Pre-travel Requirements
(updated 1/23/21)
You MUST complete the Jamaican Travel Authorization Form.
Submit your application. You must first submit your email address and you will immediately be sent a one time numerical password to access the form.
Once you receive the code input it on the Visit Jamaica site.
Complete and submit the form.
Your application will be reviewed and a Covid-19 health risk assessment conducted.
You will receive an email with your travel authorization if successful, or denial if your health risk assessment level is above the threshold. If denied, you ca reapply after 14 days.
Save an electronic AND printed copy of the Travel Authorization as you will need to show it to an airline agent at check-in, or when boarding your flight.
You MUST complete a Covid test no less than 10 days prior to travel, so those arriving on 6/4 must take it on or after 5/26. Home-based test kits will NOT be accepted. Learn more about acceptable Covid test here.
Covid Test Certificate Must Contain the Following:
Name of individual tested (must be same on application and lab test report)
Date of birth of individual tested (must be same on application and lab test report)
Name and address of testing laboratory o Laboratory credentials
Date of sample collection
Type of test
Type of sample
Test result
The test must be authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or meet the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), and must be performed by a College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) registered or ISO 15189 certified laboratory.
Entry Screening Process
Upon arrival into Jamaica all travelers will go through a health screening and risk assessment process by health authorities. Health screening includes temperature checks, observation for COVID-19 related symptoms and a short interview with a health officer.
All travelers from designated high-risk areas (Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Mexico Panama and the USA) are now required to show a negative Antigen or PCR test result.
The negative test result and travel authorization must be shown prior to check in at the airport and again on arrival to Jamaica.
Testing at the airport will take place in instances where travelers are exhibiting symptoms or belong to a high-risk group despite presenting a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate. In this case, they would await their test result in their hotel room.
Reentry Requirements
Once in Jamaica, you are now REQUIRED to get tested no more than 3 days before returning back to the United States from any international country, and must provide negative test results. Airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not provide a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of recovery. Learn more here. List of Covid testing sites in Jamaica.
The RIU Montego Bay provides on-site, complimentary departure test provided by an accredited medical testing lab that complies with the requirements of the CDC. Guest can schedule the testing with the front desk.
If you have had Covid within 3 months of traveling and have a doctor signed a documentation of recovery saying that you are clear to travel you do not have to take the reentry test.
If your trip is delayed and you fall outside of that 72hr (3 day period) you must retest to board your flight.
You can purchase travel protection which covers your delayed travel expenses up to $3,000 if your trip is delayed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to quarantine upon arrival to Jamaica?
Non-residents visiting Jamaica for tourism purposes, staying at an approved “resilient corridor” accommodation and test negative for Covid are not required to quarantine but are required to follow the stay in resilient corridor control measures which means you are required to remain at your hotel/resort within the corridor for the duration of their stay. You may, however, leave the hotel/resort to visit any tourist attraction, that is certified by the Jamaica Tourist Board to be a COVID-19 Resilient licensed tourist attraction located within the resilient corridor. That list can be found here.
Do I need do download the Jamcovid 19 App?
No, The Jamcovid 19 App is for electronic monitoring during quarantine or isolation. Non-residents visiting Jamaica for tourism purposes, staying at an approved “resilient corridor” accommodation and test negative for Covid are NOT required to download the app.
What happens if a non-resident visitor tests positive while in Jamaica?
People should self-isolate and delay their travel if symptoms develop or a pre-departure test result is positive until they have recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not present a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of recovery.
**Currently, the RIU Montego Bay is providing an extension at no cost of up to 10 days for the guest who tests positive and all companions in the same room. However, this is valid for travel through 3/31 and I will keep this updated.
I have the vaccine, do I still need to take the reentry test?
Yes, at this time all air passengers traveling to the US, regardless of vaccination or antibody status, are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery.
Do I have to quarantine for 14 days upon returning back to the United States?
Quarantine is recommended by the CDC but is not a requirement.
Where can I learn more about the Current Health Protocols?
https://www.jtbonline.org/home/covid-19-tourism-protocols/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html