Embassy of Jamaica Tokyo, Japan

Consular Services - Jamaican Citizenship Services

Jamaican Citizenship
The Jamaican constitution provides for the acquisition of Jamaican citizenship on any of the following bases:

By birth;
Descent;
Registration as a citizen based on marriage to a Jamaican citizen; or
Adoption.

The Embassy of Jamaica is committed to assisting applicants with the aforementioned process through the provision of guidance as well as transmission of the relevant forms and supporting documents for processing to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

Citizenship by Descent

QUALIFICATIONS

An applicant qualifies for Citizenship by Descent where:
He/she was born outside Jamaica before August 6, 1962; and
His/her mother or father became or would have, but for his/her death, become a citizen of Jamaica on August 6, 1962.
He/she was born outside Jamaica after August 5, 1962 and whose father/mother was citizen of Jamaica by birth, descent or registration by virtue of marriage to a Jamaican on the date of his/her birth.

DOCUMENTS

The application form which is obtainable at nearest Jamaican High Commission/Embassy/ Consulate or online at www.pica.gov.jm should be completed and submitted along with the following documents:

The applicant’s Birth certificate/ Certification of birth;

The applicant’s father’s /mother’s birth certificate, certificate of adoption issued by the Registrar General of Jamaica or certificate of registration as a citizen of Jamaica by virtue of marriage;

Marriage certificate (where applicable);

Applicant’s valid government issued ID (valid driver’s license, passport or Jamaican Voter ID) (photographed ID is required for minor is also required if application is on behalf of a minor);

Court issued document to support legal guardianship where applicable;

Three (3) passport-sized photographs of the child - one must be certified by a consular officer, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public Commissioner of Oaths, Medical Doctor or Lawyer. The name of the applicant along with the name, number and signature of the certifying officer should be included. Certification should not be older than 6 months. Two are required for PICA and one is retained at the Embassy for filing purposes.

Descendants of Jamaicans born in Dutch or French Overseas departments in the Caribbean and whose surname is acknowledged on PERMISSION of the mother in the supporting documents will be issued with a citizenship certificate bearing that surname.

In cases where there is no information for the father recorded on the Jamaican birth certificate and no stated surname is given to the child, then the document is accepted where the child automatically assumes the mother’s name.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Requirements for photographs:

2 identical photographs are required
Photographs should be taken in colour with a matte/dull finish, against a plain background

Applicants of light complexion should avoid wearing white clothing and should have photographs taken against a pastel shaded background

Applicants of dark complexion should wear coloured clothing and photographs should be taken against a white background.

Applicants with grey/white hair should have their photograph taken against a pale blue or pastel background

There must be no other person or object in the photograph

There should be no background shadows

A full frontal pose is required

There should be no creases or ink marks on the photograph

Exposed shoulders and chest must be avoided

Bright coloured clothing is not recommended

Eye glasses should not have tinted lenses

Heavy (thick) frames should be avoided

Headgear is permitted ONLY for religious purposes. Facial features including the outline of the face from the bottom of the chin to top of the forehead must me clearly shown

Photographs submitted with an application become the property of the Government of Jamaica

CHANGE OF NAME

Where a new name is introduced by any document(s) supporting the application, the applicant is required to submit a Deed Poll, Court Order or Apostille to support the use of that new name(s).
Deed polls not issued by a State Authority to evidence change of name should be treated on a case use of the new identity in a passport; cases should be referred to the Director/Operations Manager for guidance. Change of name completed by persons in the UK will be accepted only if issued by the UK Deed Poll Services and High Court.

WHO MAY SUBMIT APPLICATION

Applications may be submitted by the following:-

Attorneys -All attorneys (Should make formal representation on behalf of their clients).

Persons who hold law degrees and are not Attorneys may not submit applications on behalf of Individuals

Legal guardian of a minor.

Persons authorized in writing by the parent of a minor who is entitled to citizenship by descent.

Parents may submit applications on behalf of their adult child with his/her authorization.

Persons whose parent(s) obtained Citizenship by Doubt may submit an application for Citizenship by Descent.

PAYMENT

Payment of Fees amounting to ¥24,200 (Yen), which would cover PICA’s US$100 along with consular, bank and administrative related expenses.

NB: For any additional information or clarification please contact us at PICA or the nearest Jamaican High Commission/Embassy/Consulate.

