Getting help with living in Jamaica

Help from the Jamaican government

InformationFor forany Britishquestions citizensabout moving to or living in Jamaica, includingyou guidancemay onbe passports,able workingto inget help from the:

• High Commission of Jamaica in the UK
• Jamaican Passport, Immigration and healthcare.
  Citizenship Agency (PICA)

ThisThe guideUK setsgovernment outand essentialthe informationBritish forHigh BritishCommission citizensin Kingston cannot give personalised advice on moving toto, living or livingretiring in Jamaica.

Professional Readhelp aboutin howJamaica

You ourcan Highalso Commissionget inhelp Kingston,from Jamaicaprofessionals canin help.Jamaica, including:

• lawyers
• notaries
• funeral directors

Help from the UK government

ThisRead informationthe istravel providedadvice asfor aJamaica guideto only.understand Youthe shouldrisks getyou definitivemay informationface fromif theyou Jamaicanlive authorities.in Theor Foreign,visit CommonwealthJamaica. &This Developmentincludes Officethe (FCDO)latest isinformation noton:

• visas liableand forentry anyrequirements
• laws inaccuraciesand incultural thisdifferences
• safety information.
  and security

SupportRead forour Britishguidance Nationalson Abroad:moving, Aliving Guideor retiring abroad.

Get setshelp outfrom howthe BritishUK nationalsgovernment canabroad, stayincluding safein abroadan emergency.

Visas, residency and howcitizenship

Make thesure FCDOyou canmeet helpthe ifentry yourequirements dofor getJamaica intobefore difficulty.you travel.

Visas and residency

ReadIf generalyou guidancewant on movingto orstay retiringin abroadJamaica for longer than 90 days, you must apply for an extension of stay.

ToYou can get an extension of stay upto:

• work
• study
• live towith date:family followin Jamaica
• live in Jamaica without working

For more information, read the Britishimmigration Highguidance Commissionfrom Kingstonthe onJamaican Facebook,Passports, InstagramImmigration and Twitter.Citizenship Agency.

• Registering as a resident  

  FacebookOnce :you UKinJamaicaarrive, –depending Britishon Highyour Commissionindividual circumstances, you may need to register your residency in KingstonJamaica.

  For information, or if you have any problems or questions about registering your residency, contact:  

  • the Jamaican Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA)

  • Twitter:a UKinCaribbeanlawyer in Jamaica

  Permanent residency

  You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Jamaica.

  To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply:

  • read guidance on permanent residence in Jamaica

  • Instagramcontact :the UKinCaribbeanJamaican Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA)

  Before

  Citizenship

  Jamaica recognises dual citizenship. This means that you godo not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Jamaican citizen.

  SeeTo ourfind Travelout Adviceif foryou’re Jamaicaeligible for up-to-dateJamaican informationcitizenship:

  • read guidance on entryJamaican requirements,citizenship
  • contact localthe lawsJamaican Passport, Immigration and customs,Citizenship safetyAgency and(PICA)
  • contact emergencies.
    the High Commission of Jamaica in the UK

  Visas

  Help andwith visa, residency

  and citizenship applications

  CheckThe the entryBritish requirementsHigh forCommission Jamaica in ourKingston travelcannot advice.

  Informationhelp onwith Jamaican visa, residency mustor becitizenship obtainedapplications.

  For fromany questions or issues, contact:

  • the passportJamaican immigrationPassport, Immigration and citizenshipCitizenship agency,Agency (PICA www.pica.gov.jm/).

  • the High Commission of Jamaica in the UK
  • a lawyer in Jamaica

  Passports and travel

  YouRead canour applyguidance foron moving, living or renewretiring yourabroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from Jamaica.abroad
  • travel Youurgently arewithout requiredyour British passport

  Dual citizens travelling to printthe andUK

  When sendtravelling to the form,UK, processingBritish cancitizens takemust longercarry thana on-linevalid UKBritish application.passport Youor shouldcertificate checkof informationentitlement. Read guidance on processingdual timecitizenship.

  Resident andchildren taketravelling thiswithout intoa accountparent whenor decidinglegal guardian  

  Children aged 17 and under may need to apply.carry a consent letter, their birth certificate or guardianship papers if they’re travelling out of Jamaica without one parent or a legal guardian.

