Your first 90 days in Jamaica: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Get the TRN in the first week — it is free, fast, and almost nothing else works without it, yet people delay it because no one tells them at the airport. Personal-security planning by neighbourhood also matters more here than the tourist experience suggests; take local advice on where to live seriously.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) for an extension of stay, work permit or unconditional landing
Before the entry stamp expires — visitors are usually granted up to 90 days, and any extension is applied for at PICA in Kingston or Montego Bay
PICA handles extensions, permits and residency together, and the office prefers applications well before expiry rather than in the final week. A work permit is employer-sponsored and must be in place before you start work.
Get your TRN (taxpayer registration number)
It is Jamaica's universal identifier — banking, utilities, employment, property, even a mobile contract typically asks for it.
Applied for at any Tax Administration Jamaica office with a passport and proof of address; it is issued quickly and is genuinely the first errand to run after arriving.
Open a bank account
NCB, Scotiabank Jamaica and Sagicor open accounts on the TRN, permit and proof of address — the TRN is a hard prerequisite, so do it first. Jamaica also has real exchange-control practice around foreign-currency accounts, and cross-border transfers are best kept on a multi-currency account held abroad.
Enrol in healthcare
Public hospitals abolished user fees and are free at the point of use, but they are heavily overstretched; virtually every foreign resident and most middle-class Jamaicans use private care (Andrews Memorial, Medical Associates) with insurance. The National Health Fund subsidises medication for chronic conditions.
Sort your driver's license
A valid foreign licence or International Driving Permit is accepted for up to 12 months from arrival; residents then convert through the Island Traffic Authority, which requires a medical certificate and, for many licences, a written and practical test. Driving is on the left.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Jamaica?
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Jamaica: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Jamaica?
Apply to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) for an extension of stay, work permit or unconditional landing — Before the entry stamp expires — visitors are usually granted up to 90 days, and any extension is applied for at PICA in Kingston or Montego Bay. PICA handles extensions, permits and residency together, and the office prefers applications well before expiry rather than in the final week. A work permit is employer-sponsored and must be in place before you start work. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the TRN and do I need one?
TRN (taxpayer registration number) is Jamaica's personal tax/ID number. It is Jamaica's universal identifier — banking, utilities, employment, property, even a mobile contract typically asks for it. Applied for at any Tax Administration Jamaica office with a passport and proof of address; it is issued quickly and is genuinely the first errand to run after arriving.
Can I drive in Jamaica on a US license?
A valid foreign licence or International Driving Permit is accepted for up to 12 months from arrival; residents then convert through the Island Traffic Authority, which requires a medical certificate and, for many licences, a written and practical test. Driving is on the left. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Jamaica?
Public hospitals abolished user fees and are free at the point of use, but they are heavily overstretched; virtually every foreign resident and most middle-class Jamaicans use private care (Andrews Memorial, Medical Associates) with insurance. The National Health Fund subsidises medication for chronic conditions. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Jamaica's system treats foreign residents.