PICA reserves the right to request additional and or updated information during the processing of the application.

The processing time may take approximately 25 working days, once received by PICA and if found compliant. Given the logistics and administrative requirements from Asia to Jamaica, the entire process, with the inclusion of the first-time passport, may take approximately 3 months, for completion.

After the Ministry of National Security is satisfied that the criteria for obtaining Jamaican Citizenship have been fulfilled, a Letter of Certification of Jamaican Citizenship will be issued. The individual would now be eligible to apply for a Jamaican passport.

Citizenship by Marriage

A non-national is eligible to make an application for citizenship by virtue of Marriage if he or she is married to a Jamaican citizen.

PROCEDURE

The application should be made (in duplicate) on the Registration Form, R1 which is obtainable at the Jamaica Printing Services, 77 1/2 Duke Street, Kingston, the Jamaican High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates as well as online at www.pica.gov.jm .
The form should be read carefully, then completed and signed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace for persons submitting their applications locally and by a Consular Officer, Notary Public or Commissioner of Oaths for overseas applications.
The applications must be submitted to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency or the nearest Jamaican High Commission, Embassy or Consulate supported by the following original documents.

DOCUMENTS

Official Marriage Certificate
Husband and Wife’s Official Birth Certificate/ Certificate of Jamaican Citizenship
Husband and Wife’s Current Passport
Decree Absolute (where applicable)
Work Permit/ Marriage Exemption Certificate (if resident in Jamaica)
Verification of Income e.g. Employment Letter , Last 3 Pay slips, Company Financial Statements (should not be older than 6 months)
Recent Bank Statement (should not be older than 6 months)
A Personal Tax Compliance Certificate. NB If applicant is the owner of a business , the company Tax Compliance Certificate must be submitted (if resident in Jamaica)
If applicant operates a wholesale/haberdashery then Income Tax Filings with both Personal and Business Tax Compliance Certificates are required
A Police Certificate from country or last Residence (if resident in Jamaica)
Official Change of Name Document – Court Order, Deed Polls registered through the court or the Country’s record office, etc. (where applicable)
Two Passport sized photographs of the applicant certified by a Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, Commissioner of Oaths or Consular Officer
Payment of Fees amounting to US$ 260.00 (http://www.pica.gov.jm/citizenship/general-citizenship-information/citizenship-fees/ )

1. Compliant applications will be prepared for submission to the Minister within twenty four (24) months.

PICA reserves the right to request additional and or updated information during the processing of the application.
https://www.rgd.gov.jm/index.php/marriage-officer

Permanent Residence

Permanent Residence allows a foreign national to live and engage in productive activities in Jamaica without restrictions on their entry to the island and they do not require a work permit. As they are not citizens of Jamaica, they are not accorded the same constitutional rights as citizens.

An applicant for permanent residence should be willing to accommodate an interview with PICA’s Investigation and Surveillance Unit as part of the approval process.

An applicant for permanent residence must fall in any one of the following categories:

Employment (not less than 3 years)
Retirement
Marriage to a Jamaican
Dependent
Previous holders of Unconditional Landing status by virtue of marriage to a Jamaican

An application for permanent residence should be submitted along with the following documents:

Valid passport (entry visa for Jamaica is required for nationals of Non Commonwealth countries as well as nationals of Commonwealth countries on whom a visa requirement has been imposed)
Evidence of financial status and means of support such as particulars of pension, bank statement, property owned and business investments. (PICA reserves the right to request additional documents [such as updated financial documents eg. bank balances or business financial statements) during the application process.
Business owners must present Certificate of Registration, Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) – this may be printed from the website, proof of Income Tax Returns (applicable to holders of Jamaican work permits & owners of businesses in Jamaica) and audited financial statement for the last full year of the business’ operation.
Birth Certificate of applicant (original) and should be translated if not in English.
Birth Certificate or Jamaican passport of Jamaican Spouse – applicable to applicants who are married to a Jamaican
Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree /Decree Absolute where applicable
Birth Certificate of children where applicable
Local Medical Certificate – certificate of good health (in Jamaica)
Police Certificate from previous country or countries of residence and from Jamaica if resided here for six (6) months or more
Two (2) identical passport size photographs certified by a Justice of the Peace
Evidence of asset/property ownership in Jamaica or abroad (documents should be translated if not in English)
Letter stating reason for seeking permanent residence in Jamaica
Letter from two reputable references or acquaintances (nationals of Jamaica)
Non-refundable processing fee of Jamaican One Hundred Thousand dollars JMD100,000.00(http://www.pica.gov.jm/?page_id=1569)
Letters in (l) & (m) must be addressed to:

The Chief Executive Officer
Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency
25 Constant Spring Road,
Kingston 10.

