Importing Personal Effects into Jamaica: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2022 · Download the Jamaica Import Guide (PDF)

Removal goods – HHG/PE

• Expats: ▪ 1 copy of passport data page, letter of authorization, 1 copy Tax Registration Number (TRN) or Jamaican Driver license. – All three documents notarised by a J.P. ▪ Taxes compliance certificate and Trade Board license for import of auto. Returning resident: ▪ 2 copies of passport data page and landing stamp and letter of authorization - notarised by a J.P ▪ Tax Registration Number (TRN). ▪ Taxes compliance certificate and Trade Board license for import of auto. ▪ Inventory & AWB/OBL. ▪ Unaccompanied Baggage declaration form (C.27) provided at the airport upon arrival in Jamaica. ▪ Customs declaration form (C.5) provided to the Customs officer at the time of arrival at the airport in Jamaica. ▪ Tax returns – Including W-2/1099, P-60, T4, ▪ Letter of separation from employer. ▪ Pension advice/Social Security Letter where applicable. ▪ Documents proving customer has lived outside of Jamaica for more than 3 years.
• ▪ Document stating customer’s intention to re-establish permanent residence in Jamaica. ▪ Unconditional stamp if Jamaican and arriving on foreign passport.

• ▪ All items new or used: ▪ Dutiable for Expats and non-returning residents. ▪ Valued packing list must be provided. ▪ Duty, if due on items, is determined after examination of the goods by customs at the stripping station and valuation: ▪ Based on the CIF value ▪ Will be between 5% to 40%. ▪ In addition, government consumption tax of 15% depending on the item assessed.

• ▪ All passengers must complete the C-27 form upon arrival at airport/seaport if they are expecting luggage/household effects to arrive before or after their arrival. ▪ The form is valid for 2 months or has to be renewed. ▪ Extracts need to be obtained if more than one shipment is expected. ▪ Customer must be in the country for clearance.

Diplomats Removals

• ▪ B/L. ▪ Consular letter asking for free entry. ▪ Inventory.

• ▪ No examination.

Wedding trousseaux

• ▪ Passenger declaration if the owner is a returning resident.

• ▪ Complete outfit for bride and groom.

Inheritance

• ▪ Personal effects of citizens of Jamaica or for or persons ordinarily domiciled in Jamaica: death certificate.

• ▪ Examination/Affidavit from lawyers.

Electrical & Household Appliances

• ▪ B/L. ▪ Unaccompanied Baggage declaration form (C.27) provided at the airport upon arrival in Jamaica.

• ▪ Examination. ▪ Returning resident may import duty free one new appliance and electronic equipment/computer, used household goods and tools of trade.

• ▪ Electrical and electronic equipment may not be compatible with the Jamaican electrical system 220/110V 50cycle.

Works of art & Antiques

• ▪ B/L. ▪ Unaccompanied Baggage declaration form (C.27) provided at the airport upon arrival in Jamaica.

• ▪ Duty free if the Works of art are part of bona fide household effects, large quantities to be accompanied by certificate from Antique Dealers Association of the country of exportation.

Precious metal objects

• ▪ Subject to payment of duties.

• ▪ Commercial or large import: ▪ Import licence. ▪ Items value. ▪ Bank guarantee required.

Carpets

• ▪ Used: ▪ Unaccompanied Baggage declaration form (C.27) provided at the airport upon arrival in Jamaica. ▪ New: ▪ Unaccompanied Baggage declaration form (C.27) provided at the airport upon arrival in Jamaica. ▪ Invoice.

• ▪ Free entry, passenger's declaration to be filled in by passenger on arrival. ▪ Goods to arrive two months prior to arrival of passenger or within the timeframe decided upon by the Collector General.

Presents & Souvenirs

• ▪ Inventory. ▪ Price list. ▪ Import licence.

Other vehicles

• ▪ Import licence. ▪ Proof of ownership. ▪ B/L (Bill of Lading)

• ▪ Duty is payable. Customs will assess its local value, for this purpose.

Machines, appliances, spare parts

• ▪ Invoice. ▪ Import licence and entry.

• ▪ Subject to payment of duties.

Alcohol

• ▪ One bottle of spirit and wine duty-free.

Tins & food

• ▪ Import licence. ▪ Value.

• ▪ Only sufficient for immediate use of family - duty might be payable at customs discretion.

Prohibited/Restricted items

• ▪ Arms, ammunition. Import permit required. ▪ Dangerous objects.

• ▪ https://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/service/restri cted-items ▪ https://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/service/prohi bited-items

Medicines, narcotics

• ▪ Import licence. ▪ Drugs/Poison permit. ▪ Value.

• ▪ Preferably not shipped with household effects.

Plants

• ▪ Ministry of Agriculture permit. ▪ Fumigation or certificate of health.

Jamaica Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the Jamaica Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.

• 2 copies of passport (data page and landing stamp), notarized by a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) as true copies
• Tax Registration Number (TRN)
• Inventory/packing list
• Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration Form (C.27), provided at the airport/seaport upon arrival in Jamaica
• Original bill of lading (OBL) or air waybill (AWB)
• Letter of authorization, notarized by a J.P.

