COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Jamaica (12 April Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Residents are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Foreigners are allowed to enter.

• Non-Jamaicans who have been in the UK within the last 14 days prior to the intended arrival date in Jamaica, seeking to enter the island through another country will not be permitted to enter Jamaica.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes

• Arrivals are subject to medical screening and COVID-19 PCR testing at the airport if travellers have symptoms, have been exposed to anyone who has tested positive or belongs to a high-risk group.

• Jamaicans who have been in the UK within the last 14 days prior to their intended arrival date, who seek to enter the island through another country, will be tested and placed in state quarantine for a minimum of 48 hours until the results are returned. Travellers coming to Jamaica directly from the UK via transit ports will be prohibited from entering the country.

• Business travellers are subject to test on arrival at their own cost.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Test certificates from RT-PCR, RNA or molecular tests, antigen tests, and Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) tests are accepted. Test results from antibody or home-based test kits will not be accepted.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• Until 30 June 2021, all arrivals (12 years of age and over) to Jamaica, including Jamaican nationals, must present a negative COVID-19 PCR or Antigen test result within 72-hours prior to the travel date. Business travellers must present a pre-test result and will incur the cost of a PCR test after arrival in Jamaica.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Quarantine measures will depend on the category of traveller:

• Category 1: Residents - Jamaican nationals and non-nationals ordinarily residents in Jamaica will be under home quarantine for 14 days.

• Category 2: Non-residents visiting Jamaica for tourism purposes and staying at approved “resilient corridor” accommodation: If the test performed on arrival is negative, the traveller can leave their hotel room and continue their stay in Jamaica provided they remain within the “resilient corridor”. If the test is positive, the traveller must continue to quarantine at the hotel/resort or in a government facility. A list of approved accommodations may be found here.

• Category 3: Non-residents visiting Jamaica for business purposes for less than 14 days: If the test performed on arrival is negative, travellers will be released from quarantine and are required to follow the provisions of the Stay at Intended address plan applicable to business travellers. If the test is positive, travellers will be subject to isolation either at their hotel/intended address or in a government facility.

• Category 4: Non-residents visiting Jamaica for other purposes including tourists not staying within the “resilient corridor”: arrivals must quarantine for 14 days at home.

• Jamaicans who have been in the UK within the 14 days prior to the intended arrival date, who seek to enter the island through another country will be tested and placed in state quarantine for a minimum of 48 hours until the results are returned. If negative, they will have to abide by 14 days mandatory home quarantine, if positive, they will be transferred to isolation at a location approved by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• The use of the “JamCovid19 APP” is mandatory for contact tracing.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Travellers residing in Jamaica for a minimum of six months must complete a Travel Authorization form before departure here.

• Travellers not residing in Jamaica must produce a Travel Authorization form before departure here.

• Travel Authorization applications must be submitted within seven (7) days of the intended travel date.

Is vaccination required?

• No

• A COVID-19 vaccination is not required for entry into Jamaica. There are no exemptions for travellers who have been vaccinated.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• Commercial flights are operating. All flights will need a landing permit 72-hours before their arrival. Travellers currently require authorization before boarding the flight.

• Jamaican authorities have suspended all flights from the United Kingdom until 13 April 2021.

Border restrictions

• Minimal

• Borders are open.

Curfew restrictions

• Moderate

• Night curfew measures are in force in Jamaica until 13 April 2021

• 12-13 April 2021: 12:00 until 05:00

Social distancing restrictions

• Minimal

• At least 2 meters of physical distancing is mandatory in public places.

• Social gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Taxi operators should carry one person less than the maximum number of persons allowed under their current license.

• The main business district, the Corporate Area of Kingston, will be restricted for the purposes of essential activity.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Until 13 April 2021, markets can operate between 06:00-19:00 (local time) when the curfew is in effect between 20:00-05:00 and between 06:00-11:00 when the curfew is in place from 12:00 to 05:00. Markets remain closed on Sundays and public holidays, including Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Accommodations are open. Only businesses within the Resilient Corridor that have been trained and assessed for adherence to COVID-19 protocols are allowed to open to tourists. A list of the approved accommodations may be found here.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open and must close by 18:00 (local time). Takeaway or delivery services are also permitted.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Bars must close by 18:00 (local time).

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• No

• Beaches and rivers are closed.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• No

• Museums and heritage sites are closed.

Personal care services open?

• No

• Personal care services are closed.

Places of worship open?

• No, with exceptions

• Churches will engage in online services only. Until 13 April 2021, services will be allowed for worship places during the 05:00-20:00 (local time). A maximum of 12 persons (including officiating clergy and IT personnel) may be physically present to facilitate electronic broadcast from the place of worship.

Events allowed?

• No, with exceptions

• Between 24 March - 13 April 2021, burials will be allowed from 09:00 until 16:00 (local time), Monday through Friday with gatherings of 10 people and additional members of the officiating party. The ban on funerals remains in effect.

• Weddings are allowed to take place with a maximum gathering of 15 people.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Face masks are mandatory in public places.

Other Restrictions

• Until 13 April 2021, the government suspended all face-to-face classes.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.