Under Chapter two of the Jamaican Constitution, persons born in Jamaica and persons born outside Jamaica of Jamaican parents have an automatic right to Jamaican citizenship. Applications for Jamaican Citizenship are done in different categories. These include applications for citizenship:
Descent
Marriage
Naturalization
Registration (Commonwealth)
Registration (Minor)
Based on Descent
By law, all persons born outside of Jamaica, who have a claim to Jamaican citizenship by descent, whether through parents or grandparents, are required to formally apply for the Certification of Jamaican Citizenship. This applies also to those who may have held Jamaican passports previously and now need to renew their passport and be issued with machine readable passports.
How to Apply
Complete the Citizenship Application form, which can be obtained from the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency website (PICA), any Jamaican High Commission or Consulate, or the link below:
If one or both parents are Jamaicans:
a) Applicant’s full birth certificate (showing parents’ names)
b) Applicant’s passport
c) Applicant’s marriage certificate (if applicable)
d) Jamaican parent’s birth certificate and passport (preferably Jamaican)
e) Parent’s marriage certificate (if applicable).
If applying through Jamaican grandparents:
a) Applicant’s full birth certificate
b) Applicant’s passport
c) Applicant’s marriage certificate (if applicable)
d) Father/mother’s birth certificate and passport
e) Maternal/paternal grandparent’s birth certificate and passport (preferably Jamaican)
f) Parent’s/grandparent’s marriage certificate (if applicable)
All applications should be accompanied by two certified passport-sized photographs.
Applicants should submit the completed application form to the offices of PICA if applying in Jamaica or the offices of a Jamaican High Commission/Consulate if overseas and present original documents which will be copied and certified as true copies of the originals and your original documents (e.g. birth certificate, passport etc) and are returned to you immediately.
On the basis of the verified compliant documents submitted and lineage established, a Certificate of Citizenship will be issued. The processing time takes approximately six (6) to twelve (12) months.
For additional information contact:
Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA)
25 Constant Spring Road
Kingston 10, Jamaica
Tel: (876) 908-0142
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