All of the above, plus:

• Work permit and letter of employment
• Residence permit (if not a Jamaican citizen)

All of the above, plus:

• Customs Declaration Form (C.5), provided to the customs officer at the time of arrival at the airport
• Unconditional stamp (if Jamaican arriving on a foreign passport)
• Documents proving the customer has lived outside Jamaica for more than 3 years
• Document stating the customer's intention to re-establish permanent residence in Jamaica
• Tax returns for the last 3 years (W-2/1099, P-60, T4)
• Letter of separation from employer at origin
• Pension advice/Social Security letter (where applicable)
• Pay stubs, W-2, P45
• Invoices or bills from residence abroad
• Copy of retirement papers/pension advice, P60
• Evidence of disposal of property abroad
• Copy of sale/purchase agreement
• Evidence of property acquired in Jamaica
• Copy of utility bill in Jamaica (electric, water)
• Tax receipt
• Lease agreement
• Evidence of employment in Jamaica
• Letter notarized by a J.P. confirming place of residence if staying with a friend or relative, or copy of rental/lease agreement

Standard documents, plus:

• Letter from institution attended
• Copy of I-20 ID
• Copy of transcript

• Bill of lading
• Consular letter requesting free entry
• Inventory

Specific Information

Owner must be present: The owner of the goods must be in Jamaica during customs clearance.

C.27 form: All passengers must complete the C.27 Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration Form upon arrival at the airport/seaport if they are expecting luggage or household effects to arrive before or after them. The form is valid for 3 months and must be renewed if the shipment has not arrived. Extracts (copies of the C.27) must be obtained if more than one shipment is expected.

Electrical compatibility: Electrical and electronic equipment may not be compatible with the Jamaican system (220/110V, 50 cycle).

Inheritance: Personal effects of Jamaican citizens or persons ordinarily domiciled in Jamaica may be imported with a death certificate. Subject to examination and an affidavit from lawyers.

Diplomatic shipments: No examination required.

Duties & Taxes

Returning residents: May import one new appliance or piece of electronic equipment/computer, plus used household goods and tools of trade, duty-free. The returning resident must have lived outside Jamaica for more than 3 years.

Duty rates: Duty is determined after physical examination of goods at the stripping station, based on CIF value. Rates generally range from 5% to 40% depending on the item, plus government consumption tax (GCT) of 16.5% or approximately 23.8% compounded.

New items: Items less than 6 months old are dutiable for non-returning residents. Invoices must be provided for all new items.

Works of art and antiques: Duty-free if part of bona fide household effects. Large quantities must be accompanied by a certificate from the Antique Dealers Association of the country of exportation.

Precious metal objects: Subject to duties. Commercial or large imports require an import licence, item values, and a bank guarantee.

Carpets: Used carpets enter duty-free with the C.27 form. Goods must arrive within 2 months prior to passenger arrival or within the timeframe set by the Collector General.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

• Illegal drugs
• Knives and deadly weapons
• Firearms, explosives, and ammunition (unless prior permission obtained)
• Meat, meat products, plant and plant products (unless permission obtained from Ministry of Agriculture)
• Counterfeit money and goods
• Pornographic or offensive material
• Local currency (for non-residents importing)
• Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, and Pit Bull Terrier dogs (and their crosses)
• Wolf hybrids and Savannah cats

• 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 225g tobacco
• 1 litre of spirits
• 1 litre of other alcoholic beverages
• 1 litre of wine
• 150g perfume

• New items (less than 6 months old): dutiable for non-returning residents, invoices required
• Alcohol: 1 bottle of spirit and wine duty-free
• Food: only sufficient for immediate family use; duty may be payable at customs discretion; import licence and values required
• Firearms and ammunition: import permit required from the Police Commissioner of Customs, Trade Board, and Firearms & Licence Authority
• Two-way radios and specialist communications equipment: licence required from the Spectrum Management Authority
• Medicines/narcotics: import licence and drugs/poison permit required; preferably not shipped with household effects
• Plants: Ministry of Agriculture permit and fumigation/health certificate required

Jamaican residents can import unlimited local currency and unlimited foreign currency (up to the amount declared on departure). Non-residents can import unlimited foreign currency but no local currency.

Special Categories

• Current GCT rate and additional levies could not be verified against a current Jamaican government source (TAJ website was unreachable). The 16.5% GCT rate from the FIDI guide (2020) may have changed.
• The FIDI guide's Trade Board import licence portal URL could not be verified (returns a login page, which is expected behaviour).
• Whether the 5-year vehicle age limit has been adjusted since 2020 could not be independently confirmed. The destination agent should verify current limits.

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air and sea shipments.

C.27 form is critical: Must be completed upon arrival at the airport/seaport. Without this form, customs clearance cannot proceed. The form is valid for 3 months; renew if the shipment is delayed. Obtain extracts if multiple shipments are expected.

Owner must be in Jamaica for clearance. This is non-negotiable for non-diplomatic shipments.

Vehicle import licence: Must be obtained from the Trade Board BEFORE the vehicle is shipped. Failure to have this licence on arrival will cause significant delays.

Pet pre-notification: Required twice (3 weeks and 72 hours before arrival). The preliminary application must be approved before proceeding with parasite treatments.

Physical examination: All non-diplomatic shipments are physically examined at the stripping station. Duty is assessed based on what customs finds, not just what the inventory states.