CITIZENSHIP – GENERAL INFORMATION

An applicant qualifies for Citizenship by Descent where:

• He / She was born outside of Jamaica before the 6th August 1962.
• His / Her mother or father on the 6th August 1962 became or would have, but for his/her death, become a citizen of Jamaica.
• 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.

Application Requirements

• The following documents (either the originals or duly notarized) should be submitted to the Embassy of Jamaica:
• Completed application form for Jamaican Citizenship by descent.
• Applicant’s Birth Certificate/Statement of Live Birth/Certification of birth.
• Applicant’s father’s or mother’s Jamaican Birth Certificate/Adoption Certificate issued by the Registrar General’s Department of Jamaica or Certificate of Jamaican Citizenship (in cases where the applicant is establishing the claim through a parent that acquired citizenship by virtue of marriage before the applicant was born).


• Applicant’s parents’ Marriage Certificate (where applicable).
• Marriage Certificate (where applicable).
• Applicants’ valid Government issued ID (Adult age 18 and over).
• Jamaican parent’s government issued ID (eg. Valid Passport, Driver’s Licence or Elector Registration Identification Card).
• Official change of name document – Court Order, Deed Polls registered through the court or the country’s record office, etc (where applicable).
• Two (2) passport sized photographs of the applicant, one must be certified by a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths or Consular Officer, for overseas applications.
• Court issued document evidencing Legal Guardianship (where applicable).
• Mailed-in application should include self-addressed registered envelope (FEDEX, UPS, or USPS express, priority, registered or certified mail) to facilitate the return of original documents, while awaiting the processing of application.

Cost: The fee for this application is US$115.00, in addition to US$20.00 for consular and postage fees.

Processing Time
The processing period for Citizenship by Descent Applications (provided that application fulfills all requirements AFTER being transmitted to the Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA) in Jamaica): Approximately three (3) months (please allow for transit time between the Embassy and PICA in Jamaica)

The acceptable forms of payment are cash, or debit card (a surcharge is applied by the banking machine used for debit card) for in-person appointments, ONLY. For mailed in applications, payment must be made by way of Money Order made out to the Embassy of Jamaica. Mailed-in applications are to be sent to: The Embassy of Jamaica, 1520 New Hampshire Ave, NW, Washington DC. 20036.

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.

Application Requirements

• Certified copy of Birth Certificate
• Passport on which applicant originally entered Jamaica
• Current Passport (if different)
• Marriage Certificate (where applicable)
• A Work Permit or Exemption Certificate
• Evidence of involvement in any community activities


• Two (2) Passport size photographs
• Tax Compliance Certificate (personal and business). If applicant/spouse operates a wholesale income Tax filing is required
• Verification of income (e.g. Last 3 pay slips, company financial statements, pension statement, employment letter. These should not be older than 6 months).
• Recent Bank Statement (Should not be older than 6 months).

A Jamaican Passport or Travel Document may be issued on application to a non – Jamaican only after the person has obtained a Certificate of Registration or Naturalization from the appropriate authorities in Jamaica.

Applications are submitted directly to the Passport, Citizenship and Immigration Agency in Kingston, Jamaica by the applicant. The processing time for compliant applications is twenty-four (24) months.

Fee
Naturalization as a citizen of Jamaican attracts a non-refundable processing fee of J$50,000.00 made payable at PICA, 8 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10. Payment will only be accepted in Jamaican dollars.

Please note that upon approval the applicant is required have the certificate endorsed at the Stamp Office at an additional cost of J$1000.00.

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

• Completed Application R1 Form See Application Form
• Original copy of Birth Certificate and Passport of the Jamaican National
• Original copy of Birth Certificate and Passport of the applicant (spouse)
• Original copy of Marriage Certificate
• Recent (at most 6 months old) Police Record of the Applicant
• Income Letter and Bank Statement
• Two (2) 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.


• Letter to the Minister of National Security and Justice requesting registration as a Citizen of Jamaica.
• Mailed-in application should include self-addressed registered envelope (FEDEX, UPS, or USPS express, priority, registered or certified mail) to facilitate the return of original documents, while awaiting the processing of application.

Processing time for compliant applications is approximately twenty–four (24) months.

Fee

The fee for this application is US$275.00, in addition to US$20.00 for consular and postage fees

A Commonwealth national who has resided legitimately in Jamaica for at least five (5) consecutive years, and is of good character, may make an application to become a Jamaican citizen.

The application form for Registration as a Citizen of Jamaica for an adult should be completed in duplicate and signed before a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths or a Consular Officer at the Embassy of Jamaica.

