Jamaica - Customs Entitlements for Returning Residents

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Procedure

Apply In-Person

1. To benefit from the concession afforded to Returning Residents visit the Returning Resident Unit at the Jamaica Customs Agency Head Office, you can view their contact details in the “Office Location and Contacts” section below or via this link: Link
2. Ensure that you meet the required eligibility listed in the “Eligibility” section below before you submit your request
3. Download the entitlement list from the Jamaica Customs Agency website or directly via this link: Link
4. Fill the list against the items you are importing then write your name and sign it and prepare all the required documents and attach them to the entitlement list
5. Visit the Returning Resident Unit at the Jamaica Customs Agency Head Office to Submit the complete application alongside the required documents to the customs assisting officer at the service window
6. The custom official will verify your application and then you will be interviewed regarding your application
7. Once application is confirmed, the relevant exemption notice will be prepared and you will be notified of the next step in the process for the clearance of shipment, including any other relevant documents that may be required prior to activation of exemption and clearance of goods.
8. The declaration of values will be used when preparing Customs Import Declaration (IM4 / IMS4) and the customs will authorize the items mentioned in the entitlement list to pass duty free

Apply Online - Customs Entitlements for Returning Residents Online with Images

1. For online registration, visit the Jamaican Customs Agency’s Returning Residents portal via this link: Link
2. Click on “Click here to access online booking form” and proceed to the online registration form
3. Fill the required information; your names and email address. Then click on “Submit”
4. The system will confirm your submission and direct you to check your email inbox for confirmation
5. Go to your email account and open the email form the Jamaica Customs Agency
6. Read the email and select “YES” for then process your application and provide you with a username and password that will enable you to complete your booking

Note:

1. Motor Vehicle Importation Policy is primarily administered by the Trade Board Limited, which is responsible for granting Import Licences for motor vehicle importation.
2. Importation of pets or other animals will require an Import Permit from the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry Of Agriculture prior to importation.
3. Importation of plants will require a Permit from the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry Of Agriculture.

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Required Documents

Prove from Abroad

• A valid Jamaican Passport or foreign passport that is endorsed with the unconditional landing stamp
• A validated Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
• Taxpayers Registration Number (TRN)
• Documentary evidence that will substantiate residency outside of Jamaica for 3 or more consecutive years.
• Deportees should present their Deportation Order and case file.

Prove in Jamaica

• Evidence of property owned in Jamaica
• Contract or letter of employment from prospective employer in Jamaica
• Rental or lease contract along with a receipt

Office Locations & Contacts

Jamaica Customs Agency
Montego Bay Revenue Service Centre Bldg
18B Howard Cooke Blvd.,Montego Bay, St James
Telephone: 952-0000 extension 2023
Contact details: Link

Returning Resident Unit
Jamaica Customs Agency
Myers’ Wharf, Newport East
Kingston 15
Telephone: (867) 750 3098 or (876) 750 3005(876) 922-5140 extensions 2520 to 25

Diaspora and Consular Affairs Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
21 Dominica Drive,
Kingston 5
Telephone: 926 4220

Veterinary Services Division
Ministry of Agriculture
Norman Manley International Airport
Telephone: 924-8077 or 924-8079

The Trade Board Limited
10th Floor Air Jamaica Bldg
72 Harbour St., Kingston
Telephone: 967-0507 or 967-0674

Eligibility

• A Jamaican national who has attained the age of 18 years, and who has been residing overseas for the last 3 consecutive years, and is returning to Jamaica to reside permanently.
• A Non-Jamaican whose spouse is a Jamaican Returning Resident.
• A Deportee who has been residing overseas for the last 3 consecutive years

Note:

• Qualified applicants can benefit only once from this exemption.
• A Returning Resident and his or her spouse shall be counted as one, where the Returning Resident and the spouse arrive in Jamaica at the same time or within three years of each other.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

• Entitlement list:Link

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

• Within one day

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

• A specified amount of personal and household effects can be imported free of customs duty.
• Returning Residents may import their tools of trade free of customs duty
• Returning Students are entitled to import reasonable quantity of used household effects, musical instruments, and one of each type of electronic equipment (new or used)
• Deported persons will receive entitlement similar to that of returning residents.

Required Information

• Names
• Items being imported
• Quantity of items
• Value of Items being imported

Need for the Document

• As a Jamaican resident or citizen you are exempted for some custom duty charges when importing items that you owned while staying abroad , however you need the customs to approve your application and authorize entry of the said items duty free

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

• Jamaica Customs Agency: Link

Others

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