JAMAICA OFFERS ONLINE IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORM
Aug 22, 2019
KINGSTON – August 20, 2019 – Jamaica now offers an online version of the Immigration and Customs Declaration form (C5) for arriving travellers at the island’s international airports.
The online form will enable passengers to be processed more seamlessly through the arrival process (Immigration and Customs) in the island. This will also lead to a reduction in waiting and processing times in both Immigration and Customs.
The form is currently (available here: https://c5online.pica.gov.jm/apply/) provides travellers with the option to be completed prior to their travels to Jamaica (once their travel has been booked) as opposed to filling out the physical form upon arriving at their respective airport.
The Online Passenger Declaration Form captures the same information as the current paper Immigration and Customs Passenger Declaration Form. The electronic format, once completed, is then submitted to Immigration Officers and Customs Officers and when passengers arrive at the airport in Jamaica, they are processed by designated officers.
“As Jamaica’s arrivals numbers continue to soar, it’s important that we offer a speedier process at our airports, so our visitors spend less time waiting in immigration and customs and more time enjoying the destination,” said Donovan White, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “We’re continuously seeking ways to enhance our visitors’ experience while in Jamaica and we hope this improved experience also promotes greater return visits for our guests.”
“The new system is efficient because it is user-friendly and requires minimal effort on the part of the traveller,” said Andrew Wynter, CEO of Jamaica’s Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency. “Once you click on one of the boxes, it moves you onto the next option; we don’t want people spending too much time on the form, we want them focusing on their stay and experience in Jamaica.”According to PICA, the system was created and designed by the Information and Communication Technology staff at both PICA and JCA, in consultation with other stakeholders. As part of its continuing efforts to improve the arrivals experience, the customs agency’s next project is to launch a mobile application.
For more information on traveling to Jamaica, go to www.visitjamaica.com.
About Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Mumbai.
TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #1 Caribbean Destination and #14 Best Destination in the World in 2019. Also this year, the International Council of the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) named Jamaica the Destination of the Year and TravAlliance Media named JTB Best Tourism Board, and Jamaica as Best Culinary Destination, Best Wedding Destination and Best Honeymoon Destination. Additionally, the JTB has been declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for thirteen consecutive years between 2006 and 2019. Jamaica also earned the WTA’s award for the Caribbean’s Leading Destination, Leading Cruise Destination and Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2018 for the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions and service providers that have won several awards throughout the years.
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com.
