Jamaica - Clearance

ARRIVAL FORMALITIES

At your first Port of Entry, fly the Q-flag. This is important.

Ensure you have a Jamaican courtesy flag to fly once clearance has been completed. This is also important.

Ports of Entry: 

The northern coast is the preferred point of entry as the southern coast has more reefs and requires careful attention.

The Coast Guard advises that entry to the island be made at the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club in Kingston (although cruisers report that Port Royal is quicker), The Montego Bay Yacht Club in Montego Bay, or the Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio. At these docks, immigration and customs services, adequate facilities for mooring/docking, refueling and supplies, as well as security are in place, or are easily arranged. Some of these ports have repair facilities with lifts, and can make arrangements for specialized marine services as needed.

General Process:

Report your arrival immediately. Yachts clearing in from foreign ports may not be allowed to dock until given permission by Customs. Customs, Immigration and Health will normally come to the boat.

• Customs: Jamaica Customs requires that each vessel provides a full crew list and documents relating to the vessel’s registration and cargo. A Customs Officer will board the vessel for inspection and indicate when pratique (clearance) has been granted.
• Immigration: The Passport Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA) will require the crew list and passports (with proof of visas where applicable) for each vessel. The Immigration Officer will indicate the period of stay for which each traveler is allowed. Extensions of stay may be sought through PICA.
• Fees: There is no cost for clearing into Jamaica during normal working hours (09:00-16.30 (Mon-Fri). Outside these hours there is a reasonable charge. See Fees for details.

Domestic Cruising:

Customs is the agency in charge of your port to port movements. They will ask for a detailed itinerary and then you will have to buy a cruising permit (a "Coastwise Clearance"). See Documents for more details.

At each port, check in with Customs. You do not have to do full clearance at every port.

Yachts are monitored and if checking in late or making unauthorised stops (without sufficient reason) you may be fined.

As the cost of the cruising permit is US$150 for 6 months (fixed cost) - many yachts visiting for a couple of weeks choose to stay in the port of entry and explore the island by land.

Last updated:  December 2023