Jamaica

Jamaica Customs Contacts

Website: https://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/index.php  

Tel: +1 876-922-5140 

Address: Head Office – 15 Newport East, Kingston, Jamaica

Jamaica is an island country situated on the Island of Jamaica of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. Its nearest neighboring countries are Cuba and the Hispaniola. Jamaica is the 4th largest island country in the Caribbean, by area. The country is a member of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP), Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom), International Monetary Fund, World Customs Organization, World Trade Organization and other international organizations.

Tariffs

Jamaica applies the CARICOM Common External Tariff along with other trading partners of the Caribbean Common Market. Products imported from countries which are not members of the CARICOM are subject to customs duties listed in the CET. Imports of CARICOM origin are not subject to import duties. Goods imported from CARICOM member states enjoy duty-free status and do not pay customs import duties. However they have to pay local taxes, General Consumption Tax and Special Consumption Tax.

Import duty rates in Jamaica vary between 0% and 70%, with an average tariff rate of 17.45%. Apart from import duties, imported goods are subject to a standard General Consumption Tax (GCT) of 16.5% (based on the CIF value of products), Special Consumption Tax (SCT) and Stamp Duty. 

Product certification and labeling

Goods imported into Jamaica should be labeled in English and labeling should include:

- the proper name of the product

- an accurate declaration of the contents

- an accurate description of the ingredients

- a date of minimum durability

- the name and business address of the processor/manufacturer/packer/importer/distributor

- the country of origin

Manufactured, expiry date and other date marks must conform to the traditional European "dd/mm/yy" or ISO's "yy/mm/dd" date formats.

Products such as milk powder, refined sugar, plants and parts of plants for perfume or pharmaceutical purposes, gum-resins, vegetable saps and extracts, certain chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, arms and ammunition, certain toys (water pistols and gaming machines) require an import license.

Certain products may also require a sanitary or phytosanitary certificate.

Documents for import

- Shipping documents such as a Bill of Lading or Airway Bill

- A proper invoice from the supplier

- Import permits or licences

- A Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC), Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) and a copy of a General Consumption Tax (GCT) Certificate

- An original copy of the Certificate of Origin if the goods are being imported from a country with which Jamaica has a Trade Agreement, and for which preferential duty treatment is being claimed

Sources:

https://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/home_template.php?page=caricom&group_id=1  

https://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/home_template.php?page=C_imports&group_id=1  

https://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/home_template.php?page=duties&group_id=1  

http://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/OverSeasNew.nsf/alldata/Jamaica  

https://www.export.gov/article?id=Jamaica-Import-Requirements-and-Documentation