N.B – All documents submitted must be original.
Applications are usually processed within 3 to 6 months.

With regard to the above, please visit PICA’s website at http://www.pica.gov.jm/immigration/general-immigration-information/permanent-residence/

Citizenship by Naturalization

The applicant should have attained the age of eighteen (18) years, should have lived in Jamaica for a minimum of Five (5) years on aggregate and for 12 months immediately preceding submission of the application and, be of good character.

PROCEDURE:

The application should be made (in duplicate) on Naturalisation Form, N1 which is obtainable at the Jamaica Printing Services, 77 1/2 Duke Street, Kingston, the Jamaican High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates as well as online at www.pica.gov.jm .
The form should be carefully read then completed and signed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace.
Four (4) references are required as sponsors of the application. These persons should be Jamaican by birth and should not be a Civil Servant, a relative, lawyer or agent of the applicant.
Before submitting the application, notice of your intention to apply for Naturalisation must appear in a daily newspaper. An example of the advertisement is set out on the final page of the application form. This notice should be published on two (2) separate occasions at least one (1) week apart and should be submitted along with the application. (Should not be older than 6 months).
Completed application forms along with newspaper notices should be submitted to the Citizenship Unit of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency along with the following original documents.

DOCUMENTS:

Applicant’s Birth Certificate/Statement of Live Birth/Certification of birth
Marriage certificate / Decree Absolute (if applicable)
Passport on which the applicant originally entered Jamaica
Current Passport (if different from the one above)
Valid Work Permit Card / Exemption Certificate
Personal Tax Compliance Certificate. NB If applicant is the owner of a business , the company Tax Compliance Certificate must be submitted
If applicant operates a wholesale/haberdashery then Income Tax Filings with both Personal and Business Tax Compliance Certificates are required
Recent Bank Statement (should not be older than 6 months)
Verification of Income e.g. Employment Letter , Last Three Pay slips, Company Financial Statements, Pension statement (should not be older than 6 months)
Evidence of any Community activity/Service Club
Official change of name Document, Deed Polls must be registered through the court or the Country’s record office, Court Order(where applicable)
Two Passport sized photographs of the applicant certified by a Justice of the Peace

Compliant applications will be prepared for submission to the Minister within twenty four (24) months.
Payment of Fees amounting to Jamaican Dollars JM$50,000.00; along with the following note which carries additional fees - Please note that upon approval the applicant is required have the certificate endorsed at the Stamp Office at an additional cost of $JMD1000.00.
(http://www.pica.gov.jm/?page_id=1569)

PICA reserves the right to request additional and or updated information during the processing of the application.

Renunciation of Jamaican Citizenship
Applicants should give very careful consideration before applying to renounce their Jamaican citizenship.

When convinced that it is necessary to do so, a person may renounce his/her Jamaican Citizenship, provided that the individual is an adult of sound mental capacity who is either a national of a foreign country or has been assured of such nationality if he/she renounces Jamaican Nationality.

The formal process of giving up one’s Jamaican Nationality/citizenship is referred to as Renunciation.

QUALIFICATION

The applicant should be of full age and capacity, either a national of a foreign country or has been assured of such nationality on the condition that he/she renounces Jamaican Nationality.

PROCEDURES

1. The declaration of Renunciation form which is obtainable at PICA, Citizenship Unit, Jamaica Printing Services, 77 1/2 Duke Street, Kingston, the Jamaican High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates as well as online at www.pica.gov.jm must be read carefully, completed in triplicate (3) and signed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace( for local applications). Applications submitted overseas can be certified by a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths.

Local applications should be submitted to the Citizenship Unit, the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency. If you are applying from overseas, applications should be submitted through the Jamaican High Commission, Embassy or Consulate.