  CheckFor more information contact the:

  • High Commission of Jamaica in the UK
  • Jamaican TravelPassport, AdviceImmigration forand passportCitizenship validityAgency requirements.
    (PICA)

  Healthcare in Jamaica

  YouRead mayour needguidance toon registermoving, forliving or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take asmedicine abroad

  Jamaica does not have a residentreciprocal inhealth Jamaica.agreement with the UK.

  ReviewMake thesure listyou ofhave medicalappropriate facilitieshealth ininsurance Jamaica. Forto morecover informationany onhealthcare hospitalcosts. andYou healthcan facilities,get insurance from Jamaican or international providers.
  If you’re resident in Jamaica, you canmay visitalso thebe Ministryable ofto register for a National Health http://moh.gov.uk/Fund (NHF) card.

  NOTE: UKTo Travelfind insuranceout providershow willto notget generallymedical covertreatment:

  • contact your healthcareinsurance costsprovider
  • read ifguidance youon livehealth overseas.

    Medicine

    Ifin youJamaica

  • visit arethe onJamaican aMinistry prescriptionof Health and Wellness website
  • find medical facilities for anyBritish medicationNationals youin shouldJamaica

  Working ensurein youJamaica

  Read haveour aguidance supplyon ofmoving, it,living or areretiring ableabroad. toThis obtaincovers itworking whenabroad, inincluding Jamaica.documents you may need from the UK government.

  CertainTo medicineswork in Jamaica, you may notneed bea availablework inpermit. JamaicaThe (includingJamaican majorMinistry brandsof readilyLabour availableand inSocial theSecurity UK),explains andhow youto mayapply befor prohibiteda fromwork takingpermit.

  You themmay intoalso need to register under the country.National YouInsurance shouldScheme, consulta yourcompulsory GPsocial beforesecurity travellingscheme tofor Jamaicaanyone toemployed findin outJamaica.

  For aboutmore anyinformation alternativeon medication.visa Youand mightwork needpermit arequirements, specialcontact permit.the:

  Please

  • Jamaican contactPassport, theImmigration Jamaicaand customerCitizenship Agency http://www/jacustomer.gov.jm/index.php(PICA)
  • Jamaican and the Ministry of HealthLabour pharmaceutical and regulatorySocial affairs http://moh.gov.uj/divisions-agencies/divisions/standards-and-regulation-division/Security.

  Recognition of qualifications

  ReadIf theyou guidancewant ifto work in Jamaica, you may need to travelget withyour medicinesforeign qualifications recognised.

  WorkingDriving in Jamaica

  IfRead youour areguidance planningon tomoving, moveliving toor Jamaicaretiring andabroad. work,This youcovers mayhow needto:

  • drive aabroad visa.legally
  • take Readyour theUK Jamaicanvehicle government’sabroad
  • get guidancedriving onlicence workingletters

  You can drive in Jamaica asfor aup foreignto national6 andmonths howusing toyour getvalid aUK visa.

  Informationphotocard ondriving entrylicence. andTo workcontinue permitsdriving areafter provided6 andmonths, atyou themust discretionget ofa theJamaican Ministrydriving oflicence.

  Tax LabourAdministration http://www.mlss.gov.jm/pub/index.phpJamaica and(TAJ) theprovides localinformation immigrationon department,driving PICAand http://www.pica.gov.jmvehicles Permitsin shouldJamaica.

  For bemore obtainedinformation, priorread toabout arrivalroad travel in Jamaica.

  Requirementssafety and qualificationssecurity forin jobsthe aretravel atadvice thefor employer’s discretion.Jamaica.

  Studying

  Disabled in Jamaica

  drivers

  IfYou youmay planbe able to studyapply infor Jamaica,a youdisabled mustparking meetpermit allor visaa requirements“disability beforesticker” youin travel,Jamaica. youFor canmore checkinformation withcontact the localJamaica immigrationCouncil department,for PICAPersons http://www.pica.gov.jmwith andDisabilities https://www.mlss.gov.jm/?s=work+permit+(JCPD).

  ContactIf theyou relevanthave highera educationUK providerBlue inBadge Jamaicaand tolive checkin whatJamaica, fees you havemust return it to pay.the original UK issuing authority.

  Tax

  Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

  The UK has a a double taxation agreement with Jamaica so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

  Contact AskTax theAdministration relevantJamaica tax(TAJ) authorityfor yourany questions about double taxation relief.

