English, English patois

Protestant 62.5%, Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%.

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for more than 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina.

Jamaican Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing.

All Americans traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter the United States.  This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed-loop cruises), including ferry service, on June 1, 2009.  Until then, U.S. citizens traveling by sea may present government-issued photo identification and a document showing their U.S. citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or certificate of nationalization).  Starting June 1, 2009, all travelers must present a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document such as a passport or a passport card for entry to the United States.  While passport cards and enhanced driver’s licenses are sufficient for entry into the United States, they may not be accepted by the particular country you plan to visit; please be sure to check with your cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements.

Visitors must have a return ticket and be able to show sufficient funds for their visit. U.S. citizens traveling to Jamaica for work or extended stays are required to have a current U.S. passport and visa issued by the Jamaican Embassy or a Jamaican Consulate. There is a departure tax for travelers, which is regularly included in airfare. For further information, travelers may contact the Embassy of Jamaica at 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036, telephone (202) 452-0660; the Jamaican Consulate in Miami or New York; honorary consuls in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Seattle or Los Angeles. Visit the Embassy of Jamaica web site  for the most current visa information.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.

Airports:  351, Airports w/paved runways:  11

Kingston – Norman Manley International Airport (KIN/MKJP)
Kingston Airport, Jamaica, PO Box 567, Kingston 5, Palisadose, West Indies, JAMAICA
Kingston Airport, Jamaica, 53 Knutsford Boulevard, Palisadose, JAMAICA
Tel: +1 876 836-1622/3
Fax: +1 876 926-0356
Website:  www.aaj.com.jm
Customs, hours: 24 hours
Tel: +1 876 924 8312

Montego Bay – Sangster International Airport (MBJ/MKJS)
Montego Bay Airport, Jamaica, MBH Airports Ltd, Montego Bay, JAMAICA
Tel: +1 876 952-3124, +1 876 952-3133, +1 876 952-2712
Fax: +1 876 952-6172, +1 876 971-9598
Website: www.mbjairport.com

US Dept. of State TRAVEL ALERT issued for Jamaica May 24, 2010
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_jamaica.html

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Kingston, Jamaica and its surrounding areas because of escalating violence, shootings and unrest.  Jamaican Defense Forces are engaged in an operation to arrest an alleged drug and weapons trafficker.  Access to the Norman Manley International Airport has been blocked on an intermittent basis by gun battles between criminal elements and police.  A number of air flights into and out of Kingston have been canceled.  The Government of Jamaica has imposed a State of Emergency in Kingston and St. Andrew.  The possibility exists that unrest could spread beyond the general Kingston area.  U.S. Embassy Kingston is taking extra security precautions, including cancelling official travel by USG personnel into Kingston.  This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Alert issued on May 21, 2010 to warn U.S. citizens against travel to Kingston and to provide updated information on the security and airport situation.  This Travel Alert expires on June 23, 2010.

U.S citizens presently in Jamaica should monitor local news and radio frequently before venturing out from their homes or hotels.  U.S. citizens traveling to or from the Norman Manley International Airport should use the South Camp Road route.  U.S. citizens should contact their air carriers regarding flight status before traveling to the airport.  U.S. citizens are urged to exercise heightened security awareness and maintain a low profile during this State of Emergency.  U.S. citizens in Jamaica are advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when venturing outside their residence or hotel. 

U.S. citizens living and residing in Jamaica or the Cayman Islands are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State's automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  U.S. citizens may also register by visiting the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy or our consular agencies in Montego Bay and Georgetown, Cayman Islands, during business hours.

Emergencies involving U.S. citizens can be reported by contacting  the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at 142 Old Hope Road in the Liguanea area of Kingston, telephone (876) 702-6450; after hours emergency telephone (876) 702-6000;  Consular Section fax (876) 702-6018; and e-mail at KingstonACS@state.gov.  The U.S. Consular Agency in Montego Bay has moved and is now located at Whitter Village, Ironshore, telephone (876) 953-0620.  The U.S. Consular Agency in the Cayman Islands is located at 118 Dorcy Drive, Suite B-1, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, telephone (345) 945-8173. 

U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website at http://kingston.usembassy.gov and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution Messages, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which includes valuable security information for living and/or traveling abroad.  In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

Gang violence and shootings occur regularly in certain areas of Kingston and Montego Bay. Some neighborhoods are occasionally subject to curfews and police searches. Impromptu demonstrations can occur, during which demonstrators often construct roadblocks or otherwise block the streets. 

Crime, including violent crime, is a serious problem in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston. While the vast majority of crimes occur in impoverished areas, the violence is not confined. American citizens should avoid buying, selling, holding, or taking illegal drugs under any circumstances. 

Jamaica, like all Caribbean countries, can be affected by hurricanes.  Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year.

Infant MR total:  15.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:  TOTAL 73.12 years (male 71.43/female 74.9)

Required: None

Recommended: Malaria (if in Kingston), Hep A & B, Rabies, Typhoid
Boosters: DPT, MMR

Dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes in this region.

Cutaneous larval migrans is a risk for travelers with exposures on beaches and leptospirosis is present. Eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostongylus cantonensis occurred in travelers to Jamaica. There remains very limited risk of schistosomiasis in few areas. Other hazards for travelers include toxic fish poisoning

Medical care is more limited than in the United States. Comprehensive emergency medical services are located only in Kingston and Montego Bay, and smaller public hospitals are located in each parish. Doctors and hospitals often require cash payment prior to providing services.

Malaria Outbreak in Kingston, Jamaica is waning, as per CDC Update on 07/20/07. The date of onset of illness for the most recently reported case was June 10, 2007.

Country Calling Code:  1 + local number (no international calling code)
Internet Country Code:  .jm