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36 and Annex 7; WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1, 18 November 2022 (revised 3 January 2023)

Country in a nutshell

Currency
Jamaican dollar (JMD, J$)
Cards & payments
The Government of Canada says hotels and businesses catering to tourists accept major credit cards, but that there is limited ATM availability outside Kingston and Montego Bay, so make sure you have enough cash if travelling outside these areas.
Safety — Exercise caution
The UK Foreign Office says crime and homicide rates in Jamaica are high, but gang violence and shootings mostly occur in inner-city areas and tourist areas are not usually affected; it lists Kingston, Spanish Town, Savanna-la-Mar and parts of Montego Bay. It says the motive for most attacks on tourists is robbery, that most hotels and resorts are well guarded, and that British nationals have been tracked and robbed when travelling from the airport to their private accommodation.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Power plugs
A, B · 110V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
Police: 119 · Ambulance: 110 · Fire: 110
Languages
English, Jamaican Patois
Time zone
UTC-5
Driving side
left
International Driving Permit

The UN treaty records list Jamaica as a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (succession, 9 August 1963). Jamaica's Road Traffic Act, 2018 (s. 41) says a driving permit issued by another party to the 1949 Geneva Convention while the holder was not resident in Jamaica, and a driver's licence granted in any prescribed country, each count as a Jamaican permit or licence for the class of vehicle they cover. No official source we could read lists the prescribed countries.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: treaties.un.org (opens in a new tab) · Convention on Road Traffic Compare every country
Tap water
not for drinking. Use bottled

Best time to visit

No official source we could read recommends a time to visit. The UK FCDO says the hurricane season is normally from June to November, and the Government of Canada gives it as early June to the end of November.

Tips & warnings

PICA accepts the Immigration/Customs C5 form online or as a physical form; the online form is at enterjamaica.gov.jm, a PICA site. The UK Foreign Office says to complete it online where possible before you arrive.

The Government of Canada says entering Jamaica with a firearm or even a single round of ammunition is a serious crime.

The UK FCDO says it is illegal to smoke marijuana (ganja) in Jamaica, that possession of up to 2 ounces brings a fine, and that severe penalties apply to all other drug offences, including attempting to export narcotics. The Government of Canada says departing visitors are thoroughly screened for drug possession.

The Government of Canada says traffic drives on the left, advises against unmarked taxis and recommends taxis authorised by the Jamaica Union of Travellers Association (JUTA), identified by red and white “PP” licence plates; taxis aren't metered, so agree on the fare before departure. The UK FCDO recommends Jamaican Tourist Board (JTB) approved taxis, whose drivers display a blue JTB sticker.

The UK FCDO says arrival and departure taxes are usually included in the cost of your ticket, and that your carrier can advise you if you are unsure.

Visa requirements by nationality

Visa requirements by nationality. Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
PassportsVisas & entry authorisationsMax stay
AfghanistanEmbassy visa—
AlbaniaEmbassy visa—
AlgeriaEmbassy visa—
AndorraVisa on arrival—
AngolaEmbassy visa—
Antigua and BarbudaVisa-free—
ArgentinaVisa-free30 days
ArmeniaVisa on arrival—
AustraliaVisa-free—
AustriaVisa-free30 days
AzerbaijanVisa on arrival—
BahamasVisa-free—
BahrainEmbassy visa—
BangladeshVisa-free—
BarbadosVisa-free—
BelarusEmbassy visa—
BelgiumVisa-free90 days
BelizeVisa-free—
BeninEmbassy visa—
BhutanEmbassy visa—
BoliviaVisa-free30 days
Bosnia and HerzegovinaEmbassy visa—
BotswanaVisa-free—
BrazilVisa-free90 days
BruneiVisa-free—
BulgariaEmbassy visa—
Burkina FasoEmbassy visa—
BurundiEmbassy visa—
Cabo VerdeEmbassy visa—
CambodiaEmbassy visa—
CameroonEmbassy visa—
CanadaVisa-free—
Central African RepublicEmbassy visa—
ChadEmbassy visa—
ChileVisa-free90 days
ChinaVisa-free30 days
ColombiaVisa-free30 days
ComorosEmbassy visa—
Costa RicaVisa-free30 days
Côte d'IvoireEmbassy visa—
CroatiaEmbassy visa—
CubaEmbassy visa—
CyprusVisa-free—
CzechiaVisa-free30 days
Democratic Republic of the CongoEmbassy visa—
DenmarkVisa-free90 days
DjiboutiEmbassy visa—
DominicaVisa-free—
Dominican RepublicVisa-free180 days
EcuadorVisa-free30 days
EgyptEmbassy visa—
El SalvadorVisa-free30 days
Equatorial GuineaEmbassy visa—
EritreaEmbassy visa—
EstoniaVisa-free30 days
EswatiniVisa-free—
EthiopiaEmbassy visa—
FijiVisa-free—
FinlandVisa-free90 days
FranceVisa-free30 days
GabonEmbassy visa—
GambiaVisa-free—
GeorgiaVisa on arrival—
GermanyVisa-free90 days
GhanaVisa-free—
GreeceVisa-free30 days
GrenadaVisa-free—
GuatemalaVisa-free30 days
GuineaEmbassy visa—
Guinea-BissauEmbassy visa—
GuyanaVisa-free—
HaitiEmbassy visa—
HondurasEmbassy visa—
Hong KongVisa-free30 days
HungaryVisa-free30 days
IcelandVisa-free90 days
IndiaVisa-free—
IndonesiaEmbassy visa—
IranEmbassy visa—
IraqEmbassy visa—
IrelandVisa-free90 days
IsraelVisa-free90 days
ItalyVisa-free90 days
JamaicaFree movement—
JapanVisa-free30 days
JordanEmbassy visa—
KazakhstanEmbassy visa—
KenyaVisa-free—
KiribatiVisa-free—
KosovoEmbassy visa—
KuwaitEmbassy visa—
KyrgyzstanVisa on arrival—
LaosEmbassy visa—
LatviaVisa-free30 days
LebanonEmbassy visa—
LesothoVisa-free—
LiberiaEmbassy visa—
LibyaEmbassy visa—
LiechtensteinVisa-free90 days
LithuaniaVisa-free30 days
LuxembourgVisa-free90 days
MacauVisa-free30 days
MadagascarEmbassy visa—
MalawiVisa-free—
MalaysiaVisa-free—
MaldivesEmbassy visa—
MaliEmbassy visa—
MaltaVisa-free—
Marshall IslandsEmbassy visa—
MauritaniaEmbassy visa—
MauritiusVisa-free—
MexicoVisa-free90 days
MicronesiaEmbassy visa—
MoldovaEmbassy visa—
MonacoVisa-free30 days
MongoliaEmbassy visa—
MontenegroEmbassy visa—
MoroccoEmbassy visa—
MozambiqueVisa-free—
MyanmarEmbassy visa—
NamibiaVisa-free—
NauruVisa-free—
NepalEmbassy visa—
NetherlandsVisa-free90 days
New ZealandVisa-free—
NicaraguaEmbassy visa—
NigerEmbassy visa—
NigeriaEmbassy visa—
North KoreaEmbassy visa—
North MacedoniaEmbassy visa—
NorwayVisa-free90 days
OmanEmbassy visa—
PakistanEmbassy visa—
PalauEmbassy visa—
PanamaVisa-free30 days
Papua New GuineaVisa-free—
ParaguayVisa-free30 days
PeruVisa-free30 days
PhilippinesEmbassy visa—
PolandVisa-free30 days
PortugalVisa-free30 days
QatarEmbassy visa—
RomaniaEmbassy visa—
RussiaVisa-free90 days
RwandaEmbassy visa—
Saint Kitts and NevisVisa-free—
Saint LuciaVisa-free—
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesVisa-free—
SamoaVisa-free—
San MarinoVisa-free90 days
São Tomé and PríncipeEmbassy visa—
Saudi ArabiaEmbassy visa—
SenegalEmbassy visa—
SerbiaEmbassy visa—
SeychellesVisa-free—
Sierra LeoneVisa-free—
SingaporeVisa-free—
SlovakiaVisa-free30 days
SloveniaVisa-free30 days
Solomon IslandsVisa-free—
SomaliaEmbassy visa—
South AfricaVisa-free—
South KoreaVisa-free90 days
South SudanEmbassy visa—
SpainVisa-free30 days
Sri LankaEmbassy visa—
SudanEmbassy visa—
SurinameVisa-free90 days
SwedenVisa-free90 days
SwitzerlandVisa-free90 days
SyriaEmbassy visa—
TaiwanVisa on arrival—
TajikistanVisa on arrival—
TanzaniaVisa-free—
ThailandEmbassy visa—
TogoEmbassy visa—
TongaVisa-free—
Trinidad and TobagoVisa-free—
TunisiaEmbassy visa—
TurkeyVisa-free90 days
TurkmenistanVisa on arrival—
TuvaluVisa-free—
UgandaVisa-free—
UkraineVisa-free30 days
United Arab EmiratesEmbassy visa—
United KingdomVisa-free—
United StatesVisa-free180 days
UruguayVisa-free30 days
UzbekistanVisa on arrival—
VanuatuVisa-free—
VenezuelaVisa-free30 days
VietnamEmbassy visa—
YemenEmbassy visa—
ZambiaVisa-free—
ZimbabweEmbassy visa—

Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.

No official page we read states the rule for 4 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: Palestine, Republic of the Congo, Timor-Leste, and Vatican City.

Dominican Republic112 of 199 passports visa-freeBahamas124 of 199 passports visa-freeBarbados179 of 199 passports visa-freeCuba6 of 199 passports visa-free · 144 eVisa/ETATrinidad and Tobago78 of 199 passports visa-free · 10 eVisa/ETA

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Jamaica?

It depends on your passport; PICA's visa table gives the rule nationality by nationality. It lists no visa required for the United States for 6 months; for 90 days for, among others, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Brazil, Mexico and South Korea; for 30 days for France, Spain, Portugal and Japan; and with no period for Canada, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries such as Australia and India. For Armenia, Georgia and some other nationalities a visa is required but may be obtained at the port of entry, where PICA's fee schedule lists the Port of Entry Visa at US$100. Others need a visa, which Jamaica's Embassy in Washington says is normally issued, on application, by a Jamaican Consular office.

What is the Jamaica C5 form and is it mandatory?

The C5 is Jamaica's Immigration/Customs form. PICA lists a completed and signed C5 form, either online or a physical form, among the documents required of foreign nationals and of Jamaican citizens on arrival. The UK government says you must make a customs declaration before entering Jamaica and should complete the C5 online where possible before you arrive.

Do I still need a Jamaica Travel Authorization?

No official source we could read mentions a Jamaica Travel Authorization. PICA lists the documents required for the immigration interview on arrival as a valid passport or other acceptable travel document, a valid Jamaican entry visa if applicable, and a completed and signed Immigration/Customs C5 form, either online or a physical form.

How long can I stay in Jamaica without a visa?

It depends on your passport: PICA's visa-requirements table allows 30 days for some nationalities, 90 for others and 6 months for the United States. Jamaica's Embassy in Washington says the decision on admission and length of stay rests with the Immigration Officer at the port of entry, and the UK says the date you must leave is stamped on your passport. PICA says an extension should be applied for before the landing time expires, and that Commonwealth citizens are allowed a maximum of 12 months' stay as visitors and non-Commonwealth citizens a maximum of 6 months.

How much passport validity do I need for Jamaica?

Jamaica's Embassy in Washington says the travel document should have at least six months' validity. The UK Foreign Office says your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay and have 2 blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

Is Jamaica safe for tourists?

The UK FCDO says crime and homicide rates are high, with gang violence and shootings mostly in inner-city areas, and that tourist areas are not usually affected by gang-related crime. It lists Kingston, Spanish Town, Savanna-la-Mar and parts of Montego Bay, advises not walking in isolated areas or on deserted beaches, even during the day, and advises using reputable, licensed providers, including for taxis.

Sources & verification

Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source