  You shouldwill getneed to apply for a Tax Registration Number to do business with institutions including banks and schools. 

  Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Jamaica.Jamaica. FindTo an English-speakingdo this, find a lawyer in Jamaica.

  Read

  Pensions

  Claiming guidanceyour on:

  UK pension

  • TaxRead ifour youguidance leaveon themoving, UKliving toor liveretiring abroad. This covers:

    • Taxhow onto claim your UK incomeState if you live abroad

      Pension

    • Taxwhere ifthe youUK getgovernment apays pensionan andannual liveincrease abroad

    • Payingin Nationalthe InsuranceState whilePension

    Claiming abroada toJamaican protectpension

    You yourmay Statebe Pensionable and entitlement to otherclaim benefitsa andJamaican allowances.

  Benefits

  Checkpension whichif UK benefits you canhave claimworked whilein abroadJamaica and howcontributed to claimthe them.

  ManyJamaican income-relatedNational benefitsInsurance suchScheme as(NIS). PensionContact Credityour andlocal Housingsocial Benefitsecurity cannotoffice beto paidfind ifout you’rewhether abroadyou forcan more than 4 weeks.claim.

  PensionsBenefits

  Claiming UK benefits

  Read StateRead Pensionour guidance ifon youmoving, haveliving livedor inretiring Australia,abroad. CanadaThis orcovers Newhow Zealandto andclaim youUK arebenefits claimingabroad, orincluding waitingChild toBenefit.

  Claiming claimJamaican benefits

  Contact your UKlocal Statesocial Pension.

  Ifsecurity youoffice retireto infind Jamaica,out whether you can claim your UKbenefits Statein PensionJamaica.

  Buying or newand UKrenting Stateproperty Pension.  Contactin theJamaica

  Read Internationalour Pensionguidance Centreon moving, living or retiring abroad. forThis furthercovers information.

  Jamaicanbuying pensionsand arerenting managedproperty eitherabroad.

  You privatelycan oralso byread the government.Jamaican Thegovernment’s arrangementguidance areon determinedhow byto theinvest employer.in EligibilityJamaican forReal localEstate.

  Contact pensiona mustlawyer bein obtainedJamaica fromif theyou’re Ministryconsidering ofbuying Labourproperty http://www.mlss.gov.jm/pub/index.php.or land.

  LifeVoting certificatesin for Jamaica

  UK State Pensions

  elections

  IfRead youour getguidance a ‘lifeon certificate’moving, fromliving theor UKretiring Pension Serviceabroad,. youThis mustcovers respondhow asto:

  • vote soonin UK elections from abroad
  • register as possible.an Youroverseas paymentsvoter

  Jamaican mayelections

  You becannot suspendedvote ifin Jamaican elections unless you dohold not.Jamaican citizenship. 

  MoneyStudying andin bankingJamaica

  AIf listyou ofplan banksto andstudy otherin financialJamaica, institutionsyou thatshould operateread inthe immigration Jamaicanguidance from be found on the bankJamaican ofPassports, JamaicaImmigration websiteand http://boj.org.jm/financial_sysCitizenship .Agency. InformationYou onwill taxes,probably suchneed asa property,student GCTextension andof incomestay

  For canmore beinformation:

  • read foundguidance on thetravel taxgrants administrationfor departmentstudents http://jamaicatax.gov.jm/tax/type.

    Visastudying andabroad MasterCardor areon theplacements most(England)

  • contact commonlyyour accepted,higher followededucation byprovider Americanin Express,the DiscoverUK andor DinersJamaica
  • contact Club.

    Accommodationthe andJamaica buyingTertiary property

    SeeEducation buying a property abroadCommission.

  Driving in JamaicaChildren

  Read theour guidance on whatmoving, actionsliving youor mustretiring doabroad. toThis drivecovers legallymoving inabroad Jamaicawith https://jis.gov.jm/information/get-the-facts/how-to-obtain-a-drivers-licence/.

  Drivingchildren, abroad.including:

  If

  • getting you’repermission askedto fortake ayour letterchild authenticating,abroad
  • claiming certifying or validating your UK driver’sChild licence,Benefit youabroad
  • child shouldmaintenance contactpayments yourif UKa issuingparent officelives (e.g.abroad

  Schools theand DVLA).

  education

  ForThe travellingJamaican byMinistry roadof inEducation, JamaicaSkills, seeYouth thisand guidance.