Adult Application Requirements

• Completed R3 application form for citizenship by registration, made in duplicate.
• Applicant’s Birth Certificate/ Statement of Live Birth/ Certification of Birth
• Passport on which the applicant originally entered Jamaica.
• Current passport, if different from one above.
• Valid work permit / Exemption Certificate
• Evidence of community activities in which the applicant is involved, for example, service club, etc.
• Personal Tax Compliance Certificate.
• If applicant operates a wholesale/ haberdashery, Income Tax Filings with both Personal and Business Tax Compliance Certificates are required.
• Two (2) passport-size photographs certified by a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths or a Consular Officer .
• Verification of income (eg. Employment letter that three pay slips, Company Financial Statements, Pension Statement - should not be older than 6 months)
• Recent bank statements (should not be older than 6 months)
• Official change of name Document, Deed Polls must be registered through the court or the Country’s record office, Court Order (where applicable)

Completed applications should be submitted to the Citizenship Unit of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA). Compliant applications will be prepared for submission to the Minister of National Security within twenty-four (24) months, for approval.

Cost:

Upon approval, the applicant is required to have the certificate endorsed at the Stamp Office at an additional cost of J$50,00.00

Applications may be submitted in person BY APPOINTMENT ONLY or by mail.

This process is ONLY applicable for applicants who were already granted an original Certificate of Jamaican Citizenship.

• A letter applying for a Certified Copy should be addressed to: The Chief Executive Officer Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency 25c Constant Spring Road Kingston 10
  Please note that the letter should state the Name, Address and File Reference or Certificate number of the applicant. The applicant is required to state what has happened to the original Certificate of Citizenship and why the certified copy is required. .
• Recent Police Report on the status of Original Certificate (should not be older than 6 months)
• Two (2) Passport sized photographs of the applicant taken within the last six months. Walk-in applicants need not notarize their photographs. Photographs for mailed-in applications must be certified as “I certify this to be a true photo of (FULL NAME OF PERSON)” and should be stamped, signed and dated by the notary. If this is unable to hold on the photographs, the photos may be pasted on a blank paper and notarized following the aforementioned guidelines
• Parent’s photo I.D. (Driver’s license or passport) if applicant is a minor;
• Application Fee - $135 (including mailing fee); 115 (without mailing fee)
• Mailed-in application should include self-addressed registered envelope (FEDEX, UPS, or USPS express, priority, registered or certified mail) to facilitate the return of original documents, while awaiting the processing of application.

PROCESSING TIME
The processing period for Replacement Citizenship Certificate (provided that application fulfills all requirements AFTER being transmitted to the Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA) in Jamaica): Approximately three (3) months (please allow for transit time between the Embassy and PICA in Jamaica)

NOTE:
Persons submitting citizenship by descent applications in-person at the Embassy may also apply for their passports at the same time.

The acceptable forms of payment are cash, or debit card (a surcharge is applied by the banking machine used for debit card) for in-person appointments, ONLY. For mailed in applications, payment must be made by way of Money Order made out to the Embassy of Jamaica. Mailed-in applications are to be sent to: The Embassy of Jamaica, 1520 New Hampshire Ave, NW, Washington DC. 20036.

The formal process of giving up one’s Jamaican nationality/citizenship is referred to as renunciation. The applicant should be of full age and capacity who is either a national of a foreign country or has been assured of such nationality on the condition that he/she renounces Jamaican nationality.

A person who is desirous of renouncing his/her Jamaican nationality is required to complete the Declaration of Renunciation Form, in triplicate, and pay the requisite fee. The form may be obtained at PICA

The Renunciation Process

The completed application form should be submitted accompanied by the following documents:

• Applicant’s Birth Certificate/ Adoption Certificate/ Citizenship Certificate .
• Jamaican passport .
• Valid ID of applicant .
• Evidence of other nationality (Copy of evidence of citizenship must be certified by a Notary Public or Consular Officer).
• Two (2) passport-sized photos of the applicant certified by a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths or Consular Officer. Ther reverse side of one of the photos should have the following inscription: “I certify that this is a true photograph of … [insert applicant’s full name]”. The certifying officer should sign and date below the inscription.
• Applications should be submitted within 6 months of the certification above.
• On approval of application, before the certificate is delivered, the applicant is required to surrender his/her Jamaican passport.

Fee

The fee for this type of application is US$1,000.00, which should be paid to PICA. An additional US$20.00, which represents consular and postage fees should be paid to the Embassy.

Citizenship application fees can be paid to PICA via any of the following methods:

• Obtain a bank draft in the correct amount made payable to “Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, 25C Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica”
• Have a relative/friend in Jamaica make the payment for you in US dollars at PICA’s offices in Kingston.
• Effect an international wire transfer payment through your bank using the following details.

Beneficiary:
Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency
25C Constant Spring Road,
Kingston 10


Jamaica Beneficiary’s Bank:
Bank of Nova Scotia
SWIFT Code: NOSCJMKNXXX
Account No.: 100913894
Branch No.: 30015


Intermediary Bank:
JP Morgan Chase Bank
270 Park Avenue,
New York, NY 10017, USA
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33XXX




• NB. Applicants should take into consideration the bank charges for the international wire transfer and send an excess of approximately USD37.00 to cover bank charges.
• Consular and postage fees in the amount of USD20.00 per passport application should be paid to the Embassy of Jamaica in US dollars cash or via deposit to the Embassy’s USD Bank account. A copy of the bank receipt should also be submitted with the passport application.