SERVICES
Effective Monday, 5 July 2021, public documents originating in Jamaica that are intended to be used in certain foreign countries can be authenticated by way of an Apostille. The list of countries that accept apostilles may be found at the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH): https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41 .
The Apostille process may be completed directly in Jamaica at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (the competent authority with responsibility for the issuance of all authentications by apostille), or you may submit your documents through the Embassy of Jamaica, Washington, D.C.
Requirements
- Completed Apostille Authentications Application Form
- Original documents for Apostille
- Copy of ID of applicant (optional)
Fees
- Apostille fee per document: US$30
- Consular/Administrative Fee US$15 (One-time payment)
- The courier fee: US$20 (One-time payment).
How to Apply in Person
In‑person processing is available by appointment only. Kindly visit our website: https://embassyofjamaica.orgJamaican Embassy (embassyofjamaica.org).
Payment Methods
Fees may be paid via Money Order made payable to “Embassy of Jamaica”; or via Cash or Debit Card. Please note that a surcharge will be added for debit card transactions.
Processing Time
The turnaround time for processing Apostilles, once the application is compliant (i.e., satisfies all requirements), is approximately five (5) weeks.
The Embassy of Jamaica in Washington provides services related to authentication, apostille, attestation, legalisation, and limited notarial services to facilitate the use of documents within Jamaica and, where feasible, our consular jurisdiction. Our services are conducted in strict adherence to the guidelines established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica. These include, but are not limited to birth, marriage, and death certificates; academic transcripts and diplomas; legal documents (e.g., affidavits, powers of attorney); commercial and business records.
The Embassy offers limited notarial services to Jamaican nationals and other clients as permitted by applicable Jamaican and the host country’s law. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Verification of Signatures
- Certification of Copies.
- Administration of Oaths and Affirmations: The solemn administration of oaths and affirmations as required by law.
FeeUS$20.00 per document. Payment should be made in cash only or via deposit to the Embassy’s USD account.
The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) is the only authority in Jamaica which is responsible for registering vital events such as births, stillbirths, deaths, adoptions, marriages, and deed polls. It is also Jamaica’s sole secure repository of these records. To apply for Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates, please click on the following links The Registrar General’s Department (a credit card is required to complete the application online):
-
Birth Certificate
Once you have completed the form correctly, click “Submit Application” located directly under the Birth Certificate Application Form.
Death CertificateOnce you have completed the form correctly, click “Submit Application” located directly under the Death Certificate Application Form.
Marriage CertificateOnce you have completed the form correctly, click “Submit Application” located directly under the Marriage Certificate Application Form. Click on the following link to view the applicable fees: Registrar General’s Department Fees. The Registrar General’s Department also provides the following additional services:
The Registrar General’s Department also provides the following additional services:
-
Registry Weddings
Deed Polls
Genealogical Research
For queries and questions to related to the services list above, please contact the Department directly at:>
directly at: Registrar General’s Department Twickenham Park Spanish Town, St. Catherine Jamaica Tel.: 876 749 0550/619 1260 E-mail: information@rgd.gov.jm Website: www.rgd.gov.jm The Registrar General’s Department also offers genealogical research for interested persons to find out factual evidence about their family’s background. To apply for this service, please complete the Genealogical Form.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) provides a Police Certificate (commonly called Criminal Clearance Certificate or a Police Record) at a cost to both Jamaican nationals and foreign nationals who have resided in Jamaica.
Content of Police Certificate
The Police Certificate bears the background of each applicant
and indicates whether or not an individual has any convictions
recorded against him/her in Jamaica.
A Police Certificate, also known as a police record, is a
document issued by the Criminal Records Office, which displays a
person’s criminal history.
Requirements
- Cover letter, addressed to the Superintendent of Police and signed by the applicant, stating reason for requesting the Police Certificate and completed.
- Two (2) recent passport size photographs (these must not be signed or sealed).
- Passport on which the applicant originally entered Jamaica.
- A full set of fingerprints taken by the relevant agency in the country of residence. The stamp of the agency must appear on the document.
- A certified copy of the bio-data page of the applicant’s valid passport.
- Services Offered (all figures quoted in Jamaican Dollars):
- Next Day Service: Eight Thousand Jamaican Dollars (J$8,000.00).
- Normal Service: Twenty-one (21) working days from the date of receipt of application. Three Thousand Jamaican Dollars (J$3,000.00).
- An International Money Order or Bank Draft for the equivalent of the respective fee in Jamaican Dollars should be made payable to the Commissioner of Police. The application should be forwarded directly to:
The application should be forwarded directly
to:
Senior Superintendent of Police
i/c Technical Services Division
34 Duke Street
Kingston C.S.O.
Jamaica, West Indies
Fee
N.B. The next day service is offered only at
Technical Services Division located at 34 Duke Street, Kingston,
Jamaica.
For further information or clarification, please call (876)
922-6214 / 3221 or fax (876) 922-0125.
Applications submitted by persons on behalf of the
Applicant
For applicants residing overseas who designate an individual in
Jamaica to submit an application or make payment for the service
on their behalf, the following applies:
- A certified letter of authorization must be provided if the police record application is to be submitted or collected by someone other than the applicant. The bearer must show photo identification.
- If the applicant does not have a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN), payment must be made at the Jamaica Constabulary Force Finance Branch, Ground Floor, NCB North Tower, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston 5. All documents and the receipt should be hand delivered to the Technical Services Division (Criminal Records Office), 34 Duke Street, Kingston.
- If the applicant has a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN), payment may be made at any Inland Revenue Department (Tax Office) island wide. All documents and the receipt should be hand delivered to the Technical Services Division (Criminal Records Office), 34 Duke Street, Kingston.
Short term visits Jamaican nationals visiting any of the countries within this Mission’s jurisdiction, i.e. Washington, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, are encouraged to notify the Embassy of their visit so that consular assistance can be provided in cases of emergency, including natural disasters. To notify the Embassy, you may complete and submit via email the Consular Registration Form for Short Term Visits [insert hyperlink to form, which is to be created].
Extended stays Jamaican nationals who expect to be resident in any of the countries (Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) that are under the purview of Embassy of Jamaica in Mexico are invited to register with the Embassy by completing and submitting the Consular Registration Form for Extended Stays [insert hyperlink to form, which has already been created but in need of revision]
The death of a loved one can be particularly distressing when it occurs abroad, especially in a country where there is no Jamaican representative. The Embassy will do all that is within its scope to assist with dealing with the authorities, given that laws differ in each country.
What the Embassy can do:
- Liaise with the authorities in the foreign country on behalf of the relatives of deceased Jamaican nationals .
- Have the body of the deceased Jamaican national properly identified.
- Obtain a death certificate and autopsy report.
- Ascertain the costs for the undertaker/funeral home and help to arrange for the remittance of funds to pay for the service.
- Put relatives of the deceased in contact with a funeral home in the country where the death occurred to make arrangements for the remains to be properly buried in the country where the death occurred.
- Liaise with the police or judicial authorities on your behalf in the case of suspicious death and report on findings or outcome on the case .
Please note that if you choose to have the remains of loved ones repatriated cremated or not cremated to Jamaica, depending on your preference, do consult the Ministry of Health and Wellness’s Guidelines on the shipment of Human Remains
- The Embassy cannot pay the expenses for repatriating the remains of deceased Jamaican nationals to Jamaica .
- The Embassy cannot pay the expenses for family members to travel to where the death occurred.
- Make an insurance claim on behalf the family of the deceased..
- Ascertain the costs for the undertaker/funeral home and help to arrange for the remittance of funds to pay for the service.
- Pay for cremation or burial expenses in the country where the death occurred
- The Embassy cannot investigate any crimes or get involved in any judicial proceedings in the case of a suspicious death . GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPORTATION / EXPORTATION OF HUMAN REMAINS TO & FROM JAMAICA
What the Embassy cannot do:
LETTER OF NO OBJECTION APPLICATIONS
The Letter of No Objection is a statement confirming that the exchange visitor’s Government has no objection to the applicant:
- not returning to the home country to satisfy the two - year foreign residency requirement
- remaining in the U.S. if he or she chooses to do so.
Maryland (MD) Virginia (VA) California (CA) Washington (WA)
Applicants residing in other states should refer to the following link to determine whether their applications should be mailed to the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York or Florida:
REQUIREMENTS FOR LETTER OF NO OBJECTION:
- Letter requesting letter of No Objection (original signature is required.)
- Copy of most recent DS 2019 form
- Copy of bio-data page of Jamaican passport
- Copy of U.S. J-1 visa
- Copy of TRN card
- Copy of I-94
- Copy of birth certificate
- Copy of updated resume (including secondary school education)
- Copy of Third-Party Barcode
- Money order in the amount of US$65.00 made payable to “Embassy of Jamaica”
Applications are to be mailed to:
Embassy of Jamaica
1520 New Hampshire Ave. NW
Washington, DC, 20036
THE PROCESS:
Upon receipt of the application, the documents are reviewed, and compliant applications are forwarded to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for processing. Please note that if the application is non-compliant, the applicant is advised in writing of the necessary actions to be taken.
The processing time generally takes 4 to 6 months after the documents are sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.
When the application is approved, the Scholarship and Assistance Unit sends written notification to the Embassy. Upon approval, the Embassy will produce the Letter of No Objection and send it to the Department of State within 5 business days. Thereafter, the U.S. State Department will continue with their processing for the visa waiver.
For information and procedures on how to apply for the Waiver, visit the U.S. Department of State website at . The applicant will be given a case number, which is to be referenced in the request to the Embassy.
The Embassy of Jamaica will process applications from the District of Columbia and the following states only: Maryland, Virginia, California and Washington.