  Information ifprovides youinformation wishabout tothe transportschool yoursystem vehiclein from Jamaica.Jamaica.

  YouAll canchildren driveaged in6 Jamaicato using16 amust UKattend drivingschool licenceor forhome upschool toin 6Jamaica.

  For months.more Ainformation, Jamaicanread drivingthe licenseJamaican cangovernment’s:

  • frequently beasked obtainedquestions fromabout theeducation Taxin administrationJamaica
  • National departmentStandards http://www.jamaicatax.gov.ukCurriculum (NSC).

  Disabled driversChildcare

  IfThe youJamaican haveEarly aChildhood UKCommission Blue Badge(ECC) and livethe inJamaican Jamaica,Ministry youof mustEducation, returnSkills, itYouth toand theInformation originalare UKresponsible issuingfor authority.

  Voting

  Youearly maychildhood beeducation ableand tocare vote in someJamaica.

  Read UKguidance elections. You can:on:

  • Checkcertified ifEarly youChildhood areInstitutions ablein to voteJamaica.

  • Registerthe asJamaica anEarly overseasChildhood voterCurricula.

  Births, deaths, marriagemarriages and civil partnershippartnerships

  Births

  If your child is born in JamaicaJamaica, you should register the birth with the localJamaican authorities. YouRead can then register with the UKJamaican authoritiesgovernment’s andguidance applyon forbirth aregistration UKin birth certificateJamaica.

  IfRead yourour childguidance hason Britishmoving, nationality, youliving door notretiring needabroad. toThis covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authoritiesUK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for ayour child’s first British passport.

  Deaths

  IfRead someoneour diesguidance inon Jamaicamoving, readliving ouror guidanceretiring on:abroad. This covers:

  • Whatwhat to do ifafter someone dies abroad.

  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

  BereavementIf guidancesomeone fordies Jamaica.in Jamaica, read guidance on:

  • Reviewwhat theto listwhen ofsomeone English-speakingdies in Jamaica

  • funeral directors in Jamaica

  • getting a death certificate in Jamaica

  MarriageMarriages and civil partnershippartnerships

  FindRead out howour youguidance canon moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.abroad.

  Pets

  TheSame Animalsex Diseasesmarriages (Importation)and Controlcivil (Amendment)partnerships 2017are nownot allowlegally therecognised importationin ofJamaica. dogsFor andinformation catsabout fromLGBT+ countriesrights otherin thanJamaica, theread Unitedguidance Kingdom.on Forsafety furtherand informationsecurity forin importingthe andtravel exportingadvice petsfor see here:

  http://www.moa.gov.jm/content/veterinary-services-divisionJamaica.  

  Emergencies

  Divorce and separation

  • DialRead theour guidance Jamaicaon moving, 119living for the police, ambulance or fireretiring brigade,abroad. orThis dialcovers how 110.

  • Dialto theget Jamaicaa 119divorce toor reportend a missingcivil child.partnership. 

  • IfThe youJamaican haveSupreme beenCourt theoffers victimsome ofinformation aon rapehow orto sexualget assaulta divorce in Jamaica,Jamaica. read  

    Consider theseeking Guidancelegal foradvice victimsfrom ofa rapelawyer andin sexualJamaica.

    Documents assaultfor British people in Jamaica.

    Read Seeour alsoguidance theon Guidancedocuments for victimsBritish ofpeople rapeabroad. This covers: 

    • legalising and sexualcertifying assaultUK abroad.
      documents
    • marriage and civil partnership documents

    • Ifaffirmations you’reand theaffidavits

    • witnessing victimsignatures

    Lawyers, oftranslators aand crime,notaries

    To havefind beenan arrested,English-speaking lawyer, translator or arenotary affectedin byJamaica, aread crisis, contactguidance theon Highprofessional Commissionservices Kingstonif you’re abroad.

  • Pets

    ReadIf theyou want to bring your pet with you to Jamaica, read guidance onon:

    • importing internationallive parentalanimals childto abductionJamaica
    • taking if your childpet maydog, becat ator riskferret ofto this.
      a non-EU country

    Returning to the UK

    Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanentlythe UK permanently. whichThis includes information on bringing family members,members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

    Disclaimer

    We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Jamaican authorities.

    Read our consular information disclaimer.