Jamaica Arrival Card — C5 form in English
Complete your Jamaica C5 form (immigration and customs declaration) in English with our online form. Submit your application up to 30 days before your arrival: we check and file your declaration.
Welcome to Jamaica
White-sand beaches in Negril, Dunn's River Falls, the Blue Mountains: before setting foot in Jamaica, every traveller must complete the C5 form, the island's immigration and customs declaration. Since 1 September 2023, it has been completed online and replaces the former paper arrival card. Free of charge, it applies to all passengers, children and residents included, and can be submitted up to 30 days before arrival. Once your declaration is made, you immediately receive an email confirmation, and the airports in Montego Bay and Kingston open their automated immigration kiosks to you.
Who must complete the C5 form?
Since 1 September 2023, the C5 form applies to all travellers entering Jamaica, by air or by sea. It does not replace a visa: French nationals can stay up to 30 days without a visa for tourism, while visa-required nationalities must obtain their visa in addition to the C5 form. The permitted length of stay depends on your nationality, not on the form.
Foreign travellers
Tourists, business travellers, family visits, transit, honeymoon: all visitors must complete the C5, whatever the purpose of their stay.
Jamaican residents and citizens
Jamaica does not exempt its own nationals: residents and citizens returning to the island also complete the form.
Children and infants
Each passenger must have their own confirmation, babies included. Parents complete the form on behalf of their children.
Visa-required nationalities
The C5 comes in addition to the visa, which must still be applied for at a Jamaican embassy or consulate before departure.
One declaration, two checks
Immigration and customs combined in a single form
The C5 form replaces the former paper card used for both immigration and customs. By completing it online before departure, you speed up both checks on arrival.
One form per passenger: each traveller receives their own confirmation, children and babies included. The form also asks how many family members are travelling with you.
Linked to your passport: your declaration is tied to your passport number. At Montego Bay and Kingston airports, travellers who completed it in advance can use the automated kiosks: they scan their passport, get a receipt and get through faster.
The ArrivalCards solution: submit your application as soon as your trip is confirmed. We prepare, check and file your declaration, then send you the confirmation.
Key takeaway
The C5 form has been mandatory for all travellers since 1 September 2023. It is submitted up to 30 days before arrival and is valid for a single entry.
Documents to complete the C5 form
Prepare these items for each traveller before you start.
- Passport valid for the entire stay
- Flight or cruise booking: airline or vessel name, flight number, port of departure and date
- Name and address of your hotel or accommodation in Jamaica
- List of countries visited or passed through in the 6 weeks before arrival
- Full home address and occupation
- Visa, only if your nationality or the length of your stay requires one
The customs section
What you need to declare when arriving in Jamaica
The last part of the C5 form is a customs declaration: a series of yes-or-no questions about the goods you bring onto the island.
Agricultural and food products: fruit, plants, cut flowers, vegetables, soil, meat, honey, live animals or animal products must be declared.
Currency and goods: declare currency or monetary instruments over USD 10,000, goods exceeding your personal duty-free allowance and gifts or items for resale.
Baggage and packages: the form asks for the number of bags travelling with you (checked and carry-on) and the number of packages shipped separately by air or sea.
- Medicines, chemicals and biological substances
- Weapons, ammunition, explosives, fireworks and toy weapons
- Radioactive or nuclear substances
Required Information Table
| INFORMATION TO PROVIDE | PERSONAL DATA |
|---|---|
| IDENTITY AND PASSPORT | Surname, First names, Date of birth, Sex, Family members travelling with you, Passport number, Country of issue |
| HOME AND OCCUPATION | Full home address, Country of residence, Occupation |
| TRAVEL | Address in Jamaica (hotel or residence), Countries visited in the last 6 weeks, Airline or vessel name, Flight number, Port of departure, Travel date |
| PURPOSE AND STAY | Holiday, visiting relatives, business, transit, work, honeymoon or wedding; Length of stay in days; Number of bags and shipped packages |
| CUSTOMS DECLARATION | Agricultural and food products, Medicines and substances, Weapons, Currency over USD 10,000, Goods over the duty-free allowance, Gifts or items for resale |
When should you complete the C5 form?
