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Jamaica

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
26,954
Top destination, 2023
United States
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
101,759
UK visas issued, 2025
7,190
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
5.4%
NationalityJMISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<JMJAMAICA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
JM9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Jamaica need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Jamaica move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. United States22,120
  2. Canada4,340
  3. Japan178
  4. Germany93
  5. Netherlands48
  6. France38
  7. Mexico24
  8. New Zealand18
  9. Belgium16
  10. Switzerland14
  11. South Korea14
  12. Sweden9
  13. Australia8
  14. Austria8
  15. Denmark5

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

14k27k200020032006200920122015201820212023
14k27k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200018,550
200118,224
200217,561
200315,615
200416,873
200520,516
200627,198
200721,929
200820,614
200924,086
201022,141
201121,913
201224,053
201322,077
201422,291
201523,475
201627,156
201726,192
201824,766
201926,175
202015,174
202117,697
202221,063
202326,954
Share going to the top destination
82.1%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Jamaica who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. United States910,748
  2. United Kingdom146,646
  3. Canada144,301
  4. Cayman Islands12,602
  5. Bahamas8,510
  6. Antigua and Barbuda4,328
  7. Sint Maarten2,609
  8. British Virgin Islands2,436
  9. Trinidad and Tobago2,390
  10. Curaçao2,120
  11. Bermuda1,694
  12. Australia1,335

Living abroad by year

624k1.25M19901995200020052010201520202024
624k1.25M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990611,422
1995811,937
2000833,377
2005895,828
20101,005,109
20151,084,528
20201,175,941
20241,248,512
Living abroad, 2024
1,248,512
Change since 2000
+49.8%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
72.9%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Jamaica by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B269,682
  2. H2B10,883
  3. J110,300
  4. H2A4,681
  5. C1/D1,202
  6. J2922
  7. F1857
  8. H4624
  9. H1B434
  10. O2369

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

59k119k201720182019202020212022202320242025
59k119k20172019202120232025
Data table
201751,088
201872,767
201970,328
202028,089
202137,206
202256,001
202396,206
2024118,702
2025101,759
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR23,016
  2. IR52,898
  3. F12,071
  4. IR11,640
  5. F3552
  6. FX491
  7. F2B456
  8. CR1433
Immigrant visas, FY2025
13,051
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
373
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Jamaica who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Jamaica with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

14k29k2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
14k29k201520172019202120232024
Data table
201517,640
201623,350
201721,910
201820,350
201921,690
202012,830
202113,360
202216,480
202321,460
202428,670
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens22,810
  2. Family-sponsored preferences5,100
  3. Employment-based preferences680
  4. Refugees and asylees50
  5. Other classes30
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)12,910
  2. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)4,780
  3. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)2,340
  4. Specialty occupations (H-1B)1,530
  5. Spouses and children1,240
  6. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)670
  7. Intracompany transferees (L-1)350
  8. Other temporary workers190
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Jamaica)
28,670
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Jamaica)
19,970
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
371,210
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Jamaica (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Jamaica (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor6,009
  2. Work532
  3. Family337
  4. Other231
  5. Study81

Visas issued by year

4,7869,572201020122014201620182020202220242025
4,7869,572201020132016201920222025
Data table
20108,435
20117,368
20127,497
20136,390
20146,298
20156,599
20166,837
20177,742
20187,934
20198,674
20202,554
20212,772
20227,453
20239,572
20248,935
20257,190
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
160
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Jamaica, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202510,7651,8451,5252,985270
202410,2502,1501,6753,725280
202311,7902,6452,1354,340415
202211,1801,5201,6754,245115
202110,2352,2151,7704,045640
20209,1801,6801,3452,035490
201910,4301,6802,0953,975420
201810,2951,5551,7403,865500
20179,4801,5401,5803,830575
20169,7501,6001,7403,560165
20158,5701,0501,3803,420225
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Jamaica, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

9172005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
9172005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–067
2006–075
2007–086
2008–094
2009–103
2010–1117
2011–128
2012–135
2013–144
2014–158
2015–163
2016–177
2017–187
2018–191
2019–206
2020–217
2021–222
2022–237
2023–242
2024–253
2025–265
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills5
Granted, 2025–26
5
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Jamaica living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

4609192012201420162018202220242025
4609192012201420162018202220242025
Data table
2012391
2013417
2014459
2015559
2016663
2017730
2018826
2019914
2022919
2023908
2024904
2025885
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Instructor382
  2. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services174
  3. Permanent Resident131
  4. Dependent74
  5. Spouse or Child of Japanese National71
  6. Long-Term Resident16
  7. Student14
  8. Professor5
  9. Skilled Labor4
  10. Highly Skilled Professional3
Residents, December 2025
885
In work-related statuses
573
Share in work-related statuses
64.7%
Students
14
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Jamaica

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Jamaica, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Spain3,4793,401471.4%
Germany1,2311,163524.2%
Belgium82350120024.3%

Applications by year

2,9455,8892009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
2,9455,889200920122015201820212024
Data table
20093,194
20103,462
20114,057
20123,817
20133,753
20143,754
20154,003
20163,953
20174,713
20185,356
20195,889
2020928
2021838
20223,657
20235,018
20245,533
Refusal rate, 2024
5.4%
Refusal rate, 2019
4.3%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Jamaica in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Family140
  2. Education76
  3. Other reasons69
  4. Work63
First permits by country
  1. Germany82
  2. France63
  3. Netherlands56
  4. Spain26
  5. Poland18
  6. Switzerland14
  7. Italy14
  8. Sweden11
  9. Finland10
  10. Hungary9
  11. Belgium7
  12. Austria6
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card4
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)9
  3. Researchers6
  4. Other paid activities44
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
7
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
159
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
174
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
30
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
3,620
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
152
Changed status into work, 2025
19
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
2
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Jamaica in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025211000
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025606
Austria2025880
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Jamaica

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Jamaica, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Argentina1——
Bahamas—1—
Belgium1——
Brazil1——
Chile1——
China1——
Colombia1——
Costa Rica1——
Ecuador——1
France1——
Germany1——
Japan1——
Mexico1——
Panama1——
Russia1——
Senegal1——
Spain1——
Countries
18
Missions
18
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Jamaica, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

1,8543,7072000200320062009201220152018202120242025
1,8543,707200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000878
20011,047
20021,242
20031,380
20041,601
20051,762
20061,924
20072,122
20082,157
20091,889
20102,026
20112,106
20122,168
20132,172
20142,269
20152,361
20162,433
20172,463
20182,502
20192,563
20203,067
20213,707
20223,688
20233,601
20243,564
20253,699
Remittances received, 2025
US$3,699 million
Share of GDP, 2025
16.3%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Jamaica, 2023
3.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Jamaica

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Jamaica → United States
  • Jamaica → Canada
  • Jamaica → United Kingdom
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more