Completed forms should be submitted along with the following original documents

DOCUMENTS

Birth Certificate/Adoption Certificate/Citizenship Certificate
Jamaican Passport
Valid ID of applicant
Evidence of other nationality (citizenship certificate, passport or official letter of assurance or promise of other nationality) will be required to support the loss of Jamaican Citizenship
Two Passport sized photographs of the applicant certified by a Justice of the Peace for local applications or by a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths or Consular Officer for overseas applications (should not be older than 6 months)
Application fee(required fee) – US$1,000.00 (http://www.pica.gov.jm/?page_id=1569)

Compliant applications will be prepared for submission within twenty four (24) months.

PICA reserves the right to request additional and or updated information during the processing of the application.

For further information on to the requirements related to the above, interested parties are invited to visit the following webpage: http://www.pica.gov.jm/citizenship/general-citizenship-information/how-do-i-give-up-renounce-jamaica-citizenship/

Restoration of Citizenship

QUALIFICATION

The restoration of Jamaican Citizenship is applicable only to former Jamaican nationals who acquired Jamaican Citizenship by virtue of Birth, descent or adoption and subsequently renounced it.

PROCEDURES

The application form, Restoration of Citizenship Form R5 which is obtainable at the Jamaican High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates, the Jamaica Printing Services, 77 1/2 Duke Street Kingston as well as online at Forms.

The form should be read carefully, completed in triplicate and signed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace for persons submitting their applications locally and by a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths for overseas applications.

Local applications must be submitted to the Citizenship Unit of the Passport Immigration & Citizenship Agency. If you are applying from overseas, applications must be submitted through the Jamaican High Commission, Embassy or Consulate.

Completed application forms must be submitted along with the following original documents:

DOCUMENTS

Letter of renunciation
Proof of current citizenship
Valid ID
Two Passport sized photographs of the applicant certified by a Justice of the Peace for local applications or by a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths for overseas applications
Application fee – US$1,000.00 (http://www.pica.gov.jm/?page_id=1569)

Compliant applications will be prepared for a decision within twenty four (24) months.

PICA reserves the right to request additional and or updated information during the processing of the application.

Alien Registration

All foreigners over the age of sixteen (16) years who expect to be in Jamaica for more than six (6) months are required to register as aliens at the Ministry of National Security, Immigration, Citizenship and Passport Division, 25 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica. The registration fee is $1,000 Jamaican dollars.

Registration of Minors

A minor is any individual that is under the age of eighteen (18) years.

PROCEDURE:

The application should be made in duplicate on the Registration Form R4, which is obtainable at the Jamaica Printing Services, 77 1/2 Duke Street, Kingston, the Jamaican High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates as well as online at ,Forms.
The form should be read carefully. It must be completed by the Parent of the Guardian of the Minor and signed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace.
Two (2) references are required to sponsor the application. These persons should be Jamaican by birth and should not be a Civil Servant, a relative, lawyer or agent of the applicant.
Having satisfied the above-mentioned, the application should be submitted at the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency or the nearest Jamaican High Commission, Embassy or Consulate supported by the following original documents.

DOCUMENTS

Minor’s Birth Certificate
Minor’s Valid Passport
Parent’s Valid Passport
Parents’ Marriage Certificate where applicable
Evidence of parents’ Jamaican Nationality (if citizen of Jamaica)
Valid Work Permit of Parent/s where applicable
Personal Tax Compliance Certificate of Parent/s if resident in Jamaica. NB if Parent is owner of a Business owner then company Tax Compliance Certificate must be submitted
If parent is the owner of a wholesale/haberdashery then Income Tax Filings with both Personal and Business Tax Compliance Certificates are required
Recent School letter (should not be older than 6 months)
Bank Statement for Parent (should not be older than 6 months)
Verification of Income for Parent e.g. Employment Letter, Company Financial Statement, Last 3 Pay Slips, Pension Statement
Two Passport sized photographs of Minor certified by a Justice of the Peace for local applications or by a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths or Consular Officer for overseas applications
Application Fee - US$ 100.00 (http://www.pica.gov.jm/?page_id=1569)

1. Compliant applications will be prepared for submission to the Minister within twenty four (24) months.

PICA reserves the right to request additional and or updated information during the processing of the application.

For further information, please visit PICA’s website at: http://www.pica.gov.jm/citizenship/category-of-citizenship/registration-of-minors/