This is not fake news but you have to complete the C5 Form online BEFORE you travel to enjoy this facility.
Remember those days when cabin crew walked through the aisle handing out immigration/customs forms and how many persons scrambled to find a pen to complete the form before landing? And remember the frustration and annoyance on those occasions when it was announced they had none to distribute or had run short and you had to do it on arrival? That method is still in operation but passengers now have the option of completing the form online before traveling to Jamaica, whenever and wherever as long as they have internet access.
As Jamaica moves rapidly into the digital age, the Passport, Citizen and Immigration Agency (PICA) has teamed up with the Jamaica Customs Agency to introduce an online version of the Immigration and Declaration (C5) Form. What this means is that travelers to Jamaica can now download the form online, complete, submit and get confirmation in real time even before starting out on their journey. By the time you arrive, Immigration and Customs will already have had all your necessary details ready and waiting in their systems!
The new online system is completely paperless which makes it the first such innovation within CARICOM and in at least one respect, even more advanced than the US system where after scanning their passports, visitors are still required to present a paper receipt to an immigration officer.
HERE IS HOW THE ONLINE SYSTEM WORKS
Once you have finalized your travel plans, you can as early as a week before you actually fly, download and complete the C5 immigration and customs form from the PICA website www.pica.gov.jm and submit it for processing. You don’t have to be an expert at the computer because the system is very interactive in giving you the options to fill in and will not accept the form if you leave any boxes unchecked or make an obvious error e.g. leaving a digit off your passport number. The system operates on what is known as ‘real time’ basis so you will receive immediate confirmation that your form has been successfully entered into the immigration and customs records. The form can be submitted even at the last moment – at the airport or even on the aircraft once there is internet access.
Important note: For immigration purposes a separate form still has to be completed for each family member who is a passport holder.
What is the procedure on arrival in Jamaica?
Garfield Grandison, General Manager (Acting) of the Gleaner Company Media Limited traveled to Jamaica on August 1 and recounts his experience:
“I was unaware of the new online facility until I was alerted by the airline that I could complete the C5 entry form online. I did as was instructed and boarded the flight to Kingston. On arrival I simply joined the immigration line and advised the officer that I had completed the form online. She scanned my passport and the form came up. Processing was pretty easy. There was a brief hitch at customs as it took them a little while to locate my information on the system but they eventually did and I was processed out. It worked and was totally paperless!”
THE ONLINE VERSION IS NOT MANDATORY
It is important to note that the online service is an option and is not mandatory. Passengers may still use the other two existing options available. Arriving passengers can complete the paper entry form as they have done in the past and wait in line to be processed by an immigration officer;
OR
complete the paper entry form, proceed to one of the scanning machines in the arrival hall, receive a receipt which they then present to an immigration officer. In both of these instances the C% form has to be presented to the customs officer for inspection.
Important Note #2: There is no need to ‘double-up’. If you completed the online form and got confirmation that it was accepted, you don’t need a back up paper form because the online thing works.
The new online system has been in the making for over two years and went through a rigorous pilot-testing phase before it was finally rolled out towards the end of July. This paperless option will result in passengers having limited contact with immigration and customs officers but more importantly it is bound to enhance the travel experience through increased efficiency, shorter waiting time after arrival.
