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Byevisa » Jamaica Visit Visa

A visa is required. We cannot assist in processing this document, but we provide instructions on how to apply.

All About the Visa for Jamaica

If you are considering visiting Jamaica, you should keep in mind that the Caribbean island does not yet have an electronic visa system, so you can only choose to apply for a traditional entry pass if you are not exempt altogether.

Depending on your country of origin, you could be visa-exempt or require an embassy permit to visit this beautiful nation. In the case of most European Union countries, the United Kingdom and North America, citizens do not need a visa to visit Jamaica for tourism. You can stay for 30, 90, or 180 days depending on your nationality.

For citizens of countries that require a travel document, you will also be able to enjoy stays of 30, 90, or even 180 days. Therefore, the best way to obtain a travel permit to the island is to contact the nearest consular office and start applying for your visa. The process and requirements can vary depending on the type of document you apply for.

Here at Byevisa, we want to help you find out how to apply for your visa because we know how important it is to have all the detailed information and specific document requirements when it comes to travelling.

What is the Difference Between the e-Visa, the Visa on Arrival, and a Traditional Visa for Jamaica?

This Caribbean country does not currently have any type of electronic system, so all the procedures to apply for a travel authorisation must be done in the consulate or embassy.

On the other hand, there is also the option to get a visa on arrival (VoA), which in the case of Jamaica is mandatory for visitors from countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Haiti, the British Virgin Islands, Liberia, or Taiwan among many others.

If you are looking for the requirements for other nationalities, you will have to opt for a traditional visa. This will allow you to enter the country temporarily, fulfilling all the legal requirements, whether you travel for tourism, business, study, or for any other reason.

Therefore, the fastest option is to contact the consular offices, so that they can tell you how you have to apply for your visa.

Jamaica Visa Requirements and Eligibility

Although most countries in Europe, as well as Canada, the United States, and Great Britain do not need a Jamaican visa, there are a large number of countries whose citizens do require an entry permit to visit. They can be obtained for periods ranging from 30 to 90 days.

Check Visa Eligibility

Jamaica Visa-Exempt Countries

First, here are the countries that are exempt from requesting a travel document:

180 days (6 months) allowed:

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda Islands
Botswana
Brunei
Canada
Cyprus
Dominica
Eswatini
Fiji
The Gambia
Ghana
Gibraltar

Grenada
Guyana
India
Kenya Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Samoa
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Helena
Saint Lucia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Tanzania
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom
United States of America
Vanuatu
Zambia

90 days (3 months) allowed:

Belgium
Brazil
Chile
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Ireland
Iceland

Israel
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Mexico
Norway
Netherlands
Russia

San Marino
South Korea
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey

30 days (1 month) allowed:

Argentina
Austria
Bolivia*
China*
Colombia
Costa Rica
The Czech Republic*
Ecuador
El Salvador*
Estonia*

France
Greece
Guatemala*
Hong Kong
Hungary*
Japan
Latvia* **
Lithuania* **
Monaco
Panama*

Paraguay*
Peru*
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia*
Slovenia* **
Spain
Ukraine*
Uruguay
Venezuela

*Exemption allowed only for tourist trips.

**Only for measles, polio, and rubella vaccination certificate holders.

The following countries do not require you to apply for a separate travel document as long as you have a valid visa from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, or the Schengen Area (European Union), and have vaccination certificates against rubella, polio, and measles.

  • Albania
  • Belarus
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Slovenia
  • Estonia
  • Kazakhstan
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Macedonia
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • Romania
  • Serbia

Nationalities that require a Jamaica visa

The countries from which it is always necessary to apply for an entry visa to Jamaica are:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Benin
Bhutan
British Virgin islands
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo
Ivory Coast
Cuba
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon

Georgia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Macau
Madagascar
Mali
Mauritania
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Mongolia
Morocco
Myanmar
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea

Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Philippines
Qatar
Republic of South Sudan
Republic of North Sudan
Rwanda
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Syria
Taiwan (it is mandatory to submit an identity affidavit)
Tajikistan
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Application Process for the Jamaican Visa

First of all, you must remember that the procedures must be carried out at the Jamaican consulate, since the Caribbean island does not currently allow electronic applications.

Depending on your country of residence, you may be able to contact an embassy or consular office and make an appointment to find out more.

You will probably need to get in touch by telephone or email beforehand, as showing up at the consulate without having an appointment is not very common and you may not be seen.

The documents required may vary depending on the reason for your trip, but at the very least you will need to submit an application form, duly completed and signed.

Jamaica Visa Application Form and Documents

You may be asked for different documents and data depending on the type of entry permit you request. That said, several elements are mandatory for all applications:

  • Official passport with at least 6 months of validity from when you enter the country.
  • Colour photocopy of the first 3 pages of your passport.
  • Colour photocopy of your national identity card.
  • Personal application letter.

In addition, after analysing your application, the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application will let you know if it is mandatory to attend a personal interview.

