PICA Corner - Can I come to Jamaica on an expired passport?

I am living in the United States (US) and I'm planning to travel to Jamaica to attend my grandmother's funeral. The passport I presently hold has expired but the wait time in the States would see me missing my grandmother's funeral. My question is, would I be able to travel to Jamaica on my current passport and will I be able to have it renewed there? Most importantly, what is the waiting time?

Condolences to you on the loss of your grandmother. As a Jamaican, you are able to enter the island on an expired passport but you will not be able to leave on the same document. It is important, therefore, that you renew your passport while in Jamaica, and this must be done in order for you to return to the US.

To renew your passport, you must fill out an application form, obtainable at our office or on our website at www.pica.gov.jm. You must also submit the following:

• Birth certificate/certificate of citizenship/adoption certificate
• Current passport
• Certified application form
• Two colour photographs (only one of the photos must be certified)
• Marriage certificate (women using a married name)
• Fee - $4,500

The standard turnaround time for processing local applications for passport submitted at the head office located at 25C Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10, is seven working days, though you may acquire the document sooner through our next-day or three-day expedited services. Note that our expedited service is available at our Kingston office only. A charge of $2,500 will be added to the cost of your passport if you require the next-day service. Our three-day service incurs an additional charge of $1,500.

If you are on the western end of the island, you may submit your application at our branch office in Montego Bay. The address is Overton Plaza, 49 Union Street. The processing time for applications submitted through our Montego Bay office is 14 working days.

PICA now accepts applications for passport at the Portmore and May Pen tax offices. Passport applications are accepted each day at both locations except the 13th to 16th and 28th to 31st of each month. This is to accommodate the increased crowds of persons carrying out tax transactions at the tax offices on those days. Applications may be submitted on Saturdays at the Portmore tax office only.

Turnaround times for the delivery of passports at both Portmore and May Pen are 11 and 14 days, respectively. Please ensure that you present your taxpayer registration number (TRN) if you are applying through the tax office.

Note that in order to receive your passport within any of the times mentioned above, your application must be compliant with all the stated requirements.

For further information, visit the website of the Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency at www.pica.gov.jm or email queries to: info@pica.gov.jm.