The C5 form can be submitted up to 30 days before your arrival in Jamaica. It is best done before departure: without a declaration, you will have to complete it in the immigration hall, which lengthens the wait.
Earliest
30 days before arrival
Optimal
A few days before departure, once your flight and accommodation are confirmed
Latest
Before boarding your flight or vessel to Jamaica
Arriving in Jamaica with the C5 form
In Montego Bay, Kingston or Ocho Rios, clearance is faster if your declaration was made before departure.
- 1
Before departure
Check that you have received the confirmation email for each traveller and keep it on your smartphone or printed.
- 2
Immigration
At Montego Bay and Kingston airports, use the automated kiosks: scan your passport and collect your receipt. Otherwise, present your passport to the immigration officer.
- 3
Baggage and customs
Collect your bags, then go through customs. If you declared goods or currency, present them to the officers.
- 4
During your stay
Respect the length of stay granted on arrival: it depends on your nationality, not on the C5 form.
Common mistakes with the C5 form
The form is simple, but a few pitfalls come up often among travellers.
One form for the whole family
Each passenger, children included, must have their own C5 confirmation. Listing family members on your form is not enough.
Confusing the C5 with a visa
The C5 does not authorise you to stay: for French nationals, visa-free stays are limited to 30 days for tourism. Beyond that, a visa is required.
Forgetting countries visited
The form asks for all countries visited or passed through in the last 6 weeks, stopovers included.
Reusing an old declaration
The C5 is valid for a single entry: a new trip, or a return to Jamaica during the same stay, requires a new declaration.
Paying an unofficial website
The official form is free, and the Jamaican authorities warn against websites that charge for it while presenting themselves as official. ArrivalCards is a private assistance service with clearly stated fees.
Places to visit in Jamaica
Jamaica
Negril and Seven Mile Beach stretch out as one of the finest beaches in the Caribbean, lined with turquoise water, before the West End cliffs and their spectacular sunsets.
Dunn's River Falls, near Ocho Rios, are climbed hand in hand in a human chain, up the limestone pools to the top of the waterfall.
The Blue Mountains, east of Kingston, offer hiking, renowned coffee plantations and, for early risers, sunrise over Blue Mountain Peak.
Kingston, the capital, is home to the Bob Marley Museum, housed in the singer's former home, as well as the National Gallery of Jamaica and the old city of Port Royal.
Montego Bay, the island's tourist gateway, combines the famous Doctor's Cave Beach, the luminous lagoon of Glistening Waters and great houses such as Rose Hall.
Validity of the C5 form
The form is tied to one traveller and one specific arrival.
Duration
Valid for the declared arrival only
Entries
Single entry into Jamaica
Extension
Cannot be extended: a new declaration for each new arrival
Information about the Jamaica arrival card
What is the C5 form?
The C5 form is Jamaica's online immigration and customs declaration, run by PICA (Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency) together with the Jamaica Customs Agency. It covers your identity, passport, home address and occupation, your travel details (accommodation in Jamaica, countries visited in the last 6 weeks, flight or vessel, purpose and length of stay, baggage) and a customs declaration. It can be submitted up to 30 days before arrival and generates an immediate email confirmation with a reference number.
Which nationalities are concerned?
Since 1 September 2023, all travellers entering Jamaica must complete the C5 form, whatever their nationality, including Jamaican residents and citizens. Each passenger receives their own confirmation, children and babies included. The C5 does not replace a visa: nationalities that require one must obtain it in addition.
Which points of entry are concerned?
The C5 form is required at every point of entry, by air or by sea. Most travellers arrive through Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay (MBJ), Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston (KIN) or Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios (OCJ). The form also covers arrivals by sea, at the ports of Montego Bay, Falmouth, Ocho Rios, Kingston and Port Antonio.
Frequently Asked Questions — Jamaica
What is the C5 form?
