How to: Acquire a passport

A passport is a secure travel document used to show citizenship for international travel. It is often used to show proof of one's identity when conducting business in Jamaica. The process to acquire a passport is simple:

A) Persons residing in Jamaica who have never held a passport have to appear in person, either at the head office of the Passport Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA) at 25C Constant Spring Road, St Andrew, or to an immigration officer situated in the police divisional headquarters of each parish.

B) The following documents should be submitted for first time applicants:

1. A certified application form (forms are available from PICA offices or from its website, www.pica.gov.jm).

2. Valid photo identification.

3. Two (2) passport-size

photographs, one of which must be certified by a justice of the peace or minister of religion.

4. Birth certificate or adoption register or Certificate of Citizenship.

5. Marriage certificate (for women using their married name)

C) The application fee for a passport is J$6,500.00.

D) A passport may be renewed if it has expired, if there are no more pages for visas or the holder has changed his or her name. The cost to renew a passport is J$11,500.

E) The application process takes seven working days for applications made through the St Andrew office and 14 working days for applications made through the Montego Bay Office.

If collecting the passport in person, the applicant is expected to show the receipt received when the application was made.

If collecting on behalf of another person, a letter signed by the applicant, and a copy of the applicant's ID must accompany the receipt.