Mark
https://pl.ivisa.com/jamaica-travel-authorization
It is important to understand the Jamaica Travel Authorization and how it will affect your trip to Jamaica. If you travel for business or pleasure, you will need a Travel Authorization to allow you to travel to Jamaica. Once you reach this landing page, you will find lots of info about traveling to Jamaica for leisure or for business, regarding the travel authorization, tourism, special zones, entry requirements, restrictions, tariffs and more.
It is actually important that you have a Jamaica Travel Authorization before traveling to Jamaica as you cannot enter the country without it. It is valid for six consecutive month. This number is also known as the Regulatory Entry Number (or RIN) for easy identification at customs checkpoints. Your Jamaica Travel Authorization can be obtained in one of three ways: by mail, telephone, or online.
For those who would like to apply directly by mailing in their application, there are three options. For those who are not in the United States, you can send your application by certified mail. The earliest option is the fastest, but it is not without risks. It should be noted that if you do not have a Jamaica Travel Authorization, it takes time to process your application. There are three reasons for this, one being the Jamaican flag being hoisted with the signature of the traveller.
A telephone request can take up two weeks to receive a response. However, those who submit an email request will get a reply in minutes. Those who want to go through the whole process by mail can do so, but expect the processing time to take longer, perhaps three to four weeks, as opposed to the seven to ten days that can be spent by those who use the internet method of application. The other difference is that you need to keep all documents pertaining to your trip. Documents include passport, airline tickets, entry permit, itinerary and all the documents that are related to your personal information as well. Keep in mind that obtaining a Jamaica Travel Authorization needs to be done from the Jamaica Tourism Authority only, at the port of call where your passport was registered.
You will need a Jamaica Travel Authorization to gain entry. You will find that Jamaica does not accept visas, nor does it have a port of entry policy. They do have a list of customs officers who will inspect all travelers to make sure they are not illegally entering the country. If they find that you are trying illegally to enter the country, you will be asked to leave immediately. What you will find happening is that most people who are caught will not be permitted to leave the island, and instead will spend the balance of their time within the dock, waiting to be caught again.
Another important part of entering the country through an airport is to fill out the health declaration form and then to go down to the local port of call. You should expect to wait seven to ten working days for your paperwork and the paperwork for a visa to be processed. Finally you will need to check-in with the tourism office at the port of call. You will be traveling to another country with your travel form, so ensure you carefully read the information.