The form is the most important part to get your application accepted. You will be asked for basic data, such as your name, address, telephone number, email address, and passport number.

A peculiarity of the application form is that it must always be signed in handwriting, but it must not be written by hand. You must download it from the page of the corresponding consulate or embassy, in Acrobat format (.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.doc and .docx), complete it on your device, then print and sign it.

Types of Visa for Jamaica and Eligibility

The embassies and consular missions of this Caribbean country offer 5 types of visas to apply for entry into the country, and you can enjoy a stay ranging from 30 to a maximum of 180 days.

These 5 types of visas are for:

  • Tourism
  • Work
  • Study
  • For permanent residents
  • For a spouse of a Jamaican citizen

It may be that, for various reasons, you have to request a different kind of authorisation from those listed above. In this case, you will have to communicate it to the embassy or consular office to find out what your options are.

The documents that you must provide when you apply are:

  • Present the form, duly completed and signed in handwriting.
  • Present a passport that has at least 6 months of legal validity.
  • 2 photos (size 2×2 cm) with a white background, which have been taken in the last 3 months.
  • A colour photocopy of the first 3 pages of your passport.
  • A colour photocopy of your ID (on both sides).
  • Your travel itinerary and hotel reservations.
  • Personal application letter.
  • Bank document that certifies that you have enough income to pay for your stay on the island.
  • Tickets back to your country.

In addition, where appropriate, you will also have to provide:

  • A colour photocopy of a residence permit that is clearly legible.
  • A letter from your employer if you are travelling for business or work.
  • A letter of acceptance from an academic institution to study.
  • Other documents for visits for cultural, sporting, religious, or cooperative reasons.

With regard to the eligibility requirements, you must not have any infectious disease and must be in full use of your mental faculties. Likewise, you cannot have a criminal record for any extraditable offense under the Extradition Acts of 1870 and 1906, nor be under a deportation order or in international search and arrest.

If you find yourself in any of these situations, it is very likely that you will be refused entry into the country.

Jamaican Visa Status Check

It usually takes up to 7 days to process your document to visit the island. To check the status of the visa, you will have to contact the corresponding consular offices, either by phone or by email.

A travel authorisation is rarely denied to an applicant, although in any case, the consular office usually informs the person concerned directly 7 working days after the application.

How Much Does a Visa for Jamaica Cost?

The usual price of a normal tourist permit can reach 100 USD per person depending on the way of entry into the country. If you exceed the maximum length of stay, you will have to pay more fees.

In addition to this fee, there are other fees that may be required:

  • Extension of stay (processing fee): 10,000 Jamaican dollars, or JMD (about 64.00 USD).
  • Registration of non-Commonwealth citizens, or citizens over the age of 16, who will reside on the island for more than 6 months: 2,000 JMD (about 13.00 USD).

More Questions and Information About Visiting Jamaica

Do you still have doubts about travelling to Jamaica? If so, we recommend that you take a look at the questions and answers section below:

There are a total of 106 countries whose citizens do not need any visas to enter Jamaica, including citizens of the EU Member States, US and UK.
The average processing time is 7 business days from the application. Usually, you will be informed by the consular office when your document is approved. If you do not hear from them, you can contact them by phone or email.
If you want to get a permit that allows you to enter or leave the country multiple times, you will have to specify it in your application at the corresponding consular office.
No matter the type of document you have, if you wish to extend your stay in Jamaica, you will have to request an extension through the corresponding consulate or embassy in your country.
It’s always recommended to carry a copy of your document with you for your trip. This can be very helpful in case the authorities of the country request it.
Most visas for Jamaica are valid from 30 days (1 month) to 180 days (6 months). If you wish to be granted a longer stay, you will have to communicate it to the embassy.
If you have to travel for matters of great urgency to Jamaica, it is necessary to contact the embassy. They can advise us on how to request an emergency document to enter the Caribbean country.
All renewals of your travel document to the country must be made through the consular office or embassy where you first applied. If you are already in Jamaica, you can visit the nearest immigration office.
Applications are rarely rejected, so long as you provide all the correct information and documents. If this were to happen, due to an administrative error, for example, you would have to contact the consular authorities and apply again.
No, because fortunately, US citizens enjoy visa-free access to this Caribbean country for trips of up to 180 days. In addition, visitors from the United Kingdom are entitled to the same exemption.
Depending on your country of origin, you may be asked for vaccination certificates against polio, measles, or rubella. If you enter the country from an area with endemic yellow fever, you will also have to present a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
When you first apply, you will have to present a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months. If your passport is due to expire in less than 6 months, you will need to renew it before you travel.
If one of your nationalities is visa-exempt for this country, then travel with that passport.

Otherwise, if both your nationalities require a visa, then choose one of them to apply with. Make sure you take that passport with you when you go, so that your travel documents are consistent throughout your trip.

We have attached an example below, so you have a clear idea of what this type of document looks like.
Here you will find some links with other relevant information, so that you can have all the details available when getting your application ready:  
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