It is Jamaica's immigration and customs declaration, often called an arrival card, run by PICA (Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency) together with the Jamaica Customs Agency. It covers your identity, passport, travel details and a customs declaration.
Is the C5 form mandatory?
Yes. Since 1 September 2023, all travellers entering Jamaica must complete it online, whatever their nationality, including Jamaican residents and citizens.
When should I complete the C5 form?
Up to 30 days before your arrival in Jamaica. It is best done before departure: without a declaration, you will have to complete it in the immigration hall, which lengthens the wait. On ArrivalCards, submit your application as soon as your trip is confirmed.
Do children and babies need a C5 form?
Yes. Each passenger must have their own confirmation, children and infants included. The form also asks you to list the family members travelling with you.
Does the C5 form replace a visa?
No. It is an immigration and customs declaration, not a visa. French nationals can stay up to 30 days without a visa for tourism; beyond that, or for another purpose, a visa is required. Visa requirements depend on your nationality.
Is the C5 form valid for several trips?
No, it is valid for a single entry. A new declaration is required for each new arrival in Jamaica.
How much does the C5 form cost?
The form is free on the official portal of the Jamaican authorities. On ArrivalCards, the service fee is €29 incl. VAT per arrival card issued, excluding any consular fees. This fee includes the guided English-language form, verification of your details, submission and support from our team.
What must be declared at customs?
The form asks a series of yes-or-no questions: agricultural and food products, medicines and chemical or biological substances, drugs, radioactive substances, weapons, currency or monetary instruments over USD 10,000, goods over the personal duty-free allowance, gifts or items for resale.
I made a mistake on my C5 form. What should I do?
You need to complete and submit a new declaration with the correct information. Inaccurate details slow down immigration and customs clearance. On ArrivalCards, our team checks your details before submission.
What do I receive after submission?
An immediate email confirmation, with a reference number and a summary of your name, passport, arrival date, flight, accommodation and purpose of stay. Keep it on your smartphone or print it.
Document Timeline
History and evolution of the document.
Before 2023
Travellers fill in a paper immigration and customs card, the C5 form, on board or on arrival.
Before 2023
Travellers fill in a paper immigration and customs card, the C5 form, on board or on arrival.
1 September 2023
PICA and the Jamaica Customs Agency introduce the online C5 form, which replaces the paper version for all travellers, residents included.
1 September 2023
PICA and the Jamaica Customs Agency introduce the online C5 form, which replaces the paper version for all travellers, residents included.
May 2024
With the number of online declarations rising, the authorities remind travellers that the form is free and warn against websites that charge for it while presenting themselves as official.
May 2024
With the number of online declarations rising, the authorities remind travellers that the form is free and warn against websites that charge for it while presenting themselves as official.
Late 2024
Automated kiosks and electronic immigration gates are brought into service at Kingston and Montego Bay airports for travellers who completed the C5 in advance.
Late 2024
Automated kiosks and electronic immigration gates are brought into service at Kingston and Montego Bay airports for travellers who completed the C5 in advance.
Today
The C5 form is submitted up to 30 days before arrival. ArrivalCards prepares, checks and files it for you, then sends you the confirmation.
Today
The C5 form is submitted up to 30 days before arrival. ArrivalCards prepares, checks and files it for you, then sends you the confirmation.
How It Works
Simple, fast, and stress-free.
Fill in the online form
Complete our secure form with your personal information and travel details
Receive your arrival card by email
We process your application and send your electronic arrival card directly to your inbox
Present your card upon arrival
Upon arrival, simply present your electronic card to immigration authorities
A reliable and secure service.
Processing Time
Your arrival card is typically processed within 24 hours. We recommend applying at least 3 days before your travel date.
Requirements
Valid passport with at least 6 months validity, recent passport photo, travel itinerary, and accommodation details.
Fees
The service fee is €29 incl. tax per arrival card issued, excluding any consular fees. This covers form translation, application verification, and customer support.
Sources
- Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) — Immigration/Customs Declaration (C5)
- PICA — Entry visa requirements
- France Diplomatie — Jamaïque, entrée / séjour
Information checked in October 2026