General Information :: Customs and Immigration clearance

Unlike airports in the USA and Europe, when the door of your plane opens and you find yourself "herded" up and down impersonal corridors, you will find that upon your arrival in Jamaica things are a little different.

Importation

If you would like to learn what products are allowed into Jamaica, please visit the following websites:

Jamaica Customs http://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/customs/index.htm,
The Trade Board http://www.tradeboard.gov.jm/main/main.htm
The Ministry of Agriculture http://www.moa.gov.jm/food/importstopshop.php
Tel: (876)–977–1632, Fax: (876)–977–1875 Email: pgjennings@moa.gov.jm

Arriving in Jamaica:: clearing immigration

Ringing in your ears upon landing will be the accented voices of Jamaicans excited about returning to Jamaica.

Just follow your fellow passengers down the long passage way.  You will come into a brightly lit area where officers in white shirts will be sitting behind glass partitioned desks. They are your Immigration Officers. Join the visitors line if you do not reside in Jamaica or hold a Jamaican passort. Ensure your air tickets is out and other documents are filled out correctly and if you have anything to declare please state this on your paperwork.

You will be asked a few questions such as how long you will be staying the island and where your flight originated from. Have all your forms filled out and ready or you will be sent back to have it completed.

Arriving in Jamaica:: clearing customs

After being processed by an immigration officer, you will proceed into a much bigger area where you will see luggage going around on a conveyor belts.  Just look for someone who was on your flight and follow them.  You can look for the boards above displaying your the conveyor number .  These display the  incoming flight numbers.

Our airports are not very big so you will not get lost. Proceed to the DECLARE or NOTHING TO DECLARE line depending on the items you are bringing into the island. The customs officers have to do their work so be patient should they choose you for an inspection. .   PSST! Their supervisors are close by and watching so please understand.

There are porters on hand to assist you in moving your luggage outside. Note there is a small charge for the service. The prices are displayed for your convience. Here you are officially on Jamaican soil and this is where your vacation begins.

In Montego Bay once you clear customs you make your way either find a JUTA representative to book your transfer to your hotel or find the Jamaica Tours booth if you pre-book your transfer with them. Some hotels such as Sandals, Breezes, Superclubs Chains that provide free ground transfers. Look out for their representatives as they will guide you to where their buses are located (these are in a different section of the airport and you can only be escorted there.

Leaving Jamaica

Ensure that when you leave your hotel that all your documents and other belongings are with you. You will be sure to miss your flight should you reach the airport and find that you can't locate something very important.

Ensure that you have your departure tax and your paperwork filled out.

It can be quite amusing to watch Jamaicans coming and going through the airports. We love our luggage and will try every which way to get them on the planes.   Tourists are even more fun to watch.  They are easily identifiable by their wide brim hats, sun-burns, bright smiles and the many craft items being slung around their person.

Boarding announcements will be echoing throughout the airport and persons will be shuffling towards the entrance to where they should board.  There will be sad faces for sure but there is hope on many faces that says that they look to return